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VariaTEA drank Mi Xian Black by Butiki Teas

5272 tasting notes

I am not one for straight teas usually but Courtney was generous to send me some in a swap and so I decided to give it a try. Plus, sometimes I am surprised by how much I enjoy a straight black (I am looking at you Laoshan Black) and if anyone can make a tasty tea, it is Stacy.

Tbh, it is not something I would reach for often but this cup is pleasant enough. At first sip, it tasted almost generic to me but as I paid a bit more attention, I detected some nice chocolate notes and realized how smooth this is. When I let it sit on my tongue, there is a richness to it that is sweet and nice. It isn’t necessarily for me but I can appreciate this is a nice cup for those who are into straight blacks. For that reason, I am grateful to have tried it. It is always nice to switch it up sometimes and incorporate straights to monitor how my tastes have changed overtime. So thank you Courtney for surprising me with some of this tea!

ETA: Steepster is doing the thing where it decides to just not update my dashboard. Darn you steepster. Get it together!

Preparation

Boiling 3 min, 0 sec

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VariaTEA
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Of course once I comment on it not updating, it updates. I am not sure if I should be upset that it makes me look like a fool or happy that it listened to me. Oh steepster, you sneaky site!

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VariaTEA
Delete

Of course once I comment on it not updating, it updates. I am not sure if I should be upset that it makes me look like a fool or happy that it listened to me. Oh steepster, you sneaky site!

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My cupboard has grown exponentially since joining this site and I have a lot to share. Feel free to snoop through my cupboard and message me if anything interests you – I am always happy to swap!

For me, flavored teas are definitely my sweet spot. I will most often reach for black teas and rooibos or honeybush blends but I do keep some flavored whites and greens around for when the mood strikes. I have a few herbals/tisanes but most of the time I find myself disappointed by them as they often smell deliciously sweet and then end up tasting tart/sour. I have a little bit of an aversion to pu’erh and oolong teas. I am also wary of florals, earl greys, and chai teas. I do not like overpowering citrus flavors nor do I usually like hibiscus, licorice or chamomile. I love dessert teas – caramel, vanilla, toffee, cookie, cream, and other sweet flavors make me smile. Fruits like strawberry, peach, mango, and pineapples will often catch my attention as well.

I have also realized that although I really enjoy adding frothed milk to some of my teas, if I do not like the tea with zero additives (just in plain water without milk or sugar), I probably won’t drink it. The one exception is flavored matchas which I will happily drink in cold milk if I do not like it mixed with hot water. My theory is if the tea can’t stand on its own then it is not for me and I will more than likely try to swap it out for something else.

Tea Ratings Guide (as of December 10, 2017)
90-100 Teas I NEED on hand at all times
80-89 Teas I want to keep around for a cup every now and then
70-79 Teas I am glad I have around and can experiment with but probably don’t need more than what’s in my cupboard
60-69 Teas I would not turn down a cup of from a friend but that would probably be enough
50-59 Teas I can see why someone would enjoy but are not for me
Under 50 Teas I really did not like and most likely got dumped

Location

Waterdown, Ontario

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