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teabird drank Winter Blend by SpecialTeas

412 tasting notes

Got my clearance order from SpecialTeas today – quite happy with it so far. This Winter Blend is distinctive – slightly spicy, slightly fruity, well balanced. I like that I can pick out the flavors of orange, coriander, and pistachio, not just cinnamon. It is similar to Harney and Sons Holiday flavored tea, but I think this is less fruity. An absolute steal at $2.63 for 4oz.

The pistachio came out especially strong on a second steep (~5 minutes).

1tsp/6oz, taken with cream.

Preparation

Boiling 2 min, 30 sec

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Some notes on ratings:

I’d have separate rating scales for tea types if that were possible (probably Black, Flavored Black, Darjeeling/Dark Oolong, White/Green/Light Oolong, and Herbal) because the flavors and quality markers are just too different. A flavored black rated 100 isn’t better than every oolong I’ve ever drunk, just delicious for a flavored black.

Ratings are a combination of my enjoyment and the perceived quality – I do often demote teas a few points for artificial flavorings, small quantity of steeps supported, or weakness of flavor (requiring extra leaf).

I pay less attention to the number than the order of my ratings; I don’t necessarily keep a stock of everything rated 80+, but if two breakfast blends are rated 82 and 84 I consistently enjoy the 84 more.

And in case it’s not obvious? I am not an expert. I don’t even know what I like until I taste it sometimes, but I’m ok with that :) I like learning to like new teas, as well as enjoying the comfort of familiar ones.

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