5272 Tasting Notes

70

I cold brewed the last of this up last night. 4 tsps in a 500 mL water bottle and left it to sit for about 22 hours. The end result is a sweet cup, flavor-wise, not the slang term for awesome. Though it is not bad. Definitely prefer this coldbrewed to hot. Though not enough to restock on this or really miss it once it is gone. However, at least I don’t feel the need to dump the glass.

I am not sure what it is making it so sweet actually because most of the flavors usually add a more tart flavor. However, I do pick up the mint as I finish each sip I take and that is really quite refreshing. So all in all, had I known it would taste this way coldbrewed, I would have done this from the start.

Preparation
Iced 8 min or more

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70

Roswell Strange, I really must say this competition has done wonders for my stash. With each cup I feel a little more accomplished because not only am I advancing just a little more ahead in the competition but I am simultaneously decreasing my stash.

Anyways, this tea came to my by was of the wonderful OMGsrsly. I have read mixed reviews but it sounded tasty so I am glad I finally get to try it for myself. When I took my first sip, I was like “whoa, that is milk chocolate!” but then I started picking up more and more on the white tea. I don’t know why but with each consequent sip I am getting less and less milk chocolate and the white tea is becoming more and more noticeable. That isn’t particularly a bad thing, and there is still a nice creaminess to the mix but I miss that first sip that tasted of a melted chocolate bar in my cup. Maybe this is a tea best enjoyed absent-mindedly as opposed to being concentrated on and analyzed…hmmmm…

Nonetheless, thank you OMGsrsly for sharing this with me. It has definitely be a unique flavor experience.

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 4 min, 0 sec
Courtney

Competition? I love competition! Perhaps in a slightly unhealthy way… haha!

Roswell Strange

We’re seeing who can get the most tasting notes in by the end of January. We hit 450 in the same day, and started from there so we were on the exact same playing field.

Courtney

Ohh, well shoot. I’m not even close to 450 haha! Good luck to both :)

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65
drank Honeybush Mango by Adagio Teas
5272 tasting notes

So I feel dumb. I literally spent like 10 minutes try to slice out tiny labels using a knife because I forgot my craft scissors downstairs. Only after I finished did I remember that in the very same knife block, from which I grabbed the knife, there was a pair of kitchen scissors! Oh well, everyone has stupid moments now and again. C’est la vie.

Anyways, I am slowly getting through the surplus of this MissB sent my way. Also I might have taken advantage of large swap packages and hidden a few cups worth of this inside. There really is not much to say about this cup, it is simple and mellow and not bad to have every now and again. At the end of the day, it is pretty boring though and I doubt I will remember it much when it is finally all gone. Nonetheless, thank you MissB! Your generosity truly knows no bounds :)

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec

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72
drank Monkey Fart by Southern Boy Teas
5272 tasting notes

I am enjoying a small cup of this brew as I wait for a hot cup to steep. I love the convenience of having a pitcher of this in my fridge to get a quick tea fix. The base is a little stronger today (not sure why as there is no tea bag in it anymore) but I am still enjoying the banana flavor this tea leaves behind after each sip.

Preparation
Iced 8 min or more

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50
drank Cherry Marzipan by Tea Forte
5272 tasting notes

Sipdown!! (203)

Thank you JennyFur for this blend. Although tbh, I won’t be missing it now that it is gone. The vegetal base is just too prominent for my liking. The cherry and marzipan flavors are nice but left to compete with the overpowering base.

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 2 min, 0 sec

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75
drank Cinnamon Star by Tea Desire
5272 tasting notes

This is one of many teas that the wonderful MissB sent me. Tastewise, there is a mellow cinnamon flavor in the cup with the faintest hint of vanilla sweetness. I would say, though it is a tad bit weaker than I expected, it is reminiscent of the cinnamon you would find in a cinnamon bun – not too spicy and not cloyingly sweet but rather the perfect balance. I just wish the flavor was more pronounced but that does not mean this cup is not tasty. Thank you MissB!

ETA: I added a bit of milk to see what would happen and I think it is better without it. The already muted flavor was even more toned down by the addition :(

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec

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80
drank Strawberry Field by CaesarsTea
5272 tasting notes

This is not a bad green tea. I have had (and do have in my stash) better but I have also had worse. There is a bit of that vegetal green base creeping into the flavor but mostly it is just a mellow strawberry taste. It is a weak flavor but it definitely is there. Plus it is clearly natural which is always nice.

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 2 min, 0 sec

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80

Sipdown! (204)

I think I prefer this cold brewed but honestly it is not bad hot either. I had no idea what steeping parameters to use so I just brewed the 1 tsp I had in boiling water for around 3 minutes. I figured keeping the steep time low would keep the hibiscus (that I am not 100% but pretty sure is in this blend) calm and luckily that worked. There is a slight tartness but that is overpowered by the smooth creaminess. Hot I get a lot more of the rum flavor which provides an interesting to the creaminess as there is a dry quality in this that is reminiscent of actual rum. All in all a pretty good cup so thanks again Roswell Strange and hopefully Rum Cream and I meet again in the future :)

ETA: Added a splash of milk and that really enhanced the creamy quality. Plus it is a very pretty shade of purplish-pink.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 15 sec

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70

Sipdown!! (201…yet another that is being sent off to live happily with bluebelle)

Since this has a rating I figure I wrote about it once before but since it is not mentioned in my spreadsheet I opted to have one last cup before I sent it away. So my thoughts? Well I am happy it is being sent off because I won’t reach for it often but this is a nice cup of tea.

Tastewise, it is buttery from the white tea base (so basically today I am realizing it is actually whites that are buttery and not greens as I had thought prior to drinking the Ontario Ice Wine earlier). Among the butteriness, there is a pleasant peach flavor with a hint of lemongrass zing. Definitely tasty but I obviously I realized this would get lost and forgotten about in my large stash and made the right choice by giving it away. Au revoir Peach Lemon Tutti Fruitti, I hope you find a home where you will be more appreciated!

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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drank The Skinny (organic) by DAVIDsTEA
5272 tasting notes

Sipdown!! (202…well sort of as the rest is being sent away to bluebelle).

Bluebelle contacted me about a swap and this was one of the teas that she had an interest in. I checked both my spreadsheet and here and realized I never wrote anything about it and for the life of me could not recall the taste. So before measuring out what I had to send, I scooped off one serving for myself so I would have a record of why I put this up for swap.

Honestly, it is a tasty oolong. No fun flavors that I have come to love but rather just a warming cup of tea. I definitely get why this was up for swap as I overlook this every day in favor of my more exciting teas but I think it will find a good home with bluebelle. So long The Skinny! It was nice while it lasted.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 4 min, 0 sec
bluebelle

I admit the pu-erh part of it scared me at first but I don’t think I’ve met an oolong I don’t like. :) Glad you re-familiarized yourself with it before packing it up!

VariaTEA

The pu’erh is really not that noticeable. I do hope you enjoy it!

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Profile

Bio

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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