3057 Tasting Notes
This is an older tea I have had stashed away for several years and am only now getting around to finishing them up. (I think I got it Easter 2022 or 2023)
I was scared of the possibility of hibiscus sourness and cranberry tart flavours dominating everything, but I found it quite well balanced. It was pleasantly sour but not overwhelming. There is some juicy berry but I can’t really pick out raspberry specificially. I do get a bit of vanilla and what tastes like tree fruits (not not a specific fruit). It’s a bit muddy but not overall bad.
I would suggest a longer brew if cold brewing and then adding a bit of sweetener. I did 500 mL water, maybe ~10 minutes or so, and 1.4 tsp sugar.
Flavors: Fruity, Pleasantly Sour, Vanilla
Preparation
Herbal TTB Tea
I steeped this ~15 minutes in a large glass of cold water and then added 1 tsp sugar. It’s better than many other blends I have tried that use lots of hibiscus/rosehips.
Very citrusy with distinctly sweet and herbal chamomile and lemongrass. Acidic, but not overdone. There is a nice peach in the background, but I wouldn’t mind it being more realistic (has anyone noticed how Asian peach flavours are so realistic compared to the flavourings used in USA/Europe?). There is a hint of acai if you look for it in the after taste.
Flavors: Chamomile, Citrus, Fruity, Lemongrass, Peach, Pleasantly Sour, Rosehip
Preparation
Brewed cold in ~350 mL water
A delicious muscat flavour paired with citrus and green tea flavour
The second steep has more nuance – less grape and more other fruits. Still a nice grassy matcha and sencha undertone but with less obvious muscatel grape
Flavors: Citrus, Fruity, Grapes, Green, Muscatel
Preparation
Very heavy on the lavender and with a slightly liquoricey flavour. It is also a bit minty (tulsi often tastes like liquorice and mint). Tasty but a bit powerful and the vegetal notes are a bit strong for me. I don’t like this lavender as much as most other lavender blends I have had.
Flavors: Licorice, Mint
Preparation
One of my favourite teas from Silk Road. I enjoyed this at my friend’s house last night and I forgot how much I enjoyed it brewed strong and hot.
It has a strong lemongrass flavour with notes of floral lavender and citrus peel. It is mostly fruity and citrus. It is not overly sour and you don’t get the rose hip tartness. Super fragrant and tasty.
Flavors: Citrus, Floral, Fruity, Lemongrass
Preparation
No Caffeine TTB Tea
This is very hibiscus heavy. I brewed this one fairly trong with sweetener (~30 minutes, then 45 minutes on second steep) in 350 mL cold water. Even with sweetener it is very tart. I mostly get that cinnamon fruity flavour of the hibiscus with a bit of sour lime. No honeysuckle, though. I was interesting to try. If you really like hibiscus, this might be a nice choice for you. I’m sad I could not find the honeysuckle.
Flavors: Fruity, Hibiscus, Lime, Sour, Tart
Preparation
I actually have a jar of honeysuckle honey in the kitchen right now! It is yummy! And there is honeysuckle in the yard – the invasive kind and we didn’t plant it, the birds did. It definitely has a heady floral aroma, very sweet. I may go out there and taste the nectar…
45 minutes in cold water. About 1.5-2 tsp leaf in 400 mL
This is my first time trying papaya leaf and coffee cherry tea. I really don’t get any vanilla. There’s a vegetal and dry leaf flavour as well as a lightly tart fruity flavour that reminds me of orange blossom and citrus peel. It is interesting, but not something I’d look forward to drinking all summer.
Flavors: Autumn Leaf Pile, Citrus, Fruity, Orange Blossom, Vegetal
Preparation
2025 TTB tea
This is a tea I expected to like more than I did. I didn’t want to risk it being sour so I brewed it 3 minutes in hot water (~150 mL) and then topped it off with ~200 mL cold water. The cup is still super hot (I use cooler water at home but this work kettle is crazy fast and hot). It’s good and fruity. I can pick out distinctly blueberry, raspberry, and red fruit flavours. It isn’t as jumbled and meddled as some mixed fruit teas. The puerh doesn’t come through too much. Slightly sweet and woody but nothing like straight puerh. It’s good for a cup of flavoured tea but it doesn’t have a lot of actual tea flavour.
Flavors: Blueberry, Fruity, Raspberry, Red Fruit, Sweet