Cameron B. select Send Message

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Cameron B. drank Long-tailed Rooster by Lupicia

4314 tasting notes

Sipdown! (14)

Yay, this is the first of my oldest teas to be finished! It was from December of 2016!

As far as I can tell, this one is fairly identical to Jingle Bells, though with different flower petals. It’s a smooth earthy and woody black base with a juicy candy grape flavor. Simple, but enjoyable if you like that sort of thing. I do! It reminds me of grape Hi-Chew, which is one of my favorite flavors of that candy.

I do have Jingle Bells as well, and it’s quite old, so hopefully it doesn’t come up too soon. It would be nice to have a break between grape candy black teas! :P

Flavors: Candy, Earth, Grapes, Malt, Mineral, Smooth, Sweet, Wood

Preparation

200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 3 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML

I Like This

16 likes

3 comments

ashmanra
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Good to know, because I just had a sample of Jingle Bells and hoped there was a near relative available!

Cameron B.
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Unfortunately this one was a limited New Year tea for the Year of the Rooster, so it’s no longer available…

ashmanra
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Oh dear! They do have another grape flavored tea. Perhaps it will be close enough!

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Comments

ashmanra
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Good to know, because I just had a sample of Jingle Bells and hoped there was a near relative available!

Cameron B.
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Unfortunately this one was a limited New Year tea for the Year of the Rooster, so it’s no longer available…

ashmanra
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Oh dear! They do have another grape flavored tea. Perhaps it will be close enough!

Profile

Bio

Hi, I’m Cameron!

I’m a 30-something software engineer currently living in Austin, Texas with my husband and our two pugs, Gobo and Ume. I tend to cycle between my different hobbies, and they include piano, knitting, video games, board games, miniature painting, planners, bento, Korean skincare, and – of course – TEA! But really, what I’m best at is “collecting” hobby-related things… ;)

~ 2025 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- January sipdowns: 29
- Total 2025 sipdowns: 29

I prefer my tea lukewarm or at room temperature and without milk or sugar. I steep Western style, and fluctuate between using big mugs or small teapots depending on the season.

I am always up for a swap! Just let me know if you’d like to try something in my cupboard.

Tea Preferences:
I enjoy both flavored and unflavored teas in many forms. These days, I drink mostly flavored teas, and I tend to gravitate most toward black, green, oolong, and herbal varieties. I do have a special fondness for straight Japanese green teas, however.

I do not sweeten my teas, and pre-sweetened teas are usually too sweet for me. I also do not enjoy stevia (or monkfruit, etc.).

I tend to reach for fruitier flavors rather than desserty ones these days, but I do have favorites from both categories. Willing to try anything once! There are a few ingredients/flavors that aren’t generally my jam, such as coconut, rose, lavender, and chocolate flavoring. But I also have teas that I love with some of those things, too! :)

Favorite Companies:
3 Leaf
Bird & Blend
Dammann Frères
Harney & Sons
Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
Lupicia
Old Barrel Tea Co
Simpson & Vail
Taiwan Tea Crafts
TeaVivre

Tea Rating Scale:
90-100: Outstanding! Permanent cupboard resident
80-89: Great – a possible staple
70-79: Good, but I wouldn’t buy it
60-69: It’s decent
50-59: Meh… I may or may not have finished the cup
40-49: Ick. Couldn’t finish it.
00-39: Repulsive, I spat it out

I will sometimes refrain from rating a tea if I feel I’m too biased due to my personal dislikes, or if I suspect the sample has been compromised by age or scent contamination.

Cupboard Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZEuKf1-ppR-VXajO4vV39zU1N3zjFJteEPAynqD2yl0/edit?usp=sharing