Monstrositea - Batch Two

[calissa]

I'm a bit behind with posting about my tea adventures. I'm also a little amused to discover I'm behind with actually drinking the tea. There's a batch and a half that I haven't even touched yet--six samples in total. But on to Batch Two!

I'm actually missing a photo of one of the samples. I took it to a friend's house and we drank it in its entirety without a single photo. Since then I have taken to trying a cup out myself before sharing it with friends. Each sample has enough tea for me to do this and still have plenty left to share.

The sample that's missing was called Afternoon Tea Blend. It was pu-erh tea with lychee and liquorice root. It didn't have as much flavour to it as I expected, tasting instead like a plain, good quality black tea. I suspect that the fermentation of the pu-erh combined with the heavy build-up of tannins in my friend's teapot to overwhelm the other flavours. It was, nevertheless, a very lovely tea and we had a wonderful afternoon drinking it together.



A bit over a month ago, onewhitecrow and I had several discussions on zavarka. This tea is made to be zavarka. I don't own a samovar (to my eternal sorrow), but the local tea house sells glass teapots with tea light warmers which worked well enough. I've been using this tea very sparingly on days I'm struggling to get going because it has quite a caffeine kick. A little goes a long way and I still have plenty left of the sample.



This one is green tea with papaya and pineapple pieces, grapes, rose petals, raspberry and strawberry pieces. It had a wonderfully floral aroma but brewed up a little weak when I followed the instructions. It did better with a longer brewing time, allowing the rose flavour to emerge a little more.



I'm sure it astonishes no one that this has been hands down my favourite of all the samples I've tried so far. The smoky flavour dominated with the bergamot kicking in at the end and becoming somewhat stronger as the tea cooled. I was delighted to discover the tea company that provided the sample is an Australian company who always keeps plenty of this blend on hand because it is one of their most popular. I will almost definitely buy more when I can afford to.

Comments

[onewhitecrow]

Smoky earl grey sounds either fantastic or Not Right, I can't decide. Smoky and/or pu'erh with liquorice root sounds good, though.

[calissa]

The smoky earl grey was a little weird at first, especially with the bergamot kick at the end. There was something oddly dragonish to it that I don't normally get from other smoked teas.

I was a little disappointed not to get more of the liquorice flavour from the Afternoon Tea blend.

Are you drinking anything particular at the moment?

[onewhitecrow]

Huh. I am still wary of it, I think. Say, what's your local water like?

Liquorice root in tea is generally associated with fasting or being stomach-sick for me, but you have my thanks for reminding me it exists outside those contexts.

This instant, I have just taken a sip of brewed-up peppermint, as it is too late at night for caffiene...relatedly, though, I do have more Moroccan mint tea in at present, and my zavarka pot actually contains the end of a mix of pu'erh and lapsang; I may well throw some liquorice root into my morning cup of it (and try not to inevitably chafe my lips raw and overburden my tongue eating the rest of the root...hypersensitivity, sticks that taste good and an urge to chew things are a poor mix). Any nefarious plans for the Kenyan?

[calissa]

Um, I'm not sure. I'd say our water quality is pretty good but I don't really know much about how to judge (aside from the clarity, which is lovely).

I really should drink more brewed up peppermint, if only to combat the masses growing around our citrus trees. I've also got a green mint blend that has been working wonders first thing in the morning.

A poor mix indeed! Perhaps it would be better to pass on the liquorice root? Especially if it has less than pleasant associations to begin with.

I just finished photographing the Kenyan tea which was a lot of fun. It actually reminded me a lot of some of the tea that comes out of Australia's Daintree region. Similar climate, perhaps?

[onewhitecrow]

I meant more in the hard/softness stakes - what's your local geology?

Hee...that or make ice cream.

? I like fasting and being made better, or at least able to drink something beyond slightly-flavoured water when sick...it is very frustrating to me not to be able to eat things the rare times my stomach takes against me. Plus the more I brew, the less of my stockpile is available to chew, no?

Ah! I expect so.

[calissa]

Clay, mostly.

Mmm... ice cream!

My apologies. I know many people have negative associations with flavours they only taste while ill. I thought it might be the same for you.

And yes! Better brew than chew.

[moonvoice]

I love your tea reviews so much. And that elmstock teas is new to me! I'll have to look into them. :D

[calissa]

Thank you! It has been showing me how much I still have to learn about tea.

Apparently Elmstock are based in Queensland. I haven't poked too much at their selection yet, but you might find something you like.