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First impressions? This smells like (roasted) yerba maté. Tastes a little like it too, but also like real tea, which is good. This looks to be a whole different brew from Adagio/Rishi’s Kukicha – both the leaves (what I can see of them in the bag) and the liqueur are a dark brown. This tastes a little like coffee, a little like chocolate, and a little like some imitation-coffee tea blends I’ve had (chicory is probably the flavor I’m getting there, or some sort of barley malt). It’s hard to pin down the flavor, but definitely interesting, and I will probably keep it on hand as a strong but low caffeine bedtime drink.

Smells like a Ceylon (i.e. archetypal black tea), but a little fruitier, especially when hot. No additives this time – it’s tasty enough without, and I think milk might overwhelm the subtle bits (yes, there’s a little molasses) that make it more interesting than a typical Ceylon. A little sugar would probably be fine, but I wouldn’t do honey (again, subtle flavors). Some spice and berry make this quite satisfying, but I probably wouldn’t buy a stock; I like my black teas more in-your-face (a.k.a not ceylon) than this.

(Also I like parentheses :)
ETA: Actually, a tiny bit of cream was very good for this – brought out the rich caramel flavors. And a second steep at 5 minutes was slightly weaker but still very good.

Rawr my tasting note got eaten :( shorter version then:
Smells and tastes like what it is – a good Formosa Oolong. Roasted, slightly fruity; coppery color. Ample leaf + short steep times = many steeps.
2nd at 195°F for 45 seconds is both a little more astringent and fruitier

Red Leaf Tea included 4 free samples on my last order – this is the last of them. The aroma is sweet white tea with a hint of rose… as is the flavor. Huh. I was expecting this to be more overpoweringly floral and am pleasantly surprised to be wrong. Delicate white tea with a hint of rosebuds, not perfume. Nice!

Mmm, this is quite nice. Strong and full flavored, a little harsh plain (but I may have oversteeped a touch), smooths out easily with a little milk and sugar. Hints of cocoa, fruit, and spice, but I’m not actually getting a lot of malt from this one. That’s fine though, the flavor is round and satisfying regardless.

Still my favorite oolong? Yep.

Apparently boiling water into room temp tiny glass pot → 200°F starting temperature. This is a little hotter than the last time I had this tea, and the aroma is roastier than I recall. There’s still some fruit, fortunately. Likewise for the taste: a little toast, but still peachy, and a nice tropical fruit aftertaste (or maybe that’s orchid? I haven’t eaten an orchid before). Still, think I understeeped this a little – more leaf next time.

2nd steep at 195 and 4 minutes

Wanted something comforting tonight – Florence fits the bill. Like hot chocolate for anyone who’s outgrown most of their sweet tooth .5tsp/3.5oz is a little weak at 3 minutes, but I wanted to get two steeps out of it.