5272 Tasting Notes

80

This tea is amazing! I could just sit and breathe in the smell of the steeped tea all day because it is that intoxicating. This tea in general is just comforting, cozy, warm, and delicious. It is sweet, but not cloying, and flavored but not too in-your-face. The caramel is ooey-gooey and the vanilla is natural and both make for a sweet treat. The assam is also noticable but not in a way that it overpowers the flavors, rather it compliments them and provides depth to the cup. An amazing treat. Thank you Cavocorax for sharing this with me!!

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec
JustJames

it is exceptional…

Cavocorax

This one re-steeps well too! I’m happy you enjoyed it! I’m planning to order more on Friday as I’m getting low.

VariaTEA

I actually figured that out already because I was not quite ready to stop drinking after the first steep.

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70
drank Florence by Harney & Sons
5272 tasting notes

This tea came to me in a lovely little swap with Cavocorax and as someone who loves the combination of chocolate and hazelnut (nutella anyone??)I could not wait to try it. Unfortunately this is just not doing it for me. Perhaps I brewed it wrong but I am mostly tasting black tea and not much else. At least it is good black tea :) Thank you Cavocorax!

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec
Fjellrev

I totally agree with you! I was hoping for more Nutella but alas, it’s a little on the plain side, so I use this as a mixer.

Dexter

Really? – another example of how everyone experiences tea different. I love Florence – in my top 5 fav chocolate teas….

VariaTEA

I steeped it in boiling water and I am wondering if that was maybe my problem because all I can taste is black tea.

Fjellrev

I’ve tinkered with the steeping parameters something fierce and it just doesn’t do anything for me.

VariaTEA

Oh no. Then perhaps I will follow in your lead and use this as a mixer as well. I think I will give it another try or two before I completely give up on it.

Dexter

I think some teas just don’t work for some people. If it helps I would guess that I would do 1.5 tsp 95C 4-5 minutes. Something like that. Good luck, but if not I’m sure you will find something to mix with it. :))

TeaBrat

It is better when steeped for 5 minutes I think

Cavocorax

I think with these H&S teas it’s better to risk overleafing too. I bought all of those in July and noticed lately that they seemed a little flat, and I think it’s because I’ve been using a 16 oz mug instead of my regular 12 and have been underleafing.

ifjuly

Florence is a really weird tea to me. The first time I had it, I was completely, utterly blown away by how over the top Nutella tasting and smelling it was. Just shocked. I had it again a few weeks later (same parameters; I write them in chalk pen on my tins) and it was just the way confused disappointed Florence sippers describe it—watery, like super thin black tea. It has since fluctuated with no rhyme or reason for me; I never know which cup I’m going to get and there’s no in between, it’s either blow my skull off fantastic or really really meh. So strange.

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50
drank Aloha Pu'erh by DAVIDsTEA
5272 tasting notes

Whiskey Buzz sent me some of this in a swap and I am really happy she did! This tea is quite nice. The dry leaf smells fruity and sweet. I got worried because after rinsing the leaves in boiling water, the tea had a very strong fermented smell. Luckily, that is not reflected in the taste. This tea is sweet while still remaining earthy. I can taste both pu’erh and the fruit but neither is overwhelming. I don’t really pick up on the white chocolate but there is a creaminess to this tea that could be resulting from it. All in all, it is definitely a nice cup of tea. Thank you Whiskey Buzz for sharing your stash :)

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 30 sec

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75
drank Boléro by Mariage Frères
5272 tasting notes

Thank you MissB for your generous swap package! Inside said package, I found a sample of this tea and I am really glad I did. This is not a tea I would have picked out on my own and I realize now I would be missing out. This is quite a delicious cup of tea. It is smooth and fruity while not tasting artificial or over-the-top. Thanks MissB! I can’t wait to try the other teas you sent :)

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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95
drank Birthday Cake by DAVIDsTEA
5272 tasting notes

This was actually the tea that got me into loose leaf tea and though it really is not the best tea it always seems to do the trick. Given that my food options are limited, when I crave sweet treats I turn to tea. In a perfect world I would have had some delicious Della Terra Carrot Cake tea but that is gone and what I do have is some of this. Though sweet, the flavor lacks but the smell is amazing! Every time I lift the mug to take a sip, my nose is filled with the yummy scent of creamy vanilla frosting and it helps satisfy my craving for dessert. Not a bad way to end the night.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec

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58
drank Lemon Tart by CaesarsTea
5272 tasting notes

I picked this tea up because I really enjoyed the smell. It was lemon-y and delicious smelling but not particularly tart. Nonetheless, I thought I would give it a try. Steeped, the smell of the green tea comes through a bit more than the flavoring. This is reflected in the taste which is slightly vegetal with a hint of lemon flavor. It is not tart like its name would suggest but it is not a bad cup of tea either. However, I don’t think I will be buying this one again as there are other teas I would reach for long before grabbing this. That doesn’t mean I won’t enjoy the bit of this I still have left.

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 2 min, 0 sec

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70
drank Cream Earl Grey by CaesarsTea
5272 tasting notes

I made this in the morning before I ran out to class and it sat in my thermos all day before I actually got around to drinking it. When I did get to try it, I thought it was a nice cup of earl grey – not the best that I have tried but definitely pleasant. It was creamy and sweet and almost floral but not quite perfume-y. The citrus flavor from the Bergamot came through but its taste was slightly reminiscent of the smell of Satsuma shower gel from the Body Shop if that makes any sense. All in all, not bad but I think I will continue to search for the perfect Earl Grey.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 15 sec
mrs.stenhouse12

I love the body shops Satsuma scent :D

VariaTEA

It is pretty awesome! I got some free Satsuma hand lotion today so I was very happy

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Thank you Whiskey Buzz for this tea!! I think this is definitely a great little cup of tea. It was definitely buttery and sweet. The flavors were a little bit flat but I imagine a teensy bit of sugar would do wonders to pull that out because they were definitely there, just hiding. Although I don’t think it will be a permanent staple in my collection, I am happy to have more of this tea to enjoy for a bit. Thank you Whiskey Buzz!! This was definitely a nice treat :D

ETA: I resteeped this and it is growing on me. It tastes almost like butterscotch – buttery and delicious! Yum!!

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec

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drank Pina Colada Honeybush by 52teas
5272 tasting notes

This tea came as part of the bestsellers sampler pack so I thought I would give it a try. It tastes exactly like Pina Colada. The only problem is I am not a fan of Pina Coladas. I am going to avoid rating this one because I definitely won’t be drinking it again but anyone looking for a Pina Colada tea should definitely invest in this one. Into the swap box this goes.

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98
drank Lime Chiffon by Della Terra Teas
5272 tasting notes

Sipdown! But what a sad sipdown this is. I only had a sample, courtesy of Dexter3657 and that was not nearly enough. This tea is sweet and creamy but has the delicious flavor of lime. It is like a guilt-free bit of key lime pie and it is amazing! Thank you Dexter!! This one will surely be missed until I get some more.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 6 min, 30 sec
Sil

nice! glad you got to try this one :)

VariaTEA

I definitely am too! It is a great tea :)

ifjuly

the two chiffon teas are my favorite della terra besides EGC! yum.

VariaTEA

I haven’t tried the Lemon Chiffon yet but I plan on ordering some in the future

Cavocorax

Mmmm. I love the lime chiffon! If you’re thinking of ordering, wait for Black Friday as they’ll likely have a great sale that weekend. Della Terra was the first company I ordered from online but I couldn’t resist 40-60% off. It was insane.

VariaTEA

haha that is the plan. I am dying for some more carrot cake but I want so much that I feel it is best to wait for a sale

Cavocorax

Yeah, I’m really hoping to get more of that then too. And some Chocolate Pumpkin Pie, and the Raisin Cookie one too.

I’m a little afraid that the ones I want will be sold out though. There are a few teas (like Eight Candles) that I just never seem to get while it’s in stock. :P Fingers crossed!

VariaTEA

I really want to try Eight Candles – it sounds amazing. Hopefully it is in stock when we place an order

Lariel of Lórien

When does the sale start? I want some holiday teas too.

Cavocorax

I think November 29th for most of the sales – as that’s Black Friday! Keep an eye on the discussions as I’m sure we’ll have a dedicated thread going where we compile them all. Short Sorceress has also started this one: http://www.notstarvingyet.com/index/2013/11/20/good-deal-alert-pre-black-friday-deals-you-wont-want-to-miss.html

yyz

Last year DT had sales all weekend but the best (ie 40-60 off were on Friday)

Lariel of Lórien

Off 1 ounce or Try Me Samplers?

MissB

VariaTEA, if you fail to get some Eight Candles, I’ll save some of mine here for you. I only got a sampler, but it’s enough to share.

VariaTEA

That would be amazing! Hopefully I will be able to get some on my own though so you don’t have to share your sample. I will let you know what happens!

yyz

Lariel if I remember the lower discount was across everything ( even gifts), and the higher discount was timed, available at certain times of the day and I think it was only applicable to a certain range of teas). However having said that there is no guarantee that they are planning the same promotion this time.

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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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