Featured & New Tasting Notes
I don’t really care much for mint flavours on their own. My colleagues drink this mint/liquorice root concoction that they claim is delicious. I disagree. You don’t even get the two flavours at the same time. First it’s minty mint and then the liquorice root doesn’t come through until you swallow, which to me seems like trying to have two different sorts of tisanes at the same time. Like they couldn’t decide if they wanted one or the other. But that’s not what I’m having now so I’ll shut up about it.
As mentioned I don’t really care much for mint. I have it so I can mix it into other stuff.
But then, on days like these where I’ve apparently eaten something or other that I shouldn’t have, it’s the only sort of tea or approximation of tea* that I can stomach. The very idea of anything else, even my normal favourites just make me go bleeeeargh!
So I’m having plain peppermint infusion now. I’m not enjoying it really, but it’s the only thing I want.
*Herbal infusions are of course NOT tea. Herbal infusions never HAVE been tea. Herbal infusions never WILL be tea. Herbal infusions have never even as much as seen a tea bush and are therefore no more tea than cocoa is coffee.
I feel the same way about mint, but I have a tin of spearmint for those days where my stomach can’t handle full on tea and then I usually mix it with a cream-flavored black. Mint is more medicinal than happy.
I reserve my Moroccan Mint for when I’m feeling frazzled and need to hit the refresh button. Or the wake-up button. Or hit both buttons frantically until I break the machine and then go cry in the corner. It’s not for everyone, though.
Mint by itself is kind of a one-hit wonder. Try mixing it with a green or black tea. You’ll still get a heady hit of freshness, but the tea will add a satisfying complexity.
Licorice root is better for coughs and sore throats I find, although apparently it’ll coat and soothe irritated digestive systems aswell.
Have you tried mixing in camomile with your peppermint?
Aug3zimm & Cynthia Carter: I’ll save those suggestions for later, when I’m feeling better. At the moment I can’t have tea primarily because I think my stomach would revolt against me, and secondarily because when I’m sick it just doesn’t taste good.
Takgoti: I’ve never had Moroccan Mint, but it pops up everywhere regularly. Maybe I should get around to trying it one of these days.
Jillian: I don’t have an chamomile at the moment, otherwise I’d totally try that. I’ve used liquorice root successfully before with sore throats, though. It might have been somewhat placebo, but as long as it works I don’t care if it’s psychosomatic or not. Just a small bit of parted lengthwise liquorice root in the cup, boiling water on and in combination with strepsils. That totally works.
The apple flavor is a little too subtle for me, but this is still a nice, drinkable tea, and perfect for a cold morning.
A bit down on myself today. I’ve been listening to Cat Power’s Werewolf on repeat for an hour, and later I’ll go see a friend’s modern dance piece later. Sencha is something that feels so common that it seems to meet my mood.
When looking for something grassy, this is my current favorite.
The raspberry and lemon notes become subtle and balance well with the mate after brewing. I was a little concerned that they would be overpowering; the loose tea smelled like raspberry-lemonade flavored candy. Previously I have found some of Teavana’s flavored teas to be overpowering, but this one is a keeper.
but with a twist!
Following yesterday’s chocolate chili fail, I got lots of suggestions for stuff to try instead.
Vanilla with a bit of peppermint was one of them.
I’d never have thought of this combination on my own, in spite, bizzarely, of having a pack of very nice chewing gum with this exact combination in my bag right now. I’d just never considered ‘translating’ it to tea.
It is, in tea, very nice! Both vanilla and peppermint have a natural sweetness, and their flavours surprisingly suit each other, making the tea sort of sweet but not.
I suspect it’s a combination that would also work very well on ice.
Adagio’s foxtrot does the vanilla-peppermint thing with rooibos, so you’re definitely onto something. I salute your experimentation!
The person who suggested the combination to me mentioned rooibos also, so that might actually have been the one they ‘learned’ it from. Not that I know, of course, but I could imagine. I’m not really a big fan of rooibos myself though, so I’ll just stick to the black. :)
This blend sounds super yum. I’ll have to try it when I have the ingredients on hand.
The second steeping came out much better and I stuck it in the fridge to cool and drank it with supper. This is a wonderful tea to drink iced, with or without sweetener.
Today started off bad. Things just weren’t clicking and every indication pointed to a bad, bad day. And bad days don’t do well with happy, fruity teas for me. So I pulled this one out as a better fit for my mood.
The morning continued to suck. Then my tea cooled enough to drink. Because of the smell, I expect a flat taste that sort of kicks me in the teeth. But it doesn’t. Yes, it’s strong and really stands up to milk. But it has a really great depth of flavor that sort of plays around in my mouth as I drink it. A definite improvement to the day.
And then I saw this and the day got even better. http://tinyurl.com/lobstercar
Awesome. The picture does it justice as it is a really bright green which apparently means its good stuff and fresh. It must be cause for an usucha (thin tea) matcha this tastes pretty sweet! Nice balance with the sweetness and the grassy vegetal taste of matcha. I followed the recipe on their matcha-tea.co.uk blog and must say it does make an awesome green tea latte – better than that powdered mix crap I’ve had before!
This is what I’m drinking at work at the moment. Currently they’re messing with the ceiling and the ventilation system so it’s impossible to work. In the meantime I figured I could go and talk about this tea.
It’s the house blend of a small local tea shop near where I live. It consists of Panyong, Keemun and Yunnan black tea with mallow flowers and is supposedly without or low in tannins.
I’ve had a sample of this ages ago which I liked but never bought more of. I’m pretty certain it didn’t have the mallow flowers then, but I can’t really be certain. (actually I think I might have an ancient review of it somewhere, but I don’t have access to it at the moment)
It’s a pleasant blend with a nice floral but not too much so aroma. It’s a good work-tea and I imagine it would be quite nice with a bit of milk as well as without. I don’t really agree with the no tannins, though. I feel like I’m definitely picking up some tannins in this.
However, I learned a few weeks ago that it’s not a particularly good tea for brewing in the morning and bringing on the train in the travelling mug. For some reason there I didn’t like it much at all. I expect it was too much of it at one time since this is not necessarily a tea where you have to drink gallons.
One, maybe two cups is pleasant, but enough.
(I hope this is getting a green thumbs up sign. When I move the cursor away from the icon it turns into the red thumbs down… It’s supposed to be a green one for liking it!)
Steeped for 3 min in less-than-boiling water.
This is a light, gentle, and slightly sweet white tea with the bitter citrus taste of bergamot. Bergamot flavouring is about the only time I can stand bitterness in my tea. In this one it’s enough to give the tea some bite, but it isn’t the punch in the face you can get with some earl greys.
Preparation
Must. Order. More. Tea.
I have such a small hand full of oolongs and greens now which is sad because that’s pretty much what I’m going to have in the evening. In fact, I have enough leaf to do one, maybe two more cups of this tea.
So the big question: do I order more Rishi so I can get more of this only Chinese green I love? Or do I go somewhere else to get new teas and just suck it up for a while and be Jade Cloud-less?
These are the tough choices in my life.
But on the plus side, kitty-girl is happy and drugged up and the lump wasn’t a tumor. Woo!
I won’t lie, I’ve been thoroughly impressed with Rishi so far. This is one of the ones I ordered, but I have yet to drink it. It’s on the queue for tomorrow.
Doi. I’ve been doing math all day, it’s the math’s fault. I totally meant to say YAY! about your cat. You must be relieved.
I really, really like this tea and would be sad if I ran out so I don’t envy your decision. Good news about the kitty!
Really glad to hear about your kitty. And no Rishi tea for me. Boo.
Yep, kitty is doing great and we are relieved! YAY!
@takgoti: Math is evil. This tea is good. Though I will say that I have enjoyed it more after it has gotten a little older. When I first got it, I got a saltier taste from it but it seems to have mellowed a bit that makes me like it even more.
@jennlea: I’m hoping to find a tin of this in the store so I don’t have to choose!
@Jillian: Why no Rishi? I’ve only tried a few of theirs and this is my favorite. The other two are decently good.
Because shipping costs are evil. It’s $20 minumum to get a package from them shipped north of the border. Hmph.
Ah, that would totally do it! The few Rishi things I’ve picked up were actually in a store so I haven’t ordered anything directly from them. And the first ones I got, I got for the tins. :)
This is Teavana’s crème de la crème of white tea. This is my bread and butter tea. While I’m on the topic of bread, I’ll also point out about the flavor that if tea and butter had a child, this is probably what it would taste like. The texture of the tea liquor has almost a viscosity to it.
After a day with challenges, this is my tea. After a day with something to celebrate, this is my tea. Fortunately, today I am celebrating a good day with this tea and the Avett Brother’s Pretty Girl from Cedar Lane.
Oooooooh! Update from the last time I had this! So… I got the POUND of Pu-erh Vanilla Mint that I ordered! Mwahaha, I was so excited!
So to celebrate, last night I did as Rishi recommends, and I brewed it like a chai. Half milk, half water, and 2 tablespoons of tea per 12 ounces. It was very good (when you smell it you’re going to think of Andes Mints or Girl Scout Thin Mints!) but I, personally, prefer it just brewed with water. It creates SUCH a dark brew, but it’s not bitter at all, and it’s just… awesome. It’s awesome. You should try it. It’s awesome.
Have a great day!
I’m seriously slacking on the Pu-Erh tea drinking, I’ve had Rishi’s, but I don’t remember what kind, it was too long ago, I’m not even sure I have it. Good info Oh Cha!
but is it awesome? :)
@LENA F. Good question. But did she say that THIS one was awesome? Maybe TeaCast is better off sticking with his possibly awesome possibly not-so-great pu-erh, because it sounds to me like Oh Cha didn’t care for this tea.
@Oh Cha A pound?! That’s dedication. This is totally going on my list.
Seriously! It’s so good! I have at least one cup of this a day! The pound is going quickly!! LOL
I’m working on recipe possibilities for this tea… I’m thing about trying to make it into some sort of ice cream topping… but with frozen yoghurt of course… because I’m a health nut!! Maybe… a twist on a grasshopper you know???
I’ll let you guys know how it goes!! :)
Er yeah, chai tea this ain’t. But I drink this stuff instead of rooibos when I feel like something decaffinated. Adding even a tiny bit of honey will really bring out the honey flavour.