Teas Etc

This time around, I brewed at a lower temperature, and this allowed the jasmine and green tea notes to emerge. I think I prefer this prepared with boiling water, actually, because as much as I love jasmine, I also love Earl Grey and I think that this tea should be a rose and earl grey blend rather than a jasmine blend with bergamot and rose background notes.

Still delicious either way, though.

I’ve been wanting to try this tea for quite some time now, so when I placed my last order with Teas Etc, I finally broke down and purchased some. I’m glad I did, it is really delightful. I didn’t notice that there is also jasmine green tea in this blend, so I brewed it as I would normally brew a black Earl Grey (boiling water) and it still tastes amazing… I’m wondering if I should try and tweak it by lowering the temperature for the jasmine… I probably will do that, just to see how the flavors develop with a lower temperature. As it is though, I’m enjoying this cup immensely. Very delicious.

Steep Information:
Amount: 6.3g
Water: 750ml 195F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet, floral, vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: floral, sweet, vegetal
Flavor: smooth, silky, sweet
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: vegetal
Liquor: translucent honey yellow-brown

enjoyable, comforting

Resteep:
Not as smooth or sweet

I decided to have a bit of fun, I made some plain oatmeal (you know the kind you never want to eat in the variety pack) with the tea, and mixed in a bit of cranberry and almond. It was good, The tea was hidden by the other flavors and next time perhaps a fuller tea would show more.

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: amazonv.blogspot.com/2012/02/teas-etc-loose-leaf-oolong-tea-green.html

Thanks so much to QueenofTarts for this tea which I did ask for in my recent swap with her!

I smelled this a bit after I finished brewing it and it smells like coconut. And dirty feet. This is the second red rooibos I’ve had that smells like feet. Feet and cough syrup with a bit of coconut essence, note this was my initial impression when plain. It was a little bit better when soymilk was added.

But man, I have to wonder am I doing something wrong here? I used about 1 tsb of leaf to 12 oz. of tea and steeped for 5 minutes. This is not my favorite. I have no idea why I like some red roobois blends much better than others. Other people seemed to love this one so I dunno… maybe it’s just me?? I thought the recent red roobois teas I had were better tho’.

I did go to the Teas Etc website and they recommend steeping at 180 F or so – I’ll have to try it again at a lower temp. I don’t really like giving a bad review to a tea. :(

Can we have a real winter please? I like the snow, and I’m getting tired of the endless cold rain we’ve been having instead. Oh well, at least I have delicious tea to perk me up since this dreary morning didn’t help at all.

This is a sample I never want to end! It definitely goes on my list of standard panel, must have teas. I’ve written so much about this tea already that I don’t really have anything left to say except that I love this floral Earl Grey and it’s definitely my favorite of it’s type.

Sample number four out of ten this week! Hey I’m doing quite well!

This is one I can’t remember where came from. I’m a little concerned about what sort of impression it’s going to leave me with because it came in a ziplock pouch which had originally contained a TGY sample from Norbu. How does one clean those bags for re-use? How does one avoid TGY traces in the new sample? Oh well, at least it wasn’t a super-strongly aromatic one that was in there before, so I don’t imagine it to be much of a problem, really. But the idea of it puzzled me.

This one looks like a dark oolong and the leaves smelled like a dark oolong, with some cocoa-y notes to it, but after steeping, it suddenly smells greener. Kind of butter-y and vegetal. It still has the cocoa notes and the dark oolong oak-y notes too, though, so you can probably imagine that it’s a bit odd. (Again, I think of that TGY…)

The flavour is also a funny mix of two types, and it’s not just that it tastes like one of those oolongs that seem to be exactly half-fermented. It more like a blend of two. (TGY ghost? None of the others have described this, but on the other hand none of the other posts are very detailed.)

What I’ve actually got here is a very complex flavour profile, and it seems to change like a chameleon several times in just one sip. At the very front of the flavour I’m hit by something floral. Then immidiately after that follows something vaguely like cinnamon and after that we get something fruity, almost peach-y, but not as juicy. Finally the aftertaste is very green tea-ish and slightly minty. Of the cocoa notes in the aroma, I can find nothing.

I’m not going to award points for this because I don’t feel certain that the sample isn’t contaminated by what was previously in the pouch. While what I’ve got here is very enjoyable indeed, there something about it that strikes me as sort of… off. I don’t know if it’s supposed to be that way. If there is no contamination, however, it’s a very lovely tea indeed.

It tastes like real coconut! The nuttiness from the rooibos really adds to the experience here. The rooibos is pretty strong tasting though.

It’s a great dessert tea.

My brain is too tired to write extended reviews these days, but I know when tea is awesome. Take my word on it. :)

I have been enjoying different teas this holiday season, especially white tea and puerh tea. I am finishing this sample from LittleMewBrew today, armed with having read the entire section on white teas in Michael Harney’s Guide to Tea this morning. The first time I had white tea, and the first cheap green tea for that matter, all I tasted was hot water. I am really glad I kept trying different ones and studied the tea so I can enjoy more and more.

This has nice flavor, a tiny bit of nuttiness like lightly toasted walnuts, and a bit of hay.

Thank you, C, for the tea!

Steep Information:
Amount: 5.6g
Water: 750ml 175°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: toasty, then vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: roasty, light vegetal
Flavor: smooth, sweet, a little vegetal
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: toasty
Liquor: translucent brown-green

Other Names: Iron Goddess of Mercy, Ti Kuan Yin, Ti Kwan Yin, Tie Guan Yin, Monkey Picked Oolong

A smooth and sweet Ti Kuan Yin, I even had a leftover cup from the refrigerator and it was good. Not all Ti Kuan Yin ice well.

This was smooth, but not as silky a mouth feel as some very nice Ti Kuan Yin I have had. It is on par with the one from Teavivre. The better Ti Kuan Yin I have had was from Chicago Tea Garden. This would do far be my second favorite.

Resteep Information: 3 min
same as first

Resteep Information: 3:30 min
lighter than first

I gave up on the leaves so I could sleep. This is one of those darling teas you really get your money worth, and it keeps on ticking, just add a bit more time and voila! If you drink a lot of tea start your day off with this and it will keep going all day for you.

My apologies for not getting pictures of resteeps and spent leaves.

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: amazonv.net/2011/12/teas-etc-loose-leaf-oolong-tea.html

I am not even close to being ready for Christmas, two gatherings this week, lots of cooking, and still shopping to do! We were gone for twelve hours yesterday shopping out of town. My back hurts from being hunched over all day making the remaining 62 cards out of 102 that I made for my husband to give at work. I seriously needed to relax tonight! I thought this silver needle tea sent to me so generously by ThePurrfectCup was just the thing, so I asked youngest to brew up a pot for me! I am so glad I did.

Pandora radio is serenading me with Chinese flute, the lights are out, the tree and candles are lit. Now I could fall asleep! But first I plan to enjoy this WHOLE POT of tea!

This is so smooth and soothing. One year ago I could not have appreciated something so light but now I find it a delight. The tea is naturally sweet and there is no bitterness at all, no drying of the tongue. There is a light nutty flavor hiding in there, no grassy taste, and not really buttery. Just a soft, lovely cup (or three) of tea. And I even have some leaves left for another cup or two later this week!

Thank you, C! :). You should be getting some tea from me any day now!

Steep Information:
Amount: 2+ tsp
Water: 500ml 195°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: strong cinnamon apple, minds me of a nice mulled apple cider, hints of roasty tea
Steeped Tea Smell: cinnamon black tea, hint of sweet apple if you sniff hard
Flavor: sweet black tea, spice notes and a subtle sweetness
Body: full
Aftertaste: cinnamon, apple
Liquor: translucent dark reddish brown

It’s a smooth and lovely tea. It doesn’t call to me in such a way it’s going to be an addiction but I am enjoying this and hope it gives me another couple steeps. I should warn you I am suffering from a head cold so scents and flavors may be muted.

Resteep: 500ml 195°F 3 minutes
resteep weaker, but not bad, perhaps adding 30 seconds would have done better?

A warm, comforting, fall feeling cup of tea.

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/12/teas-etc-loose-leaf-oolong-tea-cinnamon.html

Bought mine at Colonial Williamsburg, and it was nothing like its description.

After reading LiberTEAS review I knew this had to be on my next Teas, Etc order. I’m so glad I did. The dry leaves, figs, etc smelled super sweet when I opened the package, so I was a little worried it would be too sweet. I was so wrong! The mix was just right! I am enjoying a dark, rich flavored oolong. The fig is there loud and clear, the cornflower and poppy add a nice sweetness so no additional sweetener was needed which was nice too. i usually prefer my oolongs straight, but this is a nice change from the usual.

I ordered a sample of this along with my recent order, mainly out of curiosity, because I was looking for pear flavored teas as part of a swap gift that I had sent out, and I was contemplating ordering this tea for my swap partner. I am glad that I decided not to order this one for her, because while it is a very delicious tea, it possesses a strong anise flavor (I love it, but, it is not for everyone) and I don’t know if she would have enjoyed it as much as I am.

The description suggests that the pear is the main focus of this cup, but I would have to disagree… I’m getting mostly white tea and anise. I get pear flavor too, but, it is back there a bit, standing behind the strength of the anise. It takes a few sips for the pear to develop, but it is really quite a lovely set of flavors.

It is incredibly light and smooth… and I agree with AmazonV – don’t add anything to this tea, it’s quite lovely as it is, and such a soft, sweet flavor that could easily be overpowered.

I’ve had this tea forever (maybe for over a year) and I just now have gotten around to opening it. Seemed fitting for today. :)

The tea ball unfurls beautifully in my tea glass. Green tea “spokes” cradling two bright marigold blossoms. The flavor is mild, slightly toasty and chlorophyll-like. I think I taste the marigolds too—there’s this sense of dried petals and poutporri-ness in the flavor—almost like incense, in a way.

All in all, this bossoming tea is a lovely novelty and to look at it is uplifting. I can definitely admire the artistry and care in its creation.

But, as for the taste, it’s okay. I’m afraid that it’s not too memorable flavor-wise.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!! Don’t forget to drink some puerh after the feast! ;)

Steep Information:
Amount: 5.8g
Water: 750ml 185°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes 30 seconds
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: vegetal
Flavor: vegetal
Body: Light
Aftertaste: floral
Liquor: translucent green-brown

Too light to taste at 3:30, so I tossed the leaves back in for another 1:00.

Too vegetal without anything else for me, but a smooth cup of tea. Have it with some cookies or snacks.

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/11/teas-etc-loose-leaf-white-tea-bai-hao.html

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 185°F 500ml
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: sweet, fruity, floral
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, light, jasmine
Flavor: sweet, jasmine
Body: Light
Aftertaste: vegetal
Liquor: translucent yellow-green

delicious, light, refreshing, lovely

Resteep:185°F 500ml 4 min
med body, still delicious!

Resteep:185°F 500ml 4 min
3rd steep is too bitter and astringent

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/11/teas-etc-loose-leaf-white-tea-jasmine.html

I love this. The first steeping was really earthy, and really light. Second time around, it became very fruity and a bit floral, with a lot more depth. I hope to have a chance for a third steeping before I have to go out for the rest of the day!

It has not been bitter for me either time around…so far. First steeping was 4 minutes, second I kind of lost track but think it was around 5 1/2 minutes. More more more!

I love figs, I love Formosa Oolong, so I knew I had to try this flavor when I noticed it the last time I shopped with Teas Etc, and fortunately they were nice enough to send this as a sample along with my order. I held off on trying it for a bit, not because I didn’t think I would like it, but because I knew I would so I wanted to save it for a day when maybe I had a less than memorable tea (See my tasting note of the Jane Austen Mafia tea), so that I could have a really good tea and make up for it.

And this tea definitely makes up for it. I got only the sample package, but this is definitely one I will be reordering. I don’t think I’ve ever tasted a truer fig flavor than with this tea. It is amazing.

This brews to a most unusual color. It is extraordinarily dark, almost black, with a plum-ish/purple/reddish hue to it, and it reminds me of the color of the exterior of the figs that I often find in the grocery store.

This tastes SO MUCH like the figs from my childhood (I lived for a short time on a farm that had a fig orchard). I love this tea. It is so good.

There was something about that last tea that just made me feel ill… sometimes that can happen with a particular type of black tea (though I don’t know exactly which one). Hopefully it’s not a type that’s common to all DavidsTea black bases! I decided to go with this tea to fill my non-traditional Earl Grey craving and hopefully chase away lingering yuckiness. It’s been quite a while since I’ve had it, but I still totally love it. I have a bit left, but it’s definitely a reorder when I get through that.

Steep Information:
Amount: 6.6g
Water: 750ml 185°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: very floral, light
Steeped Tea Smell: floral, vegetal
Flavor: light, sweet, crisp, vegetal
Body: Light
Aftertaste: astringent
Liquor: translucent honey yellow brown

I enjoyed this tea, but it was a bit light for me. When I went to eat a snack with it, the tea was overpowered. This is a tea to drink alone. Alone it is a light, refreshing, drink. Somehow it comes off crisp, not exactly sure how to describe it other than that.

Resteep: 4 minutes – just as good as the first round

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/11/teas-etc-loose-leaf-white-tea-white.html

Yum! This is so yummy. I think that the best way I can think of to describe this tea is my gramma’s apple pie filling … liquified … and blended with Formosa Oolong. Yep. That’s what I’m tasting.

It is smooth and rich, sweet and juicy, and very, very wonderful.

Steep Information:
Amount: 2.9g / ~3 tsp
Water: 500ml 185°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: floral, vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, floral
Flavor: vegetal, floral
Body: Light
Aftertaste: vegetal
Liquor: translucent yellow-green

I think perhaps it needed 4 minutes.

Resteep: 500ml 185°F 4 minutes

Nope 4 was a bit bitter, maybe 3:30

A nice light cup of tea, but more perfume-y than I like.

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/10/teas-etc-loose-leaf-white-tea-bai-mu.html