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I’ve been gone for over two weeks, due to internet problems. We were switching providers. …Didn’t work out too well, so we ended up without internet for a time. But it’s all good now.

In that time, I ran out of one tea and picked up two new ones. Both from the organic market near my work. I love that place. It’s got such a wide selection of teas. Mostly all bagged, but still good!

I rather like this one. Brewed, it smells strongly of assam, but sipping it—it’s assam, but not as strong, tempered very well with a bit of ceylon, so it’s bright and bold and quite nice. Would probably hold up very well to tea, I figure.

Once a term at college we have a little Marketplace Setup where local shops sell their wares here. This time around a loose-leaf tea shop set up a booth—the first Canadian storefront for an, apparently, very popular European boutique tea company (Forsman Teas). Although about 90% of the teas contained rose petals (blurg), there were some very good ones in there. But I resisted buying any, because I’d just gotten two teas already (if I’d known a tea company was set to come, I would have held off on this tea and the other one I got!). I regretted it though, because they had some VERY unique flavour combinations (all of their years are flavoured blacks or greens or black/greens; their 1001 Nights is quite different from any I’ve ever seen before). I wanted to try Northern Lights, which is blueberry and mint black. Very interesting!

Back to THIS tea, though—I like it. From what I understand, they company sells loose leaf as well, but there were none at the place I went. Just these bagged. But they’ve got bagged Russian Caravan! How interesting. I want to pick a box up after I run out, just to try.

Also found a shop downtown that carries Kusmi teas. I plan to make a run there at some point—haven’t made any exact plans when, although I’m starting to drown in teas, so I think I’ll hold off until I finish off a few more of what I’ve got. I’m starting to run low on a few, so it shouldn’t take long.

Didn’t mean to let the water cool this much before steeping it, but it does bring the grenadine flavour forward much more. Very fruity. I’m actually starting to get low on this, and it makes me sad because although I’d like to get more, I’d rather try some from a different company. I still strongly dislike Tea Desire’s flavoured blacks base.

Still, finding this enjoyable.

Smells like hibiscus. Which is… KIND of a rasberryish smell?

First few sips, I’m getting a surprisingly un-hibiscusy sour taste. Don’t know what it is.

I can’t, for the life of me, understand why hibiscus is at the TOP of the ingredients list in all these kinds of blends. It’s too powerful, put more of the actual intended flavours in. As it cooled I only got hibiscus.

I ALMOST think I taste raspberry, but I’m not sure. It was mentioned to try this iced, and I guess I probably should. Still, it’s a very pretty shade of red.

The tea’s cooled, and I’m starting to pick up a bit more raspberry.

I’ve only ever SMELT amaretto, never tasted it, but there is somewhat of a vague comparison in the scent. I don’t know, I haven’t sniffed it RECENTLY (not that I make it a habit or anything), but I’ve found it to have a syrupy sweet scent that I rather dislike. This, however, is a sweet, nutty, and fruity smell.

Sipping it, I get rooibos, and the SMELL of amaretto in taste-form. What. A sort of pungent, soursweet numbingly alcoholic taste. I’m not sure if I like it, but I know my mother rather enjoys amaretto, and I’m considering offering some to her next time I see her.

Smells like an earl grey, although brighter, a bit—I think I can pick out the sweetness of the mandarin orange. But there’s also a strong tea smell in there as well, which I like.

FIrst sip… Is tea and mandarin, actually. The mandarin is very mild, but it’s the first of the citruses to pop out at me.

As it cools, I’m getting the bergamot. No orange anymore. It’s devolved! Aaaah!

I keep telling myself to wait, and let it cool more, so I can make a few notes on the changing flavour, but I keep sipping it hot.

The mandarin’s slipping back in, as an aftertaste on the edge of my tongue. This is a very mild, afternoon sort of tea, I think. I enjoy earl greys, but I don’t think I have the palate to pick this apart like many Grand Earl Grey Drinkers (which I’m sure exist!). Still, I love earl grey variations. Mmm. Bit of a drying astringency in there as well.

I’m giving this a tentative rating, a “I’m not sure what my opinion is yet, this will probably change; let’s put it above this, but below this for now, because that looks safe”.

Also, this is my first Kusmi Tea! I was so happy to find it amongst the others, because I’ve been very interested in trying Kusmi. Especially their Russian blends. I want to collect ALL of their Russian blends, but can’t bring myself to flood my Shopping List with them. I’ve found a store downtown that is supposed to sell them, so I may be getting more soon.

Second steep has a stronger orange taste. Weaker tea and bergamot, so it pokes through more.

Another tea from AmazonV!

This one was very fruity dry, but the brewed liquid smells only of hibiscus. The taste is mostly hibiscus as well, although there’s something cooling in there, which I’m taking to be the pineapple. Otherwise, there’s a chewy non-fruityness as well, and… a hint of orange, I think. Hmm. Maybe I’ll try more next time. It’s still refreshing, though.

I see almond slivers and coconut shavings. Dry it has a creamy, sweet coconuty smell. Brewed is similar, but darker.

The taste is a creamy black tea, with a sweetness of coconut. I don’t think I’m getting anything from the almonds, but I figured those were just there for show anyhow.

Oh, maybe I am getting something from the almonds—a sort of nutty aftertaste.

Brewed this for four minutes, but I think it would have done all right at three as well.

Oh wow, before I even knew it my mug was empty. I clicked back to this window with the intention of finishing my review, but when I reached for my mug there was nothing left TO review.

Goes to show everyone that I enjoyed this. A lot. I will have to go back for a second steep.

Second steep smells good, although is considerably weaker in taste. But still creamy sweet. Mm.

Drinking this one again. Accidentally oversteeped the two minutes I had intended, and I don’t know by how much.

Hot, the rose is strongly present, and not terrible, but I am for sure not a rose fan. As it cools it gets bitter still, but mixed into the bitterness is definite hints of the darjeeling. So it’s not all rose. Still getting progressively bitter as it cools though, better but still to the point that I’m contemplating tossing it soon. Yick. This tea just doesn’t like me.

Still excitedly awaiting the teas I won from AmazonV’s art contest. It usually takes a while for things to get to Canada, so I’m patient.

I only have two posts logged for this, and yet I’m almost out. Whoops.

I wouldn’t mind more, though. This is rather nice in the morning. Keemun nutty. I will have to get more. Except that the Chapters that I got it from only sells the tins of the bagged stuff, and I’d really rather NOT start collecting Harney and Sons tins. If only they took paypal, god damnit.

I have also, since, finished off one or two teas… Downsizing my cupboard a bit.

Wow. I’ve posted so rarely about this tea, it’s been moved to the ever end of my cupboard.

I’m enjoying this and its faint nuttyness this morning, because I have it bagged and thus don’t need to drag out any infusers, which I have already packed away. I’m going camping with my family.

I packed pretty much as many teabags and small travel-tins of tea as I could. I didn’t have a travel-tin for it, so I threw my tin of A&D’s Caravan right into the bag. You CAN’T forget your SMOKY TEAS when you’re going camping of all places. My father was DELIGHTED to learn that I was going to bring the ‘bacon tea’.

My backpack is filled with art supplies and tea. …There are some clothes in there as well—those I could fit around the other two.