Featured & New Tasting Notes
Bag from a TTB. This is much fruitier than I expected! The spearmint is pretty bright as well. The base is slightly murky, but not bad. I’m a fake sweetener fan, and even I can taste how strong it is here, so I’m sure that would bother some people. This isn’t bad, but it would need some tweaks for it to be better.
This Dan Cong is on the pricier side, but it delivers. It has a great complexity and depth overall.
The dry leaf aroma is nutty and flowery with additional hints of cookies and molasses. During the session, the smell gives a bunch of associations, such as purple corn, green pepper, Breckland thyme, and orchids.
The liquor itself is very fragrant as well, its smooth and tender character in the mouth quickly transforms into a strong presence with punch and astringency. The tea has a superb bitter and floral taste with notes of apple and sugarcane. Its aftertaste is also quite rich and mineral.
Flavors: Apple, Astringent, Bitter, Cookie, Corn Husk, Floral, Flowers, Green Pepper, Herbal, Mineral, Molasses, Nutty, Orchid, Pungent, Smooth, Sugarcane, Thyme
My first sip of this was a bit off-putting, but once I got the right ratio of sweetener and soy milk in there, I found it pretty pleasant! Nothing made me think eggnog specifically, but the flavoring was a little mild and milky in a way that is in the direction of eggnog at least. The base wasn’t my favorite here. I’d order other Teeccino blends again before this one.
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There are lots of dried apple cubes in the rich brown tea leaves and pretty calendula petals, with an aroma of apple and spices, including cinnamon, allspice, and vanilla.
The base is really nice for pairing with food and is malty with slight briskness, which indicates that it could handle milk and sugar if you wish. We drank ours plain. There is a bright tangy spark that evokes the cider aspect of the blend. It really delivers the taste that the name advertises!
Ashmanra’s sipdown challenge – January 2025 Tea #7 – A tea you put off drinking
I just started a pouch of this ancient tea…I guess I have a lot of Frank’s SBT teas waiting around unopened until I finish a few others, so I only open a few at a time. I’m not brewing them as iced teas though… usually taking a teaspoon at a time out of the teabag to steep it hot. This in itself creates five servings (ten cups including resteeps) of tea. No wonder if takes me so long to drink them. For its age, it still has a lovely amount of cotton candy flavor on a brisk black base. I bet it was phenomenal before, as the collective steepster rating suggests. 89!
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January Sipdown Prompt – drink a lingering advent tea
This is the second to last remaining Fortnum advent tea. I am leaving Ceylon for Ashman because it is one of his favorites.
When I saw how my cupboard had swelled at the end of the year, I thought I would probably not consider getting the advent for a few years to come. Now I am changing my mind. I liked the variety and I felt free to give away any tins that were duplicates or that were teas we didn’t enjoy. (we don’t love their Christmas Black or Green, sadly.)
They added some new teas to the lineup this year and had fewer duplicates, so I got to try some new blends. So my thought now is that in November I will assess my cupboard size and what they are putting in the advent for 2025 and base it on that. A homemade advent could be a really good thing, too. I still have about 60 of their tiny tins saved from previous years that I could fill and label and have my daughter put the teas in the box so the order will be a surprise.
As for the taste of the tea – this is a good, serviceable breakfast tea. Strong enough to go with food, not so brisk as to require milk, but becomes pretty silky smooth with it. I have never tried it with sugar as I usually don’t add sweetener but I feel sure it could take it well if that’s how you like your tea. It isn’t a competition grade Keemun or Assam, but it is a good example of a well-loved type of tea and sometimes that is what we feel like drinking.
This is a serviceable black tea. Nothing stands out, but I didn’t expect too much. It has a decent amount of body, and it’s quite pleasant sweetened and warm. I wouldn’t seek it out, but I certainly wouldn’t say no to a cup. And I like the mission of Newman’s Own, so I’m glad their teas that I’ve tried so far have been not bad. I must have picked up this bag from a TTB or Airbnb somewhere.
Ashmanra’s sipdown challenge – January 2025 Tea #6 – A sunny tea to chase the Janu-weary blues away
MMMMMM… I couldn’t choose a better tea for this prompt today. It’s a Frank blend, so it’s ancient, but on first sip, wow, I forgot how perfect, pillowy lemony it is. Buttery with just enough of the green base to make the flavor great. An essential tea for this below zero day. It’s actually sunny, yet this tea adds a bit more sun. And give a look at that pouch photo… if that doesn’t make you smile, I don’t know what will. :)
All tea packaging should have pictures of kittens on it.
I like to save some tea packaging when I actually finish the tea, and this pouch will certainly be one of them.
I could go for a kitten right now … as opposed to three opinionated adult felines.
haha! If you let them know that plan, they might decide to be less opinionated. :)
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I am glad they put this in the tins advent this year because I really enjoyed it when I had the sachet advent, but there was only the one serving.
This time, Ashman and I both enjoyed it and neither of us felt that it needed milk to smooth it out or sugar to make it more interesting or tone down briskness.
It is a very nice Assam and goes well with breakfast, although I finished it off today with lunch and as an accompaniment to my “dessert” of two Lindt truffles.
I finished off my giant bag of holiday Lindt truffles and now I’m sad lol.
Cameron B. – I have one single truffle left, but I do have some Ritter Sport and Milka bars left. Chocolate shortages are not permitted here.
OK, that’s it … I’m breaking into the last couple of my Marks & Spencer Christmas chocolates!
gmathis: Do eeeeeet
There is someone in the mirror who ate my Daim Milka bar in one day…
Martin Bednár: I think that person should buy you a new one!
So far I have been successfully abstaining from purchasing the Valentine’s Day flavors LOL! >.<
Bah, I have fallen! I got the Dark Strawberry and Raspberry Cheesecake truffles at the store today, heh heh… XD
Cameron B. – you go, girl! I will no doubt succumb soon. In the meantime, my neighbor just brought us some home made chocolate chunk oatmeal cookies…
Not sure where I acquired this bag, probably a TTB. This tastes like pepper? I shared it with someone who said it tastes like clove. We didn’t notice any orange, just a meh black base plus flavor notes that shouldn’t be there. It was drinkable, but really not great.
Makes you wonder if the people who made the blend either didn’t taste it or didn’t realize how fast the flavors would fade
I wonder if it is extremely old?
Yeah, I guess you never know how old things are with TTBs unfortunately!
I suppose it was probably pretty old, since the most recent review here was nine years ago and someone more recently commented that it had been discontinued. Asmanra and others did comment on the very strong, orange flavor, but that was 12 years ago, even if it was a teabag that had been hiding out in ashmanra’s laundry room! So maybe the (artificial?) orange flavor has dissapated in yours AJRimmer. I dunno. I dunno what TTB is, either. Twinings Tea Bag? No matter, I can spike any old keemun with some OJ and pretend. ;-)
Traveling Tea Box! Ha I definitely acquired it in the last six months, but I guess it must have been old before it got to me!
Ashmanra’s sipdown challenge – January 2025 Tea #5 – January 19 – World Snow Day – drink a white tea!
What a fitting prompt for the day – should be getting about six inches of snow today, which might be the most for the year yet so far which is unusual… this is probably one of only two white teas I have with me, so this one it is. It’s odd it is called a moonlight white, as it really doesn’t remind me of other moonlight teas I have had. The leaves are much smaller — and sometimes I have to double check that it isn’t a green tea. It really tastes more like a green tea. Next time is a sipdown.
Sipdown 5 – 2025
Took me a few years to finish this off, but I do like it. Quite an interesting combination of jasmine and peppermint, that I liked drinking during the holidays.
Another from my recent order. This blend sold me on VANILLA and this sold me on YUNNAN. Yes and yes. It definitely tastes like a tea that I would guess is Yunnan if I didn’t already know it was Yunnan. It has Yunnan flavor notes. Do I know what those are? no. (I will say, the Yunnan leaf looks smaller than the huge Yunnan leaf in the Eggnog Yunnan blend, but that blend was YEARS ago anyway… so not really sure why I’m mentioning it here…) I like that there is a variety of vanilla ingredients here: flavoring, vanilla beans and vanilla crystals. I don’t think the cane sugar makes it overly sweet at all (I really just see an occasional vanilla crystal in the blend anyway). It’s also not overboard on vanilla. I will say the second steep was probably a little too much at four minutes — the black tea became a little harsher for whatever vanilla remained on the leaves. I would probably stick with a three minute second steep next time.
Steep #1 // 1 1/3 teaspoons for a full mug // 19 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 4 minute steep
I bought this at the DavidsTEA in Toronto! This doesn’t mix up smoothly in my almond milk. It was very clumpy. The flavor comes in waves. First it tastes like high quality hot chocolate. Then I taste too much beet. Then at the end I taste a hint of spiciness. It’s multilayered and interesting and rich. The most recent time I had this, I tasted more beet than anything. I’m not sure what that flavor is doing in there. It never mixes well, but getting a bite of powder really isn’t bad compared to getting a mouthful of matcha powder, so that part ultimately isn’t terrible. I would rate this way higher if they took out the beet.
— Color of liquor: Reddish copper brown
— Aroma: Slight muscatel, slight floral
— Flavors: Muscatel, slight cherry, slight astringent
About five years ago, I had a wonderful second flush Darjeeling from Goomtee Estate from another tea company that had an excellent apricot base to the flavor. I have been thinking about this tea and hoping to find one that is similar in recent pickings, so I thought I’d try this one purchased from Upton, hoping the terroir of the estate is what gave my previous tea that apricot flavor. This one is lacking the apricot base I was hoping for, but does have a pleasant muscatel flavor, with a hint of cherries. Astringency was low, but enough to give it character.
This is a nice enough second flush Darjeeling, but it isn’t what I was hoping for. I’ll enjoy the remainder of my order but will keep searching.
Flavors: Astringent, Cherry, Muscatel
Preparation
I hope you find what you’re looking for eventually!
Thanks, Courtney! :) I am going to place another order with a different vendor so I’ll cross my fingers again! This apricot flavor is becoming the white whale to my Captain Ahab-esque search! :)
Haha! I have (not intensively) been looking for a Kenyan white that might one day replace Butiki’s White Rhino, so I understand the excitement and ‘frustration’ (for lack of a better word) that comes with the search.
Peach and apricot notes are my white whale, which I’ve chased through an ocean of oolong. :)
Have you tried the Darjeelings from What-Cha? They had a Rohini Golden Bud SF that I still remember several years after drinking it, though I’m not sure about the apricot notes. Thunderbolt Tea has excellent Darjeeling, though free shipping starts around US$100. Their prices are high, but they have 40% off for first-time buyers and periodic sales if you join their mailing list. I’m only suggesting them because you mentioned Darjeeling is your main tea type.
I found 2019 Goomtee Estate Darjeeling, 2nd flush here: https://www.siam-teas.com/product/goomtee-muscatel-delight-second-flush-2019/
Thomas is a bit lacking description of the flavours, though, but this one (from Ringtong estate) listing says muscatel notes, complemented by ripe summer fruits, look here: https://www.siam-teas.com/product/ringtong-second-flush-2023-ftgfop1/
Or you can try vendor Klasek tea at www.darjeeling.cz — they have really great stuff.
Thanks for the suggestion, Leafhopper! I have not ever ordered from What-Cha, but it sounds like it is definitely worth trying some of their Darjeelings. I appreciate your suggestion — thanks!
Thanks for the link, Martin! That looks like exactly what I am looking for — thanks so much for researching this and sending it my way! I have never tried Siam Teas, but I see an order in my future! :)
I had their Advent and there were many new to me teas that I liked. Definitely worth to submerge in the listings. They’re mostly focused to the Thai teas.
A sipdown! (M: 4 Y: 4) prompt: Your oldest green tea
A very focused tea to sipdown. It is rather old (about two years), but it never tasted good in the first place. It was somehow expected from me though.
It is very generic green tea, with lots of hay notes, and if steeped well (short steep and not boiling water), it was okay-ish. Very good for not tea-enthusiasts; for me it was just boring and definitely not tasting fresh green. Longer steeps leaded to mineral notes; and harsh mouthfeel.
11 tea bags finished within January, well that is an achievement to share.
Preparation
This tastes a bit like cotton candy. I removed the butterfly pea flower of course. This is light and not tart, just marshmallowy and a little fruity. I’d consider buying a bigger bag! It’s not like many other teas I’ve had.
— Color of liquor: Lighter brown, like a bourbon
— Aroma: Petrichor; slight floral; slight muscatel
— Flavors: Petrichor; dry leaves; astringent; slight muscatel
This tea while steeping has a slight floral and muscatel aroma to it, along with the stronger petrichor aroma in front. The floral aroma doesn’t translate into the flavor, but instead has strong petrichor and dry leaves flavors in front and a slight mineral flavor base. There’s an even stronger astringency: this is not a neutral tea, which is exactly why I like it. I followed the recommendation and kept my steeping under my usual four minutes, and am glad I did — otherwise, this could’ve easily turned bitter. The leaves were more broken than I expected, which is another reason to keep the steep time low.
This is yet another excellent example of a Kangra black tea that I intend to keep well-stocked, as Kangra black teas have become my daily go-to teas.
Flavors: Astringent, Dry Leaves, Mineral, Muscatel, Petrichor
Preparation
This is best with a longer steep and overleafing. It’s still a bit light/thin, but I find the flavor direction quite fun. It’s not tart, so it doesn’t really remind me of grape juice. Maybe it’s more like grape candy or a Crystal Light sort of flavor?
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January Sipdown Prompt – a tea you plan to buy again
This is Ashman’s favorite tea in the whole Fortnum advent every year. When I saw how much he loved it, I drank other teas and saved it for him because there are only a few teas that elicit such a response from him.
For this reason, I plan to add a whole tin to my next Fortnum order and I am considering getting the wooden caddy of special Darjeeling as well.
The special one seems to change occasionally over the years and the current offering is Badamtam First Flush FTGFOP1. Does anyone have experience with these two teas or something similar enough to give an opinion as to whether he is likely to love the more expensive one? It is possible that the very characteristics that make it unique and desirable to some people will have the opposite effect. They speak of it being high grown and having notes of minerality, whereas they describe the one we have here as smooth and drinkable.
More expensive, finer, more nuanced, more layers – may not translate into “preferred by every individual.” For instance, I prefer middle to low elevation teas from Sri Lanka because the highly desirable (to some) high elevation teas like Uva Highlands and Lover’s Leap are a bit too sharp for me. That could be the case with this tea for Ashman. Decisions, decisions.
I guess if I buy it and he doesn’t like it, at least we have a cool wooden caddy.
It’s weird to me that they don’t tell you which flush this tea is. Later flushes tend to be smoother in my experience, and first flush is generally more floral but also a bit sharper. I don’t generally love first flush Darjeeling, but I do enjoy the later flushes. Also the price on the Badamtam seems ludicrous to me, but obviously that’s very subjective ha ha.
I agree, it would help to know which flush this tea is. I can’t check the price of the Badamtam FF without dealing with their cookies, but you might consider buying Darjeelings from What-Cha or even Rare Tea Company if you plan to order from them again.
This one that he likes is almost certainly not First Flush. It is priced like a daily drinker and if you click “shop first flush” on their website from the blog article on the expensive tea, you only get the Badamtam as a result.
As for the price of the Badamtam, I bet you are paying dearly for the wooden caddy. The square ones in the past were expensive and I have never purchased one, and I was going to dive a bit deeper even with this one to see if it has an exceptionally good seal as opposed to just looking cool.
I think you are both right and I will stick to buying just the one I already know he likes.
This sounds wonderful — I am adding this to my wish list to try someday!
eastkyteaguy and I have both tried this Badamtam first flush:
https://steepster.com/teas/what-cha/93424-india-darjeeling-2020-1st-flush-badamtam-ftgfop1-black-tea
derk: Thank you for pointing those out. After reading them, I am convinced that first flush is probably not something Ashman would enjoy as much.
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I thought this might be in the running as a replacement tea for my daughter who loved only London Cuppa, but she found it to be just okay and prefers a couple of other teas we have tried. Still nothing has caused her eyes to light up but several have been drinkable to her.
I really like this one. It has that rich TEA smell that grabs you at breakfast time, but doesn’t have to be tamed with milk and sugar, although it does take additions well. It resteeps for a combo pot pretty well, too.
Yesterday I got a package from derk with plum jelly that she made herself with her very own hands and I was totally stoked! I got up and made fresh biscuits and instant (expired- it’s fine) bacon while my daughter made eggs and we had a nice brekkie together. The jelly was soooo good. There was tea in the package, also, but I had promised daughter we would have Queen Anne together before I knew about the tea, and besides, I am saving it to drink with my bestie when she comes as she doesn’t drink black tea anymore! So….perfect!
Thank you, derk! I love it!
I don’t like alcohol, so I’m relieved it doesn’t taste too much like that. The base is also a little strong, almost like green tea, but I guess green rooibos has a similar vibe. I drank the whole package without forming too strong an opinion. I guess I thought the base overshadowed the flavors this time. I would have liked more strawberry or bubbliness.
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This was really lovely today and the lavender was stronger than last time I served it. I just wish it didn’t have licorice root, not because I don’t like the taste but because I have had blood pressure issues in the past and don’t want to risk it. Yes, I know it PROBABLY takes a lot of licorice root to affect blood pressure, but I prefer to sweeten my own tea as I choose, and I almost always choose not to sweeten at all.
This is one of their better teas, IMO.
So yesterday I had dental surgery – a root tip extraction from the tooth I broke earlier in the year and a bone graft. Lots I can’t do in the next 48-72 hours including spitting, swishing, rinsing, drinking from a straw, consuming ANY type of alcohol/spicy food, etc…
Honestly I was mostly just really, really tired afterwards so I went and got my prescription (a fancy kind of mouthwash I need to use for the next month) filled and bought a bunch of smoothies/drinks that I can have for something quick and easy and dentist approved for the next few days. This was among the mix, and the first thing I drank when I got home. Probably my favourite Mateina flavour – it’s bright and zesty from the yuzu but also has a thick and jammy raspberry note that’s so saturated and flavourful. Really refreshing!
That gave me the energy to make it a few hours after getting home, but I fairly quickly crashed out and ended up just sleeping for a bulk of the day.
I hope you heal quickly!
I am sorry you had to have that! I hope healing goes without a hitch and you are back to doing everything you want to do!
Wow, hope the recovery is smooth!
I hope you feel better soon and that ice cream is on the list of foods you can eat!
Ack. All dental issues are bad and surgeries are the worst. It reminds me a bit my Wisdom tooth removal. It was growing just in right angle to the other teeth. Perfectly!
And of course I wish you speedy recovery too!
