Reading PdT’s own description of this tea, it comes off as something very complex. It’s certainly very present scent wise – almost to a take-over-the-room level, but the suggested complexity is nowhere to be found. I can’t really do my usual notes-of-this, or notes-of-that, because there’s just one main note – a somewhat flat, slightly …
Written by
gluttonette
Thai Nguyên – Trà hoa lài (Trà Lài Thái Nguyên) – Natural Vietnam Tea (Nam Nhien Vietnam Tea)
You remember when I checked the no-teas-bought-in-January-challenge box? Right. Thing is, I did buy some teas when I was in Vietnam, but only to give away as gifts. As it turned out, I ended up with one bag too many (it sounds like I broke up with a friend, or something, but I really just …
Jasmin Chung Hao – Forgeron & Blanc
It is time for a short break from the infernal EU swap box (don’t get me wrong, the swap experience itself is beautiful, but the logistics of getting that box closed are seriously like something from Dante) to give Project Jasmine some attention. It was thanks to the first round of the box swap that …
Une autre idée? – Theodor
I wish I knew what the trick is to rooibos. What makes a good and a not-so-good flavoured rooibos so completely different? When I first had delicate, French-style rooibos I could barely believe it was the same thing as the cardboardy German stuff. Do they water the bushes with gold? Sing to them? It can’t …
Zimbabwe White Tea – Nothing But Tea
I had no idea how to brew this, so I checked Steepster for pointers and went with 3 minutes at 80 C. I barely ever read individual tasting notes right before trying a new tea, though, and I have a Steepster user’s ‘powerfully fruity’ comment with me as I sip this. Heh. Let me just …
Xin Yang Mao Jian Green Tea – Teavivre
I tried this tea partly because of Project Unflavoured Green, and partly because it’s so pretty. The leaves look like little hedgehog spines. I like hedgehogs. (A lot.) In the bag, the scent is definitely vegetal, but with a little more punch to it than the green I last tried. This seems more robust. The …
Inachevée de Constantinople – Theodor
The remainder of this sample was just enough for a pitcher of cold-steeped tea. As expected, this worked quite well chilled. It lost a surprising amount of the apple/date character of the hot tea, but it gained some floral notes, and, most surprisingly of all, a peppery aftertaste which was very nice. [Sample from Y …
Cotton Candy – Della Terra Teas
Whenever I’m in Sweden in late spring or early summer, my foremost summer-is-really-here ritual is to have soft serve ice cream with sprinkles. I tend to favor the chocolate sprinkles, but every now and then I go crazy and pick the tutti frutti ones. This tea, in the bag, smells exactly like that – the …
Lavender Earl Grey – Ovation Teas
Lavender Earl Greys are yet another of those tea categories I’m not quite comfortable with (I’ll probably need a good rest at a spa or something after this swap box sampling round.) but want to make some kind of final decision on. I decided to go with the steeping suggestion from a Steepster review of …
Peppermint Cream – Bird & Blend Tea Co
My profile says, ‘No peppermint.’ so obviously it’s time to give peppermint another chance. It’s 2014! The year of tea bravery! Besides, I would really like to learn to enjoy minty teas. In the bag, this smells very fresh and light; it’s all crisp, cool peppermint. In the cup, the scent seems much thicker, a …