Nicole Send Message

Wow. If you like almond extract, this is the tea for you. About knocks your socks off when dry.

I don’t know how much flavoring they put in this but it is one of the only almond teas I’ve had that tastes like sweet almond/amaretto. Just putting almond nuts in a tea doesn’t flavor it very strongly. The ingredients say black tea, almond pieces and vanilla cream (whatever that entails). That’s it. I’m not sure believe that.

If so, they went really super heavy on the vanilla and it brought out the almonds in full force. Seriously, this was like drinking almond extract. Not that I’ve done that but I can imagine. :) There was no noticeable tea flavor. Coworker and I ended up liking it after a cup or two – like having a dessert, really. That said, I’m pretty sure it isn’t something either one of us will seek out again.

We were discussing using it in baking or custard type desserts. It would be absolutely yummy. However, since there isn’t really a tea flavor present why not just use almond extract in cooking instead of a tea…

I would rather call this Amaretto Cream than Almond Cream. There is nothing of a natural nut about this tea. Doesn’t make it bad, just misnamed, perhaps. :)

Maybe I got a bad batch or something. I don’t get any of the flavors Upton mentions in their description or that other folks here on Steepster mention.

It was a fine, standard black tea. But no citrus and no bergamot. Hm.

And this was our last tea of the day at work today. (So much for cutting back…)

I liked this much more today. I notice I like it after it cools off somewhat but before it gets cold. As it cools the buttery texture comes out more. It still is definitely an oolong that I would not normally drink but I’m glad I gave it another shot.

I steeped it for quite a long time the first time around and the leaves hadn’t really unfurled. The second steep released them further and I just left the infuser in the pot. Not a bit of bitter, good flavor still on the second steep. Wish we’d had time for a third.

And after 3 pots, I have a sipdown of something. Finally. :)

And this was our 2nd tea of the day at work today.

A basic breakfast tea. Strong, holds sugar well and I imagine it takes milk well also. A nice kick to the day and what I think of when I think of “Irish Breakfast tea.”

This was our morning tea at work today.

Malty, sweetish, fruity, smooth, little smokey. Definitely a Yunnan and also definitely a Darjeeling. Little hit of astringency at the end, but not much.

Lots of golden tips – they are not exaggerating! So pretty.

This is smooth, strong, slightly dusty at the front of the sip… Mildly sweet but with a most decided kick. This would be a good kick yer butt outta the house morning tea. :)

Oh, and I should add that they were very nice people to deal with. They even included a complimentary black tea tin with my order.

Dry leaves smell like fruit. Non-specific fruity-ness. Both I and another Tea Club buddy noticed it.

Steeped for rather a long time as I got busy and lost track, but it was still smooth and light. Sweet without being sweetened, and definitely fruity. Again, can’t name the fruit it reminded us of – just fruity. I wasn’t around long enough to try the 2nd steep, but the reviews I heard were good. They said it was lighter, of course, but still good.

Such a pretty tea when dry. At least 3 different colors of leaves, maybe 4.

Lightly astringent, slightly malty. Definitely dry but not puckery. Much gentler than the other Kenyan blacks I have tried. A good, basic black to keep around. If I didn’t already have good, basic blacks, I’d make sure to keep this on hand.

On a sad note, this is my only cup of tea today. The last week or so I’ve noticed a fluttery, phone-on-vibrate sensation off to center left of my chest. Pulse is fine, bp is fine. No other sensations. But I have been going kind of nuts with the tippy teas lately and those have more caffeine than others. Nuts like having 2 pots of yunnan type tea a day kind of nuts. I have never been caffeine sensitive but as my husband is fond of saying lately – we are both getting older.

So… my first step is cutting way back on anything with caffeine and replacing it with water. My promise to myself was to cut caffeine completely for a week. I just can’t do it. It’s cool and wet out and I want tea!!!!

This smells almost wine-y when dry. Like fermented fruit. Steeped it still smells strongly of fruit. Not sure I can pick out which one or ones in particular, just fruit. But not sweet.

A wonderful, deep and smooth flavor. Quenching and yet with just a hint of dryness at the end of the sip. Another leafhopper tea that meets with high approval. Those little bugs are pretty good for tea, apparently. :)

Made a pot of this at work today. I forgot about it and it steeped for about 20 minutes! O.O

It was delicious. The longer steep brought out smokey notes and reminds me somewhat of coffee. A strong several cups to get me through the day. It might not be what this tea was intended to be, but even at that long a steep it was still a good tasting cup.

No rating on this one as I’ve already rated and see no need to change it.