Brand: Lupicia
Type: Flavored Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Small black tea leaves with various flower petals (including rose), twigs, and dried berries
Color: Light copper; clear
Smell: Fruity, vanilla, candy-like (it's not terribly artificial however), floral
Recommended with/as: As is, iced, sweetener
Rating: 8/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Surprisingly, this tea, despite its smell and description, wasn't too fruity or artificial tasting,which is unlike most of Lupicia's fruit blends. The black base is actually more dominant in this tea, and is followed by the floral, then fruit taste. Upon drinking, you're met with light, earthy and chocolatey notes, which are promptly followed by a tangy, floral (rose?) taste. It ends with the fruit or berry taste that can be found in the smell, which lingers in the mouth and gives the tea a nice sweet taste. There is some astringency however, leaving both the mouth and throat dry after drinking. Overall, an enjoyable fruit flavored blend (one of the better ones); I'd suggest it sweetened, hot or iced. Y'know, I think I really need to start working on my black tea identification since apparently this has a keemun base.
Other notes:
Well I can't really think of interesting stuff that happened today; I think it was pretty average. The AP World History final was today, so a lot of my friends were panicking about that. One friend (I'm sure you can guess who) brought the alpaca/llama I bought her for good luck and I also ended up lending her my good pen, so there's that. Other than that, nothing much except that I did a ton of stat work by myself for an AP bio lab, have had a killer headache from a nap, and procrastinated on history work. Can't wait for tomorrow though since we're doing stuff after school.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Muscat Darjeeling
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Day 95: Framboise
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Flavored Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Thin, curled black leaves with twigs, pieces of dull green leaves
Color: Dark golden orange, clear
Smell: Sweet, berries (a mix, but mainly raspberries)
Recommended with/as: As is
Rating: 7/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
So, short review since I didn't really have much hot water (could only fill a mug today). Overall, I thought this was a pretty underwhelming tea. It smells pretty nice, but the taste isn't that great. I could really only taste some tartness from the raspberry, and little else. The tea base was most dominant, giving it an earthiness and a bit of a metallic taste. For some reason, there was also a really light cinnamon taste. It would maybe be good cold brewed, but hot, it's not very enjoyable.
Other notes:
Oh shiiiit, it's official: I'm finally going out with that girl I like. We decided to try and keep it quiet for now and drop subtle hints to our friends, until they finally figure out (which is probably going to be fun). I'll probably give more info on that later, since I'm really tired right now and need to study. I'm so excited oh man
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Wedding
Type: Flavored Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Thin, curled black leaves with twigs, pieces of dull green leaves
Color: Dark golden orange, clear
Smell: Sweet, berries (a mix, but mainly raspberries)
Recommended with/as: As is
Rating: 7/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
So, short review since I didn't really have much hot water (could only fill a mug today). Overall, I thought this was a pretty underwhelming tea. It smells pretty nice, but the taste isn't that great. I could really only taste some tartness from the raspberry, and little else. The tea base was most dominant, giving it an earthiness and a bit of a metallic taste. For some reason, there was also a really light cinnamon taste. It would maybe be good cold brewed, but hot, it's not very enjoyable.
Other notes:
Oh shiiiit, it's official: I'm finally going out with that girl I like. We decided to try and keep it quiet for now and drop subtle hints to our friends, until they finally figure out (which is probably going to be fun). I'll probably give more info on that later, since I'm really tired right now and need to study. I'm so excited oh man
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Wedding
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Day 94: Cameron Highlands BOP
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 2 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Small, broken up brown and black leaves (BOP)
Color: Dark reddish-brown, clear
Smell: Chocolate, earthy, honey-like, for some reason also little soap-like
Recommended with/as: As is, milk, sweetener
Rating: 9/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
This is actually a pretty enjoyable black tea. It's strong, has a very nice aroma, and a robust taste to boot. It starts off mainly earthy and malty, with dark chocolate or coffee-like undertones (which add a tiny bit of natural sweetness), and ends with a bit of a savory, brothy aftertaste. The malty and chocolate taste lingers long after drinking. There is some astringency and it makes the throat and mouth a little bit dry, but not so much that the tea is completely unenjoyable- I think it actually helps with the strong taste, a bit. Overall, a pretty good black tea- it's great with milk and honey too! I actually think this is the first tea I've had in a long time that I've tried with milk, and I enjoyed it both ways. Make sure you drink this one hot though, because for some reason when this tea is cold, it tastes like metal.
Other notes:
Nothing much, really. AP bio essay went decently (note to self: practice writing free responses), and every other class wasn't very notable. The FISH/Christian club had a speaker talk about gay marriage and apparently there's a shitstorm at my school now, since the GSA is crying oppression and threatening to go to the administration (even though the speaker was talking about equality in general). Pretty much my stance on it is that the GSA is overreacting- the FISH club simply wanted to state their views (and are in every right to do so), and the GSA's response is that the FISH club can't have these views. People weren't forced to go and it was all optional, but I'm pretty sure a ton of people went just to create drama. The thing is that there are bigger things to worry about right now- especially Nepal and Baltimore, and judging by response is that no one really cares. There will always be homophobic Christians (or really just people) who refuse to see any other way, and there will always be LGBT rights activists who refuse to accept that people can have different views than their own. There are people out there in Nepal who are in dire need of help and dying (there is literally 1 person who is holding a fundraiser to raise money), and people at my school just want to cause drama. Man, I don't get why people can't understand that everyone has a right to their own opinion and that their actions can have consequences.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Framboise
Type: Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 2 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Small, broken up brown and black leaves (BOP)
Color: Dark reddish-brown, clear
Smell: Chocolate, earthy, honey-like, for some reason also little soap-like
Recommended with/as: As is, milk, sweetener
Rating: 9/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
This is actually a pretty enjoyable black tea. It's strong, has a very nice aroma, and a robust taste to boot. It starts off mainly earthy and malty, with dark chocolate or coffee-like undertones (which add a tiny bit of natural sweetness), and ends with a bit of a savory, brothy aftertaste. The malty and chocolate taste lingers long after drinking. There is some astringency and it makes the throat and mouth a little bit dry, but not so much that the tea is completely unenjoyable- I think it actually helps with the strong taste, a bit. Overall, a pretty good black tea- it's great with milk and honey too! I actually think this is the first tea I've had in a long time that I've tried with milk, and I enjoyed it both ways. Make sure you drink this one hot though, because for some reason when this tea is cold, it tastes like metal.
Other notes:
Nothing much, really. AP bio essay went decently (note to self: practice writing free responses), and every other class wasn't very notable. The FISH/Christian club had a speaker talk about gay marriage and apparently there's a shitstorm at my school now, since the GSA is crying oppression and threatening to go to the administration (even though the speaker was talking about equality in general). Pretty much my stance on it is that the GSA is overreacting- the FISH club simply wanted to state their views (and are in every right to do so), and the GSA's response is that the FISH club can't have these views. People weren't forced to go and it was all optional, but I'm pretty sure a ton of people went just to create drama. The thing is that there are bigger things to worry about right now- especially Nepal and Baltimore, and judging by response is that no one really cares. There will always be homophobic Christians (or really just people) who refuse to see any other way, and there will always be LGBT rights activists who refuse to accept that people can have different views than their own. There are people out there in Nepal who are in dire need of help and dying (there is literally 1 person who is holding a fundraiser to raise money), and people at my school just want to cause drama. Man, I don't get why people can't understand that everyone has a right to their own opinion and that their actions can have consequences.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Framboise
Monday, April 27, 2015
Day 93: Grenada
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Flavored Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Small, curled black leaves with dried yellow flower petals, red pieces (I think it's also a flower but I'm not sure)
Color: Dark golden; clear
Smell: Fruity (tropical- the guava is pretty noticeable), a bit floral
Recommended with/as: As is, iced
Rating: 8/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Quick review today since I'm tired and have a test tomorrow.
Anyway, despite the smell, this tea was pretty mild. At the start, it tastes average (mix of fruits), but eventually becomes much more sour by the end. It definitely tastes like the guava described, but apparently there's papaya too. I think the tea base rounds it out a bit and doesn't make it too fruity- it's a nice balance. It's also smooth, but it did leave my throat a bit dry after drinking. Maybe try it cold brewed. Overall, it's a pretty good fruit tea, but like most of Lupicia's fruit blends, a bit generic.
Other notes:
So, today was my mom's birthday and we ended up eating outside for that. The math test went decently (I finished within the time, but I'm pretty sure I got a couple questions wrong), and I turned in the English essay too. For the essay, we had the choice of writing that we added/changed stuff like analysis (which is what we weren't supposed to do, but the teacher knows that people do it anyway) or that nothing except grammar or clarity was changed. I ended up putting down that I changed some of my stuff since I know I added phrases to a few sentences that changed their meaning, and rearranged them so that it makes more sense. To be honest, I don't think I changed as much stuff as some other people in my class who wrote that they did not change anything, and the teacher probably won't even check, but I guess I feel a bit shitty lying about it. Oh, and I got a job app at the local hardware store today too. I gotta wait until Saturday to talk to the boss though and get the other page of the application since they only had the second page today.
Also, I realized something: if I studied as much as I did for this math test (which was a decent amount over multiple days), I think I could actually do really well. I actually finished and had time to check on this test, which was a first in a while. Then again, I think there's only one test left before the final since we have a month left, but it's still something.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Cameron Highlands BOP
Type: Flavored Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Small, curled black leaves with dried yellow flower petals, red pieces (I think it's also a flower but I'm not sure)
Color: Dark golden; clear
Smell: Fruity (tropical- the guava is pretty noticeable), a bit floral
Recommended with/as: As is, iced
Rating: 8/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Quick review today since I'm tired and have a test tomorrow.
Anyway, despite the smell, this tea was pretty mild. At the start, it tastes average (mix of fruits), but eventually becomes much more sour by the end. It definitely tastes like the guava described, but apparently there's papaya too. I think the tea base rounds it out a bit and doesn't make it too fruity- it's a nice balance. It's also smooth, but it did leave my throat a bit dry after drinking. Maybe try it cold brewed. Overall, it's a pretty good fruit tea, but like most of Lupicia's fruit blends, a bit generic.
Other notes:
So, today was my mom's birthday and we ended up eating outside for that. The math test went decently (I finished within the time, but I'm pretty sure I got a couple questions wrong), and I turned in the English essay too. For the essay, we had the choice of writing that we added/changed stuff like analysis (which is what we weren't supposed to do, but the teacher knows that people do it anyway) or that nothing except grammar or clarity was changed. I ended up putting down that I changed some of my stuff since I know I added phrases to a few sentences that changed their meaning, and rearranged them so that it makes more sense. To be honest, I don't think I changed as much stuff as some other people in my class who wrote that they did not change anything, and the teacher probably won't even check, but I guess I feel a bit shitty lying about it. Oh, and I got a job app at the local hardware store today too. I gotta wait until Saturday to talk to the boss though and get the other page of the application since they only had the second page today.
Also, I realized something: if I studied as much as I did for this math test (which was a decent amount over multiple days), I think I could actually do really well. I actually finished and had time to check on this test, which was a first in a while. Then again, I think there's only one test left before the final since we have a month left, but it's still something.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Cameron Highlands BOP
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Day 92: Neptune
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Flavored Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Small, black curled leaves with dried, long, yellow petals
Color: Copper/golden brown, clear
Smell: Sweet, vanilla, fruit
Recommended with/as: As is, milk, sweetener
Rating: 8.5/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Y'know, despite this having that vanilla smell that I dislike so, this isn't actually that bad. Instead of mostly tasting like the vanilla (which is what I was expecting), the fruit flavor was the most dominant taste. Since it is a mix of many fruits, I can't really describe or name the flavor for sure, but I'd say maybe strawberries. As for the overall taste, it's mostly the fruit flavor, with the vanilla sweetness acting as the main undertone, and eventually ends with a tangy/sour note. Only the vanilla stays in the aftertaste, but it isn't too overbearing; instead, it just leaves a little bit of a sweet taste. I couldn't really notice the tea base (it didn't have any distinctive notes), but I think it may have balanced the tea out a bit. It has little astringency and doesn't make the throat or mouth dry at all, either. Overall, it's a pretty good fruit flavored tea with natural sweetness; I'd suggest it with milk and honey (I didn't try it with that today since I'm too lazy to get that stuff out, but I'm pretty sure it'd be good).
Other notes:
Oh yeah, I also forgot to mention. So, I turned in that history project like 1-2 weeks ago, and I went to Japantown. On the day I got back, I saw that people completely destroyed the project (half the flags were broken, the tanks were pulled from their position, etc.), so I was kinda bummed about that. The teacher saw it before that happened, though, so I'm hoping I won't get dinged on having a completely destroyed project, heh. I'm not too upset about it though. Other than remembering that, today I made leche flan, studied for math and AP bio (I feel pretty confident about it, but there's still that feeling that something is going to be super hard or I'm not going to finish), and walked the dog a bit.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Grenada
Type: Flavored Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Small, black curled leaves with dried, long, yellow petals
Color: Copper/golden brown, clear
Smell: Sweet, vanilla, fruit
Recommended with/as: As is, milk, sweetener
Rating: 8.5/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Y'know, despite this having that vanilla smell that I dislike so, this isn't actually that bad. Instead of mostly tasting like the vanilla (which is what I was expecting), the fruit flavor was the most dominant taste. Since it is a mix of many fruits, I can't really describe or name the flavor for sure, but I'd say maybe strawberries. As for the overall taste, it's mostly the fruit flavor, with the vanilla sweetness acting as the main undertone, and eventually ends with a tangy/sour note. Only the vanilla stays in the aftertaste, but it isn't too overbearing; instead, it just leaves a little bit of a sweet taste. I couldn't really notice the tea base (it didn't have any distinctive notes), but I think it may have balanced the tea out a bit. It has little astringency and doesn't make the throat or mouth dry at all, either. Overall, it's a pretty good fruit flavored tea with natural sweetness; I'd suggest it with milk and honey (I didn't try it with that today since I'm too lazy to get that stuff out, but I'm pretty sure it'd be good).
Other notes:
Oh yeah, I also forgot to mention. So, I turned in that history project like 1-2 weeks ago, and I went to Japantown. On the day I got back, I saw that people completely destroyed the project (half the flags were broken, the tanks were pulled from their position, etc.), so I was kinda bummed about that. The teacher saw it before that happened, though, so I'm hoping I won't get dinged on having a completely destroyed project, heh. I'm not too upset about it though. Other than remembering that, today I made leche flan, studied for math and AP bio (I feel pretty confident about it, but there's still that feeling that something is going to be super hard or I'm not going to finish), and walked the dog a bit.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Grenada
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Day 91: Grape Green Tea
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Flavored Green
Brew Time & Temperature: 2 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Large, rolled green tea leaves with some dried yellow flower petals (?)
Color: Light yellow-green, clear
Smell: Grape candy is the most dominant smell, floral, sweet
Recommended with/as: As is
Rating: 7/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Well this tastes a lot like it smells- like grape candy. However, while it does have the grape taste (I'd say it's a mix between artificial candy grape and purple grapes), it isn't terribly sweet. It's mixed with the grassy flavor of the tea, which balances it out and makes it actually taste like tea rather than warm, watered down grapes. It ends on a slightly bitter note with the taste of the grape lingering in the mouth afterwards. There's little astringency (which is unlike the average Lupicia flavored green, which leaves the throat at least a little dry) and was pretty light tasting all around. However, there isn't really much to this tea other than the grape since the green tea is sort of overpowered by the flavoring. Overall, it's okay, but I wouldn't recommend it for the one-sided taste. I think I actually bought 50g of this a long time ago since it was pretty cheap, but at that time I haven't really had much of any tea. Maybe try it iced?
Other notes:
Man, I hate to admit it, but it seems like I barely talk or chat to anyone anymore (especially people I know in real life). There's that girl that I like and we chat a ton about random stuff almost daily, but she's out this weekend, so I haven't talked to anyone except my dog today. I did say a few words to a guy selling honey though, but I doubt that even counts. Anyway, even before I really started chatting to that girl, I used to chat with some of my internet friends on Steam pretty often, but even now I don't talk to them much; we do have some conversations once in a while, but they don't last very long. It doesn't help that almost all of my communication outside of school is online, either. I would try to meet with my friends in person and hang out with them, but pretty much all of them are busy on weekends or are with other people (some of them I doubt are busy, but I haven't really hung out or talked with them in a super long time so I feel that might be awkward). Oh well.
In other news, I found a bird's egg while walking my dog! I'm pretty sure it fell out of a nest during the storm last night, and isn't viable anymore since it dropped a bit of a height, and there's a not too bad crack on the bottom (it might be hollow since it's really light, and when I tried candling it I could only see the yolk inside and nothing else). I couldn't find the nest either since the only tree nearby was super high up. Just in case, though, I have it in a makeshift nest, but I don't own a lamp or anything for heat (so I don't think it'll survive) On Monday, I'll bring it to school to my bio teacher and see what he thinks or if he wants it. It's small and bluish-white, with brown speckles all over.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Neptune
Type: Flavored Green
Brew Time & Temperature: 2 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Large, rolled green tea leaves with some dried yellow flower petals (?)
Color: Light yellow-green, clear
Smell: Grape candy is the most dominant smell, floral, sweet
Recommended with/as: As is
Rating: 7/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Well this tastes a lot like it smells- like grape candy. However, while it does have the grape taste (I'd say it's a mix between artificial candy grape and purple grapes), it isn't terribly sweet. It's mixed with the grassy flavor of the tea, which balances it out and makes it actually taste like tea rather than warm, watered down grapes. It ends on a slightly bitter note with the taste of the grape lingering in the mouth afterwards. There's little astringency (which is unlike the average Lupicia flavored green, which leaves the throat at least a little dry) and was pretty light tasting all around. However, there isn't really much to this tea other than the grape since the green tea is sort of overpowered by the flavoring. Overall, it's okay, but I wouldn't recommend it for the one-sided taste. I think I actually bought 50g of this a long time ago since it was pretty cheap, but at that time I haven't really had much of any tea. Maybe try it iced?
Other notes:
Man, I hate to admit it, but it seems like I barely talk or chat to anyone anymore (especially people I know in real life). There's that girl that I like and we chat a ton about random stuff almost daily, but she's out this weekend, so I haven't talked to anyone except my dog today. I did say a few words to a guy selling honey though, but I doubt that even counts. Anyway, even before I really started chatting to that girl, I used to chat with some of my internet friends on Steam pretty often, but even now I don't talk to them much; we do have some conversations once in a while, but they don't last very long. It doesn't help that almost all of my communication outside of school is online, either. I would try to meet with my friends in person and hang out with them, but pretty much all of them are busy on weekends or are with other people (some of them I doubt are busy, but I haven't really hung out or talked with them in a super long time so I feel that might be awkward). Oh well.
In other news, I found a bird's egg while walking my dog! I'm pretty sure it fell out of a nest during the storm last night, and isn't viable anymore since it dropped a bit of a height, and there's a not too bad crack on the bottom (it might be hollow since it's really light, and when I tried candling it I could only see the yolk inside and nothing else). I couldn't find the nest either since the only tree nearby was super high up. Just in case, though, I have it in a makeshift nest, but I don't own a lamp or anything for heat (so I don't think it'll survive) On Monday, I'll bring it to school to my bio teacher and see what he thinks or if he wants it. It's small and bluish-white, with brown speckles all over.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Neptune
Friday, April 24, 2015
Day 90: C'est a Toi
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Blend (Black, Puerh, Oolong)
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Mix of dull black/brown roasted teas, small/broken up; they all look relatively the same/I wouldn't be able to tell apart the oolong, black, and puerh tea by looking at it (there are some curled teas, twigs, minor differences though)
Color: Deep orange-brown (mainly orange); clear, but a little hard to see since it's darkEart
Smell: Earthy/smoky notes, followed by a fishy smell and floral notes
Recommended with/as: As is, maybe sweetener
Rating: 7.5/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
This is a very interesting blend of tea- the only thing it's really missing now is green tea. Anyway, although it is a blend of three different teas, I think the most dominant taste (and smell) is the black tea. The taste begins with the earthy, somewhat bitter taste, which is followed by a light sweetness. It's a bit creamy/malty, with very light mint too.Throughout the whole tea is a smoky taste (probably from the lapsang souchong, but I have never actually had that so I'm not sure), which gives the tea a bit of a body and strength/savory taste. It's somewhat smooth, but it leaves the throat a tiny bit dry and a somewhat different, oily (?) texture in the mouth afterwards.
I did try it with honey just because I have a sore throat from laughing too much (see below), and it was pretty much the same; it didn't make the tea better, nor did it make it any worse. It did get rid of some of the smokiness and brought out a very light taste (I can't really describe it, but it has a very, very subtle sourness to it) from either the puerh or oolong. Overall, it was an interesting blend, but I feel like I need to try more of the teas in it, namely the puerh and lapsang, to have a better idea. It is good though!
Other notes:
Well guys, it looks like I'm in the final stretch! Hopefully they go well, and I'll try not to rush these reviews (but no promises, since finals are coming up and I need to start studying). Maybe I'll try making stats or something if I have the time, and I can finally start reviewing the teas from Vital Tea and Red Blossom. I'm hyped!
In other news, school went decently. There wasn't really anything interesting other than 60's day for Juniors and my friends played music for that. After school was the fun part though. I hung out with that girl I like and some other friends, and we ate some food and chilled at the park for a bit. Later, I biked to In N Out with another friend and we got hamburgers and all that, and then made up random stories while heading home in the dark. When I got home, I won an auction for a few Modest Mouse CDs on ebay for only $10 with shipping (We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, Good News for People Who Love Bad News), and now I'm making this review. My family left for Disneyland/southern California earlier, so I'm alone at the house with my dog. You know, I think things are looking up for me now and I can't wait until summer rolls around.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Grape Green Tea
Type: Blend (Black, Puerh, Oolong)
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Mix of dull black/brown roasted teas, small/broken up; they all look relatively the same/I wouldn't be able to tell apart the oolong, black, and puerh tea by looking at it (there are some curled teas, twigs, minor differences though)
Color: Deep orange-brown (mainly orange); clear, but a little hard to see since it's darkEart
Smell: Earthy/smoky notes, followed by a fishy smell and floral notes
Recommended with/as: As is, maybe sweetener
Rating: 7.5/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
This is a very interesting blend of tea- the only thing it's really missing now is green tea. Anyway, although it is a blend of three different teas, I think the most dominant taste (and smell) is the black tea. The taste begins with the earthy, somewhat bitter taste, which is followed by a light sweetness. It's a bit creamy/malty, with very light mint too.Throughout the whole tea is a smoky taste (probably from the lapsang souchong, but I have never actually had that so I'm not sure), which gives the tea a bit of a body and strength/savory taste. It's somewhat smooth, but it leaves the throat a tiny bit dry and a somewhat different, oily (?) texture in the mouth afterwards.
I did try it with honey just because I have a sore throat from laughing too much (see below), and it was pretty much the same; it didn't make the tea better, nor did it make it any worse. It did get rid of some of the smokiness and brought out a very light taste (I can't really describe it, but it has a very, very subtle sourness to it) from either the puerh or oolong. Overall, it was an interesting blend, but I feel like I need to try more of the teas in it, namely the puerh and lapsang, to have a better idea. It is good though!
Other notes:
Well guys, it looks like I'm in the final stretch! Hopefully they go well, and I'll try not to rush these reviews (but no promises, since finals are coming up and I need to start studying). Maybe I'll try making stats or something if I have the time, and I can finally start reviewing the teas from Vital Tea and Red Blossom. I'm hyped!
In other news, school went decently. There wasn't really anything interesting other than 60's day for Juniors and my friends played music for that. After school was the fun part though. I hung out with that girl I like and some other friends, and we ate some food and chilled at the park for a bit. Later, I biked to In N Out with another friend and we got hamburgers and all that, and then made up random stories while heading home in the dark. When I got home, I won an auction for a few Modest Mouse CDs on ebay for only $10 with shipping (We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, Good News for People Who Love Bad News), and now I'm making this review. My family left for Disneyland/southern California earlier, so I'm alone at the house with my dog. You know, I think things are looking up for me now and I can't wait until summer rolls around.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Grape Green Tea
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Day 89: Yume
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Flavored Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Medium-small black tea leaves, with added rose petals, a few twigs
Color: Golden orange, clear
Smell: Floral, sweet, vanilla
Recommended with/as: As is, iced
Rating: 6/10 (oh man first tea that I've rated this, but I think I should go back and change some ratings for other teas)
Tasting notes and thoughts:
After I've had so many teas now, I just can't stand any of Lupicia's teas with vanilla. This tea is no exception, since it mostly just tastes like a mix of random, bland fruits with some dull sweetness from the vanilla. It's a bit tangy, but ends with the taste of the vanilla. The rose is slightly noticeable and goes decently with the fruit, but personally, I think there's just too many flavors that taste too artificial for me to like. I will admit that it's somewhat light which helps with the flavor and would be good iced, but there's much better teas out there.
Other notes:
Well that essay went worse than I expected. We didn't have books so I had to guess the page on one of the quotes, and my analysis was somewhat subpar. I'm probably going to just rely on my AP Bio grade and try to get really good grades in English tests/projects for the rest of the year to keep my GPA. Also, the math test was okay, we finished all of it, but a few of the problems were hard to figure out (and of course, I was the one who had to do it). Of course, the other class/teacher got much easier problems and were able to use their calculators when we couldn't. I guess it's okay since it means that next year will be super easy for me if I can do decently in this class, but ugh some of the problems can be impossible.
Also, for some reason, I actually didn't feel too bad about doing crappy on the essay or test today. Like, I kind of just accepted that I tried and was somewhat content afterwards, which is a first for me. I don't know if this is a good or bad thing, but all I know is that I need to start getting my shit together in those classes before the year ends (I do have a 97% in AP bio now though).
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: C'est a toi
Type: Flavored Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Medium-small black tea leaves, with added rose petals, a few twigs
Color: Golden orange, clear
Smell: Floral, sweet, vanilla
Recommended with/as: As is, iced
Rating: 6/10 (oh man first tea that I've rated this, but I think I should go back and change some ratings for other teas)
Tasting notes and thoughts:
After I've had so many teas now, I just can't stand any of Lupicia's teas with vanilla. This tea is no exception, since it mostly just tastes like a mix of random, bland fruits with some dull sweetness from the vanilla. It's a bit tangy, but ends with the taste of the vanilla. The rose is slightly noticeable and goes decently with the fruit, but personally, I think there's just too many flavors that taste too artificial for me to like. I will admit that it's somewhat light which helps with the flavor and would be good iced, but there's much better teas out there.
Other notes:
Well that essay went worse than I expected. We didn't have books so I had to guess the page on one of the quotes, and my analysis was somewhat subpar. I'm probably going to just rely on my AP Bio grade and try to get really good grades in English tests/projects for the rest of the year to keep my GPA. Also, the math test was okay, we finished all of it, but a few of the problems were hard to figure out (and of course, I was the one who had to do it). Of course, the other class/teacher got much easier problems and were able to use their calculators when we couldn't. I guess it's okay since it means that next year will be super easy for me if I can do decently in this class, but ugh some of the problems can be impossible.
Also, for some reason, I actually didn't feel too bad about doing crappy on the essay or test today. Like, I kind of just accepted that I tried and was somewhat content afterwards, which is a first for me. I don't know if this is a good or bad thing, but all I know is that I need to start getting my shit together in those classes before the year ends (I do have a 97% in AP bio now though).
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: C'est a toi
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Day 88: Kiwi
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Flavored Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Medium small, curled black leaves with rock sugar, dull green leaves
Color: Dark, golden orange; clear
Smell: Sweet, fruity (I guess it's kiwi but it's a little hard to tell), maybe some mint
Recommended with/as: As is, iced
Rating: 7/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Quick review today since I'm doing stuff (see other notes). Anyway, I guess this is a pretty average fruit flavored tea; it's actually pretty bland. Although its smooth and everything, it just lacks a lot in taste. When you drink it, you first taste the earthy, sort of brothy tea base. It's followed by a really weak and slightly sweet kiwi flavor; I think that if I didn't know this was kiwi tea I wouldn't be able to match it to the fruit. It ends right after that with little aftertaste, and actually is a little bit astringent/makes the throat feel a tiny bit dry. I've had much better fruit-flavored teas, honestly.
Other notes:
So, today I spent a ton of time studying for a math group test tomorrow (statistics/data analysis is fun, but god I hate probability so much) and while I write this review I'm practicing writing the in class essay for To Kill a Mockingbird tomorrow. Other than that, though, nothing much (my parents did come home though).
Oh, and apparently my family is going to Disneyland this weekend, but I can't come since there's not enough seats in the car + I have school and stuff (tests on monday and tuesday woo!). So, I get to spend this weekend alone in the house. Hooray...?
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Yume
Type: Flavored Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Medium small, curled black leaves with rock sugar, dull green leaves
Color: Dark, golden orange; clear
Smell: Sweet, fruity (I guess it's kiwi but it's a little hard to tell), maybe some mint
Recommended with/as: As is, iced
Rating: 7/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Quick review today since I'm doing stuff (see other notes). Anyway, I guess this is a pretty average fruit flavored tea; it's actually pretty bland. Although its smooth and everything, it just lacks a lot in taste. When you drink it, you first taste the earthy, sort of brothy tea base. It's followed by a really weak and slightly sweet kiwi flavor; I think that if I didn't know this was kiwi tea I wouldn't be able to match it to the fruit. It ends right after that with little aftertaste, and actually is a little bit astringent/makes the throat feel a tiny bit dry. I've had much better fruit-flavored teas, honestly.
Other notes:
So, today I spent a ton of time studying for a math group test tomorrow (statistics/data analysis is fun, but god I hate probability so much) and while I write this review I'm practicing writing the in class essay for To Kill a Mockingbird tomorrow. Other than that, though, nothing much (my parents did come home though).
Oh, and apparently my family is going to Disneyland this weekend, but I can't come since there's not enough seats in the car + I have school and stuff (tests on monday and tuesday woo!). So, I get to spend this weekend alone in the house. Hooray...?
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Yume
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Day 87: Breakfast Earl Grey
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Flavored Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 2 minutes 30 seconds, boiling (only a cup today)
Leaf Appearance: Small, broken up dark brown leaves (not as small as dust, though)
Color: Very dark brown/crimson red; very dark (but with enough light you can see through)
Smell: Bergamot/citrus, earthy, a bit sweet, creamy/malty
Recommended with/as: As is, milk
Rating: 8.5/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
So, today I just brewed in a mug instead of a whole pot, since I was too lazy to empty out the tea pot filled with milk tea and also it would probably be too much (no appetite). As for the tea, it really is a breakfast tea- super dark and strong. The main taste was the bitter earthiness of the tea, followed by the sharp citrus of the bergamot. It doesn't linger very long after drinking either- once its out of the mouth, you don't taste it at all. Adding a bit of milk and honey did help with the bitterness/strength of the tea, though. Overall, it's a good Earl Grey (like before, I still need to try brands other than Lupicia because apparently Lupicia has a really good Earl Grey) and would make for a really good breakfast tea. I'd drink it daily.
Other notes:
Nothing really today other than school (took that AP bio test, it was okay) and chores. Pretty much I just cleaned up the house a bit for my family since they're coming back tomorrow, walked the dogs, cleaned dishes, things like that. I've been studying for a history test tomorrow, and just so I remember I'm planning to practice writing the inclass essay on To Kill a Mockingbird (I might post it here because this is a writing blog, isn't it?) and also practice math problems so I can get faster at doing statistics problems.
Oh, and also one of my friends gave me a tarot card set as part of a belated birthday present, along with a really nice note and big bag of skittles. In a lapse of judgement, I ate all of the skittles which is the reason why I couldn't really drink more than a cup of tea. It doesn't help that I drank a bottle of the milk tea I made which had a metric crap ton of sugar/honey in it.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Kiwi
Type: Flavored Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 2 minutes 30 seconds, boiling (only a cup today)
Leaf Appearance: Small, broken up dark brown leaves (not as small as dust, though)
Color: Very dark brown/crimson red; very dark (but with enough light you can see through)
Smell: Bergamot/citrus, earthy, a bit sweet, creamy/malty
Recommended with/as: As is, milk
Rating: 8.5/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
So, today I just brewed in a mug instead of a whole pot, since I was too lazy to empty out the tea pot filled with milk tea and also it would probably be too much (no appetite). As for the tea, it really is a breakfast tea- super dark and strong. The main taste was the bitter earthiness of the tea, followed by the sharp citrus of the bergamot. It doesn't linger very long after drinking either- once its out of the mouth, you don't taste it at all. Adding a bit of milk and honey did help with the bitterness/strength of the tea, though. Overall, it's a good Earl Grey (like before, I still need to try brands other than Lupicia because apparently Lupicia has a really good Earl Grey) and would make for a really good breakfast tea. I'd drink it daily.
Other notes:
Nothing really today other than school (took that AP bio test, it was okay) and chores. Pretty much I just cleaned up the house a bit for my family since they're coming back tomorrow, walked the dogs, cleaned dishes, things like that. I've been studying for a history test tomorrow, and just so I remember I'm planning to practice writing the inclass essay on To Kill a Mockingbird (I might post it here because this is a writing blog, isn't it?) and also practice math problems so I can get faster at doing statistics problems.
Oh, and also one of my friends gave me a tarot card set as part of a belated birthday present, along with a really nice note and big bag of skittles. In a lapse of judgement, I ate all of the skittles which is the reason why I couldn't really drink more than a cup of tea. It doesn't help that I drank a bottle of the milk tea I made which had a metric crap ton of sugar/honey in it.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Kiwi
Monday, April 20, 2015
Day 86: Nilgiri BOP
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 2 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Very small, dark brown leaves with some reddish or yellow pieces
Color: Dark orange-red; clear
Smell: Average black tea (earthy, a bit malty, etc.)
Recommended with/as: As is, milk
Rating: 7/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Well, this is a bit of an average black tea. It certainly has the earthiness and strength/briskness of a black tea, but unlike others, it lacks the maltiness or creaminess. Instead, it has a slight citrus taste and bitterness, despite following the recommended brew time. There are also sour/acidic notes combined with fruit. It has a bit of astringency and does make my throat dry, so I'd suggest this with milk and sweetener. Overall, it's an average black tea that would be a good morning tea, but I wouldn't suggest it.
Other notes:
Oh man, Japantown was pretty fun, except now I'm broke (spent $70). I got some mochi and daifuku for my family, ate some katsudon, drank some milk tea, bought the CD of the OP for the second season of Aldnoah.Zero (which was actually a somewhat decent price, considering how much I pay for imported CD/DVDs and the price of Japantown stuff), and also got an Alpacasso for my friend (guess who). Overall, I'm pretty happy and it sure was better than whatever happened in school today.
In other news, I'm home alone for the next three days since my parents are in Reno. It was going well until I was making dinner, and I saw that THEY LEFT ME NO RICE. It's a dilemma since I feel like if I make rice using the cooker I'll make too much + waste it, but if I make it using a pot it's too much work/time (and I might screw that up). I'll see what I'll do tomorrow since I'm going to study for my AP bio test today and also I need to actually eat dinner.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Breakfast Earl Grey
Type: Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 2 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Very small, dark brown leaves with some reddish or yellow pieces
Color: Dark orange-red; clear
Smell: Average black tea (earthy, a bit malty, etc.)
Recommended with/as: As is, milk
Rating: 7/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Well, this is a bit of an average black tea. It certainly has the earthiness and strength/briskness of a black tea, but unlike others, it lacks the maltiness or creaminess. Instead, it has a slight citrus taste and bitterness, despite following the recommended brew time. There are also sour/acidic notes combined with fruit. It has a bit of astringency and does make my throat dry, so I'd suggest this with milk and sweetener. Overall, it's an average black tea that would be a good morning tea, but I wouldn't suggest it.
Other notes:
Oh man, Japantown was pretty fun, except now I'm broke (spent $70). I got some mochi and daifuku for my family, ate some katsudon, drank some milk tea, bought the CD of the OP for the second season of Aldnoah.Zero (which was actually a somewhat decent price, considering how much I pay for imported CD/DVDs and the price of Japantown stuff), and also got an Alpacasso for my friend (guess who). Overall, I'm pretty happy and it sure was better than whatever happened in school today.
In other news, I'm home alone for the next three days since my parents are in Reno. It was going well until I was making dinner, and I saw that THEY LEFT ME NO RICE. It's a dilemma since I feel like if I make rice using the cooker I'll make too much + waste it, but if I make it using a pot it's too much work/time (and I might screw that up). I'll see what I'll do tomorrow since I'm going to study for my AP bio test today and also I need to actually eat dinner.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Breakfast Earl Grey
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Day 85: Sencha 'Tanegashima'
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Green
Brew Time & Temperature: Gongfu brewing today
Leaf Appearance: Medium-dark green bladelike green tea leaves; larger than usual
Color: Bright yellow-green (mainly yellow); clear
Smell: Grassy, sweet (like the description says, it's a bit vanilla-like), vegetal
Recommended with/as: As is
Rating: 9/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
This is one of the first unflavored green teas that I really enjoyed, and since it's super hard to find it made me start shopping at other tea shops (O-cha.com!). I think it also made me get into gongfu brewing, which was another plus (not for my wallet though). So, this tea has a bit of a special place in my heart. Anyway, since this is my second time with Lupicia's Sencha Tanegashima and that I've tried other brands, I think I can give this a pretty fair review.
On first taste, this is a very smooth tea, no matter how much I screw up while brewing. It starts out with very light umami notes, then into a grassy, slightly tangy taste, and finishes sweet. There is also a very subtle, berry-like taste that underlies the grassy notes, which I think gives it the sweet finish. There is little astringency and is actually pretty light, but leaves a little bit of a dry mouth feeling after drinking. I think I got up to 6 or 7 brews before it got too weak, but over each subsequent brew, it got sweeter and more green colored, but less strong. Overall, I like this tea a lot (no bias, obviously) since it is really easy to brew and tastes great- unlike most of Lupicia's other greens, this one is more light and sweet, rather than brothy or somewhat salty.
Other notes:
Well, tomorrow I have my Japantown trip, and I'm pretty hype about that (but not about all of the tests/other work I have to make up. I do get an extra day to study for an AP bio test, though). I did go to SF today and took the DUKW tours and hang out near the pier, which was actually really fun, but the weather turned from a nice chill to super windy and I can see my breath cold. Other than that, nothing today. I'm probably going to spend an hour or two after this review studying for AP bio and getting ready for tomorrow.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Nilgiri BOP
Type: Green
Brew Time & Temperature: Gongfu brewing today
Leaf Appearance: Medium-dark green bladelike green tea leaves; larger than usual
Color: Bright yellow-green (mainly yellow); clear
Smell: Grassy, sweet (like the description says, it's a bit vanilla-like), vegetal
Recommended with/as: As is
Rating: 9/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
This is one of the first unflavored green teas that I really enjoyed, and since it's super hard to find it made me start shopping at other tea shops (O-cha.com!). I think it also made me get into gongfu brewing, which was another plus (not for my wallet though). So, this tea has a bit of a special place in my heart. Anyway, since this is my second time with Lupicia's Sencha Tanegashima and that I've tried other brands, I think I can give this a pretty fair review.
On first taste, this is a very smooth tea, no matter how much I screw up while brewing. It starts out with very light umami notes, then into a grassy, slightly tangy taste, and finishes sweet. There is also a very subtle, berry-like taste that underlies the grassy notes, which I think gives it the sweet finish. There is little astringency and is actually pretty light, but leaves a little bit of a dry mouth feeling after drinking. I think I got up to 6 or 7 brews before it got too weak, but over each subsequent brew, it got sweeter and more green colored, but less strong. Overall, I like this tea a lot (no bias, obviously) since it is really easy to brew and tastes great- unlike most of Lupicia's other greens, this one is more light and sweet, rather than brothy or somewhat salty.
Other notes:
Well, tomorrow I have my Japantown trip, and I'm pretty hype about that (but not about all of the tests/other work I have to make up. I do get an extra day to study for an AP bio test, though). I did go to SF today and took the DUKW tours and hang out near the pier, which was actually really fun, but the weather turned from a nice chill to super windy and I can see my breath cold. Other than that, nothing today. I'm probably going to spend an hour or two after this review studying for AP bio and getting ready for tomorrow.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Nilgiri BOP
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Day 84: Chai Bag Cardamon & Pepper
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Flavored Black
Brew Time & Temperature: Used it to make a latte this time
Leaf Appearance: I think CTC black tea with small chunks of herbs added
Color: Light creamy-brown, opaque (because milk)
Smell: Like most chai, but I couldn't really smell the pepper; the loose leaf did have the pepper smell though
Recommended with/as: As is, milk, sweetener
Rating: 8.5/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Rush review today, since I'm going to yosemite with family. Anyway, pepper in chai sounds super weird, but surprisingly, it was pretty good. Even though I brewed it a super long time, I think it turned out well. The spice from the pepper and cardamon mix very well with the sweetness from the honey and the creaminess from the milk. Unlike most chais, this one is less spicy and more balanced (unlike the one I got from Red Blossom, which is very spicy no matter how much milk or sugar I use), which I liked. To be honest, I'm not that good at reviewing chai (or at least lattes), but this one is pretty good.
Other notes:
Nothing today, just going to Yosemite.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Sencha 'Tanegashima"
Type: Flavored Black
Brew Time & Temperature: Used it to make a latte this time
Leaf Appearance: I think CTC black tea with small chunks of herbs added
Color: Light creamy-brown, opaque (because milk)
Smell: Like most chai, but I couldn't really smell the pepper; the loose leaf did have the pepper smell though
Recommended with/as: As is, milk, sweetener
Rating: 8.5/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Rush review today, since I'm going to yosemite with family. Anyway, pepper in chai sounds super weird, but surprisingly, it was pretty good. Even though I brewed it a super long time, I think it turned out well. The spice from the pepper and cardamon mix very well with the sweetness from the honey and the creaminess from the milk. Unlike most chais, this one is less spicy and more balanced (unlike the one I got from Red Blossom, which is very spicy no matter how much milk or sugar I use), which I liked. To be honest, I'm not that good at reviewing chai (or at least lattes), but this one is pretty good.
Other notes:
Nothing today, just going to Yosemite.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Sencha 'Tanegashima"
Friday, April 17, 2015
Day 83: Sencha 'Tosa'
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Green
Brew Time & Temperature: Tried using the gaiwan today, since I need practice with brewing greens
Leaf Appearance: Medium-sized dark green leaves, grass-like
Color: Very bright yellow, clear
Smell: Vegetal, seaweed, a tiny bit sweet
Recommended with/as: As is
Rating: 8/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
So, lately I've been trying to brew greens in gaiwans. As of this review, I've tried it with Sencha Tanegashima and this, and I'd say it's been decent (could be better). So, take this review with a grain of salt since I may have used too much leaf, brewed too long, too hot, etc.
Anyway, to the review! For most of the brews, it was a bit bitter but I think that may have just been the amount of leaf (I just used all the leaves in tea bag). At first taste, it was brothy and savory, and eventually became slightly sweeter by the end. The after taste is a little bit sour, with a little bit of seaweed. It also had a bit of astringency, making both my mouth and throat dry, but not so much that it tasted terrible. However, it did get a bit sweeter over time, and also more green and less yellow (it helped that I lowered the brew time after the first few brews). Overall, it's a decent green tea that may have been worsened by my terrible brewing (heh). I have had better green tea, though. I think I got about 8-10 brews out of it before it got too weak.
Other notes:
Damn it, I'm pretty sure I dislocated my arm or at least hurt the joint/ligaments pretty bad. I was throwing some stuff and since my arm can pop out of the joint (I don't know why, it's just been that way since elementary school), it came out in the middle of throw and twisted in a really bad way. I'm gonna wait until tomorrow to see if it gets better, but it's been hurting all day as bad as it did when I screwed up that throw.
Other than that, today was also pretty decent. I turned in the project, did a test on To Kill a Mockingbird (which went decently, but a part of it was super hard because it was vague), and then after school cooked fried rice and made chai tea with my friend. We just ended up watching anime (Danmachi) while eating, and I was reminded why I hate watching fanservice-y anime alone (the only exceptions are Kill la Kill and maybe TTGL). I can't wait for monday though, since I'm going to Japantown with a bunch of my friends for a field trip!
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Chai Bag Cardamon & Pepper
Type: Green
Brew Time & Temperature: Tried using the gaiwan today, since I need practice with brewing greens
Leaf Appearance: Medium-sized dark green leaves, grass-like
Color: Very bright yellow, clear
Smell: Vegetal, seaweed, a tiny bit sweet
Recommended with/as: As is
Rating: 8/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
So, lately I've been trying to brew greens in gaiwans. As of this review, I've tried it with Sencha Tanegashima and this, and I'd say it's been decent (could be better). So, take this review with a grain of salt since I may have used too much leaf, brewed too long, too hot, etc.
Anyway, to the review! For most of the brews, it was a bit bitter but I think that may have just been the amount of leaf (I just used all the leaves in tea bag). At first taste, it was brothy and savory, and eventually became slightly sweeter by the end. The after taste is a little bit sour, with a little bit of seaweed. It also had a bit of astringency, making both my mouth and throat dry, but not so much that it tasted terrible. However, it did get a bit sweeter over time, and also more green and less yellow (it helped that I lowered the brew time after the first few brews). Overall, it's a decent green tea that may have been worsened by my terrible brewing (heh). I have had better green tea, though. I think I got about 8-10 brews out of it before it got too weak.
Other notes:
Damn it, I'm pretty sure I dislocated my arm or at least hurt the joint/ligaments pretty bad. I was throwing some stuff and since my arm can pop out of the joint (I don't know why, it's just been that way since elementary school), it came out in the middle of throw and twisted in a really bad way. I'm gonna wait until tomorrow to see if it gets better, but it's been hurting all day as bad as it did when I screwed up that throw.
Other than that, today was also pretty decent. I turned in the project, did a test on To Kill a Mockingbird (which went decently, but a part of it was super hard because it was vague), and then after school cooked fried rice and made chai tea with my friend. We just ended up watching anime (Danmachi) while eating, and I was reminded why I hate watching fanservice-y anime alone (the only exceptions are Kill la Kill and maybe TTGL). I can't wait for monday though, since I'm going to Japantown with a bunch of my friends for a field trip!
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Chai Bag Cardamon & Pepper
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Day 82: Benico
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Flavored Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Small, relatively thick black tea leaves with chunks of berries (strawberry?)
Color: Golden orange; clear
Smell: Candied berries, floral, sweet
Recommended with/as: As is
Rating: 7/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
The smell of this tea is actually really nice. I can't really think of a specific thing it smells like other than febreeze; it does smell like berries and is sweet, but not too overbearing (it's not too artificial, either). Also, it tastes somewhat like it smells, which I thought was good since I liked the smell. You can definitely taste the berry, but it isn't very sweet. Rather, it is a tiny bit bitter and has some of the tomato taste of Rose Hip Tea. However, it's not as tomato-y (?) or tangy. It's smooth, with little astringency, but to be honest, it's a bit of a bland tea. After the berry taste at the beginning, the taste kind of dissipates into a weak tang. Overall, it's eh.
Other notes:
Well, I turned in my project online today and I got a 4% similarity rating, which was nice. I know I don't plagiarize, but every time I have to use a plagiarism checker I feel like I did- I don't know why. Other than that, though, this day was pretty uneventful other than a doctor's appointment, movie night for my history class, and more studying. I have to bring the huge model/board in tomorrow, so that'll be fun, and also there's going to be a final on To Kill a Mockingbird. Fun.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Sencha 'Tosa'
Type: Flavored Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Small, relatively thick black tea leaves with chunks of berries (strawberry?)
Color: Golden orange; clear
Smell: Candied berries, floral, sweet
Recommended with/as: As is
Rating: 7/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
The smell of this tea is actually really nice. I can't really think of a specific thing it smells like other than febreeze; it does smell like berries and is sweet, but not too overbearing (it's not too artificial, either). Also, it tastes somewhat like it smells, which I thought was good since I liked the smell. You can definitely taste the berry, but it isn't very sweet. Rather, it is a tiny bit bitter and has some of the tomato taste of Rose Hip Tea. However, it's not as tomato-y (?) or tangy. It's smooth, with little astringency, but to be honest, it's a bit of a bland tea. After the berry taste at the beginning, the taste kind of dissipates into a weak tang. Overall, it's eh.
Other notes:
Well, I turned in my project online today and I got a 4% similarity rating, which was nice. I know I don't plagiarize, but every time I have to use a plagiarism checker I feel like I did- I don't know why. Other than that, though, this day was pretty uneventful other than a doctor's appointment, movie night for my history class, and more studying. I have to bring the huge model/board in tomorrow, so that'll be fun, and also there's going to be a final on To Kill a Mockingbird. Fun.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Sencha 'Tosa'
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Day 81: Marron Chocolat
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Flavored Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: A mix of curled black tea leaves and CTC tea; there are chunks of hazelnut too
Color: Dark copper/brown; clear
Smell: Like hot cocoa, sweet and a bit roasted
Recommended with/as: As is, milk, sweetener
Rating: 8/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Well, today I'm doing 2 reviews since I missed yesterday's, so this one might be a bit short. Anyway, this tea, compared to Lupicia's other chocolate flavored tea (Au Chocolat), is a much more darker chocolate flavor. There's a slight bitterness, which in my opinion goes well with the chocolate flavor; I'd say it's similar to, maybe, dutch cacao powder? The hazelnut does add the roasted taste to the tea, along with a very subtle nuttiness- however, it's nothing like nutella (the only thing that comes to my mind when you bring up chocolate and hazelnuts, other than Ferrero Rochers) as it isn't very sweet. The tea base also adds to the dark flavor of the chocolate, which I liked. Overall, it's a good chocolate flavored tea- try it with milk and sweetener! I'm kind of split between this and Au Chocolat, however. They're both equally good; I'd say Au Chocolat is more of a sweeter chocolate tea and mixes better with other tea, but this tea is fine on its own and more complex.
Other notes:
Woohoo! The project (the model, at least) is officially done. At the time of this post, I'm editing the paragraphs and hopefully that will be done later tonight. I'd say the model is good, but I could have added more to the map and cut it better (the way it's cut makes it a bit jagged, and not fit well in the box. The box isn't even also, and there are some gaps). I'm happy though since I'm finally done with that crap- now I just have to study for the AP Bio final and the English in-class essay!
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Benico
Type: Flavored Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: A mix of curled black tea leaves and CTC tea; there are chunks of hazelnut too
Color: Dark copper/brown; clear
Smell: Like hot cocoa, sweet and a bit roasted
Recommended with/as: As is, milk, sweetener
Rating: 8/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Well, today I'm doing 2 reviews since I missed yesterday's, so this one might be a bit short. Anyway, this tea, compared to Lupicia's other chocolate flavored tea (Au Chocolat), is a much more darker chocolate flavor. There's a slight bitterness, which in my opinion goes well with the chocolate flavor; I'd say it's similar to, maybe, dutch cacao powder? The hazelnut does add the roasted taste to the tea, along with a very subtle nuttiness- however, it's nothing like nutella (the only thing that comes to my mind when you bring up chocolate and hazelnuts, other than Ferrero Rochers) as it isn't very sweet. The tea base also adds to the dark flavor of the chocolate, which I liked. Overall, it's a good chocolate flavored tea- try it with milk and sweetener! I'm kind of split between this and Au Chocolat, however. They're both equally good; I'd say Au Chocolat is more of a sweeter chocolate tea and mixes better with other tea, but this tea is fine on its own and more complex.
Other notes:
Woohoo! The project (the model, at least) is officially done. At the time of this post, I'm editing the paragraphs and hopefully that will be done later tonight. I'd say the model is good, but I could have added more to the map and cut it better (the way it's cut makes it a bit jagged, and not fit well in the box. The box isn't even also, and there are some gaps). I'm happy though since I'm finally done with that crap- now I just have to study for the AP Bio final and the English in-class essay!
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Benico
Day 80: Grapefruit Green
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Flavored Green
Brew Time & Temperature: 2 minutes, boiling (I just brewed the tea bag in a cup instead of a whole pot today)
Leaf Appearance: Small, grass like green tea leaves with large chunks of grapefruit
Color: Golden yellow/orange; clear
Smell: Citrusy, sweet
Recommended with/as: As is, iced
Rating: 8.5/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Man, I have had my fill of tea today. I got home, made a pot of chai, then had a pot of the marron chocolat tea, and now I'm having this before I go to bed. Anyway, after the last grapefruit tea, I'm so-so on this tea. For some reason, though, I did really like the smell of the both the brewed and unbrewed leaf. I hate eating the actual fruit, but I love the smell (it's probably the citrus smell). As for the actual taste, I was surprised at how balanced the tea base and the grapefruit were. Upon tasting, you're met with the mellow, grassy taste of the green tea, which then slowly (at first) changes into a tangy, citrus taste. It stays in your mouth long after drinking, and can become very sour if you drink a lot. It's smooth, and even though it's a green tea and can get very sour, it doesn't make your throat or mouth dry at all. Overall, I like it! If you don't like sour things I guess you shouldn't have this tea, but this was a pleasant experience, different than the other stuff I've had lately.
Other notes:
Note: I did this review AFTER Day 81's (Marron Chocolat), so take that into account when you read this. Oh hell yes, I have just finished my history project (11 PM). See Day 81 for what I think about the model. The writing, on the other hand, is pretty decent (I did write a lot and do a lot of research, but I think it could have been better). I'm mostly just hoping that the model will give me the points for the writing. I'm so glad that's done, and now tomorrow I have to do a bunch of studying + watch a movie with my friends for history class. Oh, also, today I did hang out with that girl that I talked about earlier for a while after school. We walked, got donuts, and talked while eating. Looking back, I think this was the first time since middle school that I've spent time with a girl alone for friendly stuff, instead of schoolwork. So, yeah, there's that.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Marron Chocolat
Type: Flavored Green
Brew Time & Temperature: 2 minutes, boiling (I just brewed the tea bag in a cup instead of a whole pot today)
Leaf Appearance: Small, grass like green tea leaves with large chunks of grapefruit
Color: Golden yellow/orange; clear
Smell: Citrusy, sweet
Recommended with/as: As is, iced
Rating: 8.5/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Man, I have had my fill of tea today. I got home, made a pot of chai, then had a pot of the marron chocolat tea, and now I'm having this before I go to bed. Anyway, after the last grapefruit tea, I'm so-so on this tea. For some reason, though, I did really like the smell of the both the brewed and unbrewed leaf. I hate eating the actual fruit, but I love the smell (it's probably the citrus smell). As for the actual taste, I was surprised at how balanced the tea base and the grapefruit were. Upon tasting, you're met with the mellow, grassy taste of the green tea, which then slowly (at first) changes into a tangy, citrus taste. It stays in your mouth long after drinking, and can become very sour if you drink a lot. It's smooth, and even though it's a green tea and can get very sour, it doesn't make your throat or mouth dry at all. Overall, I like it! If you don't like sour things I guess you shouldn't have this tea, but this was a pleasant experience, different than the other stuff I've had lately.
Other notes:
Note: I did this review AFTER Day 81's (Marron Chocolat), so take that into account when you read this. Oh hell yes, I have just finished my history project (11 PM). See Day 81 for what I think about the model. The writing, on the other hand, is pretty decent (I did write a lot and do a lot of research, but I think it could have been better). I'm mostly just hoping that the model will give me the points for the writing. I'm so glad that's done, and now tomorrow I have to do a bunch of studying + watch a movie with my friends for history class. Oh, also, today I did hang out with that girl that I talked about earlier for a while after school. We walked, got donuts, and talked while eating. Looking back, I think this was the first time since middle school that I've spent time with a girl alone for friendly stuff, instead of schoolwork. So, yeah, there's that.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Marron Chocolat
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Just a note... (Day 80)
So, family stuff came up and I'm not really in the mood to talk about it or make tea today. I did have some Sencha Tanegashima earlier, but ugh I just feel so much like crap that I don't want to do the review and I don't think I could if I wanted to, either.
I'll try making it up if I can tomorrow by doing both reviews or just pushing the project back a day. Thanks for understanding.
I'll try making it up if I can tomorrow by doing both reviews or just pushing the project back a day. Thanks for understanding.
Monday, April 13, 2015
Day 79: Fantasy
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Flavored Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Small black leaves with long, rolled yellow fllower petals
Color: Dark copper; clear
Smell: Sweet berries and honey (as it says in the description)
Recommended with/as: As is, milk, sweetener
Rating: 7.5/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Gonna do this review quick since I'm doing that history project right now. I was going to do it earlier, but birthday celebrations and piano and stuff got in the way.
So, I've already had this tea before and I thought it was decent. But now, it does seem kind of bland or at least not very realistic. At first, you get the regular taste of black tea, followed by the berry taste, finishing off with the honey and caramel (mostly the honey). There isn't much bitterness, but it does leave a bit of a weird feeling in the mouth afterwards (not the dry feeling though). It's smooth, but the fruit/berry taste is a bit bland; it's not very sweet and reminds me somewhat of syrup (cough syrup maybe, but its not THAT artificial). The caramel and honey do give it a bit of a sweetness at the end, which I enjoyed. I couldn't try it with milk, but since the tea was a little bit weak, I'd suggest it without milk. However, I would suggest it with sweetener (especially honey!), since it would probably bring out the fruit flavor a bit more. Overall, it's a decent fruit flavored tea, but I've had much better.
Other notes:
Man, this was the best birthday I've had in a really long time. My friends made me a card and some shortbread (get it- because I'm short). Also, one of my friends got me a tea tray and a full chinese tea set which is amazing- I used it today while we ate my birthday dinner(?) and it is great. Just a note, but I gotta get her something back or make her some food soon since she really went above and beyond with this gift. I also got like $90, which was good.
Other than birthday stuff, I did get a bit of stuff done today. The history paragraphs are fully cited with a works cited and everything, so now I just need to edit those, format them (I want to make it look like a field report or something), and finish the map/board. I didn't get the boards done since I was busy, but I think I'll get that done tomorrow. I also signed up for volunteering (woo!) at the registration booth at California Extreme for both days, Saturday and Sunday. Even though it's in July, I am really looking forward to that since it gives me free admission and also since it's a volunteering job. Maybe I'll actually get stuff done this summer!
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Grapefruit Green
Type: Flavored Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Small black leaves with long, rolled yellow fllower petals
Color: Dark copper; clear
Smell: Sweet berries and honey (as it says in the description)
Recommended with/as: As is, milk, sweetener
Rating: 7.5/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Gonna do this review quick since I'm doing that history project right now. I was going to do it earlier, but birthday celebrations and piano and stuff got in the way.
So, I've already had this tea before and I thought it was decent. But now, it does seem kind of bland or at least not very realistic. At first, you get the regular taste of black tea, followed by the berry taste, finishing off with the honey and caramel (mostly the honey). There isn't much bitterness, but it does leave a bit of a weird feeling in the mouth afterwards (not the dry feeling though). It's smooth, but the fruit/berry taste is a bit bland; it's not very sweet and reminds me somewhat of syrup (cough syrup maybe, but its not THAT artificial). The caramel and honey do give it a bit of a sweetness at the end, which I enjoyed. I couldn't try it with milk, but since the tea was a little bit weak, I'd suggest it without milk. However, I would suggest it with sweetener (especially honey!), since it would probably bring out the fruit flavor a bit more. Overall, it's a decent fruit flavored tea, but I've had much better.
Other notes:
Man, this was the best birthday I've had in a really long time. My friends made me a card and some shortbread (get it- because I'm short). Also, one of my friends got me a tea tray and a full chinese tea set which is amazing- I used it today while we ate my birthday dinner(?) and it is great. Just a note, but I gotta get her something back or make her some food soon since she really went above and beyond with this gift. I also got like $90, which was good.
Other than birthday stuff, I did get a bit of stuff done today. The history paragraphs are fully cited with a works cited and everything, so now I just need to edit those, format them (I want to make it look like a field report or something), and finish the map/board. I didn't get the boards done since I was busy, but I think I'll get that done tomorrow. I also signed up for volunteering (woo!) at the registration booth at California Extreme for both days, Saturday and Sunday. Even though it's in July, I am really looking forward to that since it gives me free admission and also since it's a volunteering job. Maybe I'll actually get stuff done this summer!
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Grapefruit Green
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Day 78: Rose Hip Tea
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Herbal & Black Blend
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Very small black, curled leaves with orange-red, opaque chunks of rosehip
Color: Light ruby (mostly pink, with a tiny bit of orange); clear
Smell: Floral (roses), citrus, a bit like tomato
Recommended with/as: As is, iced
Rating: 7/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
God, I hated the smell of the dry loose leaf. It's hard to describe, but all I can think is that it was too perfume-y. The brewed version was a bit more tolerable though (it did smell a lot like tomatoes, like other reviewers have said). As for taste, I did notice the tomato that was in the smell; it added a bit of tanginess to the tea, along with a little bit of sweetness. However, that was really it- I couldn't notice any other taste other than the tang (the tea base had a little bit of a roasted/earthy taste but it's very hard to notice). It also had a tiny bit of astringency that made my mouth and throat a little bit dry.Overall, it makes for a pretty colored tea, but not a good tasting one; I'd prefer it if there was actually a rose taste. It is better than tomato soup, however.
Other notes:
Today, I mostly just worked on the writing portion of the history project that's due Friday (10/12 paragraphs written!). So that means I just need to make the wooden frame for the map, edit the paragraphs, add in citations, and make the works cited, and I'll be all done. Also, a girl I like (a different one that I haven't really talked about) and I kinda confirmed today that we like each other, so there's that. I won't go more in depth since she reads this occasionally, but if she is reading today's post, hi.
My birthday is also tomorrow, so I got that going for me too.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Fantasy
Type: Herbal & Black Blend
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Very small black, curled leaves with orange-red, opaque chunks of rosehip
Color: Light ruby (mostly pink, with a tiny bit of orange); clear
Smell: Floral (roses), citrus, a bit like tomato
Recommended with/as: As is, iced
Rating: 7/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
God, I hated the smell of the dry loose leaf. It's hard to describe, but all I can think is that it was too perfume-y. The brewed version was a bit more tolerable though (it did smell a lot like tomatoes, like other reviewers have said). As for taste, I did notice the tomato that was in the smell; it added a bit of tanginess to the tea, along with a little bit of sweetness. However, that was really it- I couldn't notice any other taste other than the tang (the tea base had a little bit of a roasted/earthy taste but it's very hard to notice). It also had a tiny bit of astringency that made my mouth and throat a little bit dry.Overall, it makes for a pretty colored tea, but not a good tasting one; I'd prefer it if there was actually a rose taste. It is better than tomato soup, however.
Other notes:
Today, I mostly just worked on the writing portion of the history project that's due Friday (10/12 paragraphs written!). So that means I just need to make the wooden frame for the map, edit the paragraphs, add in citations, and make the works cited, and I'll be all done. Also, a girl I like (a different one that I haven't really talked about) and I kinda confirmed today that we like each other, so there's that. I won't go more in depth since she reads this occasionally, but if she is reading today's post, hi.
My birthday is also tomorrow, so I got that going for me too.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Fantasy
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Day 77: Tikuanyin
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Oolong
Brew Time & Temperature: Gaiwan method today
Leaf Appearance: Dark green & brown balled oolong; they're small, but a lot of the leaves are broken up
Color: Light golden-orange; clear
Smell: For some reason, this tea doesn't smell that strong (both loose leaf and brewed; it could just be me though); I did get some roasted/toasty notes however
Recommended with/as: As is
Rating: 8/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
I actually had this tea a long time ago, when I was first getting into loose leaf. I think my dad got it because it was on sale, but since I didn't really like unflavored teas at the time, I didn't think much of it. Actually, I think I still have the bag of the loose leaf with the rest of my tea, but it's probably super old by now (which might be good or bad, I don't know).
Anyway, this is one of the more roastier tikuanyins I've had, and admittedly one of the less flavorful ones (in comparison to others I've had, like monkey-picked tieguanyin). Although it had a strong roasted taste, there were some tangy (maybe fruity?) notes, along with nuts and a very subtle sweetness. The tangy taste lingered on the tongue a while after drinking, which I liked a bit. It was very smooth too, leaving none of that dry taste in my mouth or my throat. However, I couldn't do that many brews today since I was preoccupied with math homework (and also time constraints), but I think it would yield a decent amount. To be honest, I prefer non-roasted, more green oolongs over these, but they vary so much in flavor that I think it isn't that fair to compare them to each other. However, this is a decent enough roasted oolong (and I'll try it again, since I do have the loose leaf still), but it doesn't really wow me.
Other notes:
Just worked on the board today, watched 12 Angry Men (which I enjoyed very much; if only Criterion DVDs weren't so expensive), and made a pot of Royal Milk Tea to put in the fridge before this review. I think the board is actually almost done now, so tomorrow I'm just going to write the paragraphs and start building the wooden case/frame for the map-board. Also, my birthday is in 2 days (hopefully no one can guess who I am from this), and I still have no idea what I really want. I know my friends are planning something since they're asking me (and they also kind of planned it in front of my face), so there's that. I think this is actually the first time in a really long time (the last time was in elementary school, probably) where people are doing stuff for me, other than just giving me the occasional small gift. Woo!
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Rose Hip Tea
Type: Oolong
Brew Time & Temperature: Gaiwan method today
Leaf Appearance: Dark green & brown balled oolong; they're small, but a lot of the leaves are broken up
Color: Light golden-orange; clear
Smell: For some reason, this tea doesn't smell that strong (both loose leaf and brewed; it could just be me though); I did get some roasted/toasty notes however
Recommended with/as: As is
Rating: 8/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
I actually had this tea a long time ago, when I was first getting into loose leaf. I think my dad got it because it was on sale, but since I didn't really like unflavored teas at the time, I didn't think much of it. Actually, I think I still have the bag of the loose leaf with the rest of my tea, but it's probably super old by now (which might be good or bad, I don't know).
Anyway, this is one of the more roastier tikuanyins I've had, and admittedly one of the less flavorful ones (in comparison to others I've had, like monkey-picked tieguanyin). Although it had a strong roasted taste, there were some tangy (maybe fruity?) notes, along with nuts and a very subtle sweetness. The tangy taste lingered on the tongue a while after drinking, which I liked a bit. It was very smooth too, leaving none of that dry taste in my mouth or my throat. However, I couldn't do that many brews today since I was preoccupied with math homework (and also time constraints), but I think it would yield a decent amount. To be honest, I prefer non-roasted, more green oolongs over these, but they vary so much in flavor that I think it isn't that fair to compare them to each other. However, this is a decent enough roasted oolong (and I'll try it again, since I do have the loose leaf still), but it doesn't really wow me.
Other notes:
Just worked on the board today, watched 12 Angry Men (which I enjoyed very much; if only Criterion DVDs weren't so expensive), and made a pot of Royal Milk Tea to put in the fridge before this review. I think the board is actually almost done now, so tomorrow I'm just going to write the paragraphs and start building the wooden case/frame for the map-board. Also, my birthday is in 2 days (hopefully no one can guess who I am from this), and I still have no idea what I really want. I know my friends are planning something since they're asking me (and they also kind of planned it in front of my face), so there's that. I think this is actually the first time in a really long time (the last time was in elementary school, probably) where people are doing stuff for me, other than just giving me the occasional small gift. Woo!
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Rose Hip Tea
Friday, April 10, 2015
Day 76: Darjeeling the First Flush
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 2 minutes 30 seconds, 85-95° C
Leaf Appearance: Light drab green (and some white), medium-large leaves
Color: Dark yellow (I think it's jasmine yellow); clear
Smell: A little weak, but I'm getting some floral notes along with a little bit of roasted-ness
Recommended with/as: As is
Rating: 8.5/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
I'm going to try today's review with only 1 cup of tea just because, and also because there's 10 minutes before midnight. Anyway, I was surprised at how green this darjeeling was; the cup turned out much lighter than I thought (I was expecting sort of an amber color instead of the yellowish color). The smell was a bit weak, but the taste was actually pretty strong. It's a bit fruity, with a strong roasted taste which I sort of noticed in the smell. There's a tiny bit of bitterness at the beginning, but it is masked by the citrusy taste. There isn't much astringency, and it's surprisingly smooth considering its taste (which I usually would expect to be at least a little drying). Overall, it's a pretty good darjeeling (of the few darjeelings I've had, this is one of the best), and I would actually buy more if I could. I think I actually used too cold of water (the heater was set to 60 degrees, since I made sencha this morning), but I'm not sure and I'm too lazy to check. I think it'll be stronger if you do use the recommended temperature, but it was good at the temperature and time I used.
Other notes:
Speech went okay (apparently some people liked it, but to be honest I'm not sure if they were just saying that or if they were sincere). I did get 36/35 on the last AP bio test on the endocrine/nervous system, which was pretty awesome. Other than that though, I hung out with friends for a while after school, got home, and slept until 11 (an hour ago).
Also, holy crap this will be posted 1 minute to midnight aaaahhh
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Tikuanyin
Type: Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 2 minutes 30 seconds, 85-95° C
Leaf Appearance: Light drab green (and some white), medium-large leaves
Color: Dark yellow (I think it's jasmine yellow); clear
Smell: A little weak, but I'm getting some floral notes along with a little bit of roasted-ness
Recommended with/as: As is
Rating: 8.5/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
I'm going to try today's review with only 1 cup of tea just because, and also because there's 10 minutes before midnight. Anyway, I was surprised at how green this darjeeling was; the cup turned out much lighter than I thought (I was expecting sort of an amber color instead of the yellowish color). The smell was a bit weak, but the taste was actually pretty strong. It's a bit fruity, with a strong roasted taste which I sort of noticed in the smell. There's a tiny bit of bitterness at the beginning, but it is masked by the citrusy taste. There isn't much astringency, and it's surprisingly smooth considering its taste (which I usually would expect to be at least a little drying). Overall, it's a pretty good darjeeling (of the few darjeelings I've had, this is one of the best), and I would actually buy more if I could. I think I actually used too cold of water (the heater was set to 60 degrees, since I made sencha this morning), but I'm not sure and I'm too lazy to check. I think it'll be stronger if you do use the recommended temperature, but it was good at the temperature and time I used.
Other notes:
Speech went okay (apparently some people liked it, but to be honest I'm not sure if they were just saying that or if they were sincere). I did get 36/35 on the last AP bio test on the endocrine/nervous system, which was pretty awesome. Other than that though, I hung out with friends for a while after school, got home, and slept until 11 (an hour ago).
Also, holy crap this will be posted 1 minute to midnight aaaahhh
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Tikuanyin
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Day 75: Diksam FTGFOP1
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Medium-large black tea leaves, curled/rolled with a small amount of twigs
Color: Dark orange-brown, clear
Smell: My stuffy nose started acting up today (usually happens when I talk a bunch when practicing for speeches), so I couldn't really smell; I did smell that standard assam/black tea smell
Recommended with/as: As is, milk, sweetener
Rating: 7.5/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Yet another rush review today, since I have a speech to prep for tomorrow and it's also super late.
Anyway, this is a pretty standard assam (I guess the description was right). It has that malty taste to it, along with a bit of a tanginess from some citrus (or maybe even raisin?) notes. It's a little bit earthy and very smooth with little astringency, but I noticed that it doesn't have that creaminess (or sweetness) that I found in some other assams. Overall it's okay, but I've had better. I still need to get better at black teas, though.
Other notes:
Tomorrow is not going to be fun. Got a speech second period that I feel only sort of ready for (we get notes and everything), so I'm going to be spending tonight just practicing. Since we're the first/second group going, we get more lenient grading, but man this is going to be rough, since I had to pretty much remake the whole visual today because the first one was not very good. Let's see how this goes!
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Darjeeling the First Flush
Type: Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Medium-large black tea leaves, curled/rolled with a small amount of twigs
Color: Dark orange-brown, clear
Smell: My stuffy nose started acting up today (usually happens when I talk a bunch when practicing for speeches), so I couldn't really smell; I did smell that standard assam/black tea smell
Recommended with/as: As is, milk, sweetener
Rating: 7.5/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Yet another rush review today, since I have a speech to prep for tomorrow and it's also super late.
Anyway, this is a pretty standard assam (I guess the description was right). It has that malty taste to it, along with a bit of a tanginess from some citrus (or maybe even raisin?) notes. It's a little bit earthy and very smooth with little astringency, but I noticed that it doesn't have that creaminess (or sweetness) that I found in some other assams. Overall it's okay, but I've had better. I still need to get better at black teas, though.
Other notes:
Tomorrow is not going to be fun. Got a speech second period that I feel only sort of ready for (we get notes and everything), so I'm going to be spending tonight just practicing. Since we're the first/second group going, we get more lenient grading, but man this is going to be rough, since I had to pretty much remake the whole visual today because the first one was not very good. Let's see how this goes!
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Darjeeling the First Flush
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Day 74: Sencha "Yumegatari"
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Green
Brew Time & Temperature: 1 minute, 75-100° C
Leaf Appearance: A light, sort of dark pastel green with grass like leaves; they're somewhat small, but that might just be because of the teabag
Color: A very bright light green, clear
Smell: Grassy with floral notes
Recommended with/as: As is
Rating: 9/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Although the smell isn't that strong, the tea makes up for it in flavor. Although it's light, it's complex. At the start, there is a very subtle tart note that gives way to a brothy, vegetal taste. It ends on a grassy sweet taste, leaving the tongue somewhat cool after drinking. I also noticed a little bit of a roasted taste, which gave the tea a bit of a body. It's also smooth, without astringency or that dry feeling that senchas usually leave in your throat. Overall, I liked it very much and actually finished the whole pot. It did make for a nice late night homework/study tea, too.
Other notes:
Man, I have a group speech on Friday and I don't think my group is ready. We gave the job of making a visual to one person (guess who it is) and of course, he waits until the last minute to make it and it looks not very good. The rest of the group also aren't doing their part for the script, so I'm not looking forward to this speech at all (tomorrow I'm going to have to practice a ton for this).
Other than that, I got some more done with the project by inking in the roads and arrows (but of course the sharpie I had was dry, and the arrows look terrible). I also noticed one thing- personally, I feel like I can describe oolongs and greens decently well, but for the love of me I can't describe an unflavored black tea and be happy with my description. Oh well, hopefully I can fix that by the end of this project.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Diksam FTGFOP1
Type: Green
Brew Time & Temperature: 1 minute, 75-100° C
Leaf Appearance: A light, sort of dark pastel green with grass like leaves; they're somewhat small, but that might just be because of the teabag
Color: A very bright light green, clear
Smell: Grassy with floral notes
Recommended with/as: As is
Rating: 9/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Although the smell isn't that strong, the tea makes up for it in flavor. Although it's light, it's complex. At the start, there is a very subtle tart note that gives way to a brothy, vegetal taste. It ends on a grassy sweet taste, leaving the tongue somewhat cool after drinking. I also noticed a little bit of a roasted taste, which gave the tea a bit of a body. It's also smooth, without astringency or that dry feeling that senchas usually leave in your throat. Overall, I liked it very much and actually finished the whole pot. It did make for a nice late night homework/study tea, too.
Other notes:
Man, I have a group speech on Friday and I don't think my group is ready. We gave the job of making a visual to one person (guess who it is) and of course, he waits until the last minute to make it and it looks not very good. The rest of the group also aren't doing their part for the script, so I'm not looking forward to this speech at all (tomorrow I'm going to have to practice a ton for this).
Other than that, I got some more done with the project by inking in the roads and arrows (but of course the sharpie I had was dry, and the arrows look terrible). I also noticed one thing- personally, I feel like I can describe oolongs and greens decently well, but for the love of me I can't describe an unflavored black tea and be happy with my description. Oh well, hopefully I can fix that by the end of this project.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Diksam FTGFOP1
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Day 73: Ceylon Dimbula
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 2 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Very dark brown tea dust/fannings; it looks similar to dirt
Color: A sort of mix between copper and chestnut; it's clear (and not that dark)
Smell: Earthy, malty/sweet, with some floral notes
Recommended with/as: As is, milk, sweetener
Rating: 8/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Well, this was a pretty strong, pleasant tea. There is a strong earth and maltiness which combines well with the strength/bitterness of the tea, along with some acidic (or tannic?) notes. Compared to, say an assam, it's much less creamy and instead has a bit of sour bitterness. It is pretty strong though, so I'd suggest it as a breakfast tea. I couldn't try it with milk since I didn't have any, but I assume that it would be good with some. It was good with honey, which rounded out a lot of the flavor. It's a good tea overall, but personally, I'm a bit so and so because the taste is a bit average, but of higher quality.
Other notes:
School's back, and well, I don't know how to feel about that. I guess it's good since I get to see my friends and everything, but sticking to my plans, like studying, might be hard (today's review is a bit short since I've been working on homework while doing it). Also, the quarter ends in 2 days, and I should have a 4.0 GPA still, but holy crap I have a 90.0% in English. Hopefully I don't screw up!
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Sencha "Yumegatari"
Type: Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 2 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Very dark brown tea dust/fannings; it looks similar to dirt
Color: A sort of mix between copper and chestnut; it's clear (and not that dark)
Smell: Earthy, malty/sweet, with some floral notes
Recommended with/as: As is, milk, sweetener
Rating: 8/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Well, this was a pretty strong, pleasant tea. There is a strong earth and maltiness which combines well with the strength/bitterness of the tea, along with some acidic (or tannic?) notes. Compared to, say an assam, it's much less creamy and instead has a bit of sour bitterness. It is pretty strong though, so I'd suggest it as a breakfast tea. I couldn't try it with milk since I didn't have any, but I assume that it would be good with some. It was good with honey, which rounded out a lot of the flavor. It's a good tea overall, but personally, I'm a bit so and so because the taste is a bit average, but of higher quality.
Other notes:
School's back, and well, I don't know how to feel about that. I guess it's good since I get to see my friends and everything, but sticking to my plans, like studying, might be hard (today's review is a bit short since I've been working on homework while doing it). Also, the quarter ends in 2 days, and I should have a 4.0 GPA still, but holy crap I have a 90.0% in English. Hopefully I don't screw up!
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Sencha "Yumegatari"
Monday, April 6, 2015
Day 72: Four Seasons- Mingjian
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Oolong
Brew Time & Temperature: Gaiwan method today, so no accurate times/temperatures
Leaf Appearance: Dark green balled oolong; they're about average sized
Color: Medium yellow-green; it got brighter and more green with each brew (up to 6?)
Smell: Brothy and grassy/hay, with a little bit of sweet milk
Recommended with/as: As is
Rating: 8.5/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
This was a nice oolong to end Spring Break on! It's mainly grassy and creamy, somewhat like a Jin Xuan. However, it's less sweet or milk-like, and is (in my opinion) more subtle. There are some tangy and roasted/rice-like notes, making for a well-rounded taste (the smoothness of the tea helps, too). After drinking, it leaves a sweet taste lingering on the mouth- it's not too overbearing, like Blue People Oolong, but it's nice and light. Overall, it's a good, somewhat complex oolong (but personally, I'd prefer a darker oolong that's less green; I like it though). It also lasted for a lot of brews, which was nice.
Other notes:
Last day of spring break. Pretty much the main thing I did (and will do) today is grocery shopping (gotta get that discount Easter candy), bake a cheesecake (it turned out amazingly for my first cheesecake), go to piano class, and do homework/study. Surprisingly, my partners on projects (one at least) got their part done, so I was pretty happy today. Unrelated, but I noticed that because of this project, I began enjoying oolongs and unflavored teas much more. I can notice more things than I could (probably because I've tried a decent amount of teas now), I'm using less sweetener/milk, and I'm drinking less unflavored tea. I do enjoy a nice cup of cookie or milk tea once in a while, but I think I've mostly drinking unflavored tea outside of this project (well, other than chai and royal milk tea).
Welp, back to the grind!
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Ceylon Dimbula
Type: Oolong
Brew Time & Temperature: Gaiwan method today, so no accurate times/temperatures
Leaf Appearance: Dark green balled oolong; they're about average sized
Color: Medium yellow-green; it got brighter and more green with each brew (up to 6?)
Smell: Brothy and grassy/hay, with a little bit of sweet milk
Recommended with/as: As is
Rating: 8.5/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
This was a nice oolong to end Spring Break on! It's mainly grassy and creamy, somewhat like a Jin Xuan. However, it's less sweet or milk-like, and is (in my opinion) more subtle. There are some tangy and roasted/rice-like notes, making for a well-rounded taste (the smoothness of the tea helps, too). After drinking, it leaves a sweet taste lingering on the mouth- it's not too overbearing, like Blue People Oolong, but it's nice and light. Overall, it's a good, somewhat complex oolong (but personally, I'd prefer a darker oolong that's less green; I like it though). It also lasted for a lot of brews, which was nice.
Other notes:
Last day of spring break. Pretty much the main thing I did (and will do) today is grocery shopping (gotta get that discount Easter candy), bake a cheesecake (it turned out amazingly for my first cheesecake), go to piano class, and do homework/study. Surprisingly, my partners on projects (one at least) got their part done, so I was pretty happy today. Unrelated, but I noticed that because of this project, I began enjoying oolongs and unflavored teas much more. I can notice more things than I could (probably because I've tried a decent amount of teas now), I'm using less sweetener/milk, and I'm drinking less unflavored tea. I do enjoy a nice cup of cookie or milk tea once in a while, but I think I've mostly drinking unflavored tea outside of this project (well, other than chai and royal milk tea).
Welp, back to the grind!
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Ceylon Dimbula
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Day 71: Ginger & Lemon Myrtle
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Flavored Herbal
Brew Time & Temperature: 4 minutes, boiling; I didn't brew a whole pot today- I just threw the tea bag into a mug full of boiling water because I'm in a rush
Leaf Appearance: Small, dark orange and brown rooibos needles with medium-sized (relatively) chunks of ginger and large pieces of green leaves (maybe the myrtle?). I think there are some lemon chunks, but they may just be ginger (they look very similar in this tea).
Color: Dark orange/caramel brown; it's clear, but opaque (so you can't see the bottom of the cup)
Smell: Minty, ginger/spice, a bit sweet
Recommended with/as: As is, sweetener
Rating: 8/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Gonna rush through this one today, for reasons below (see Other Notes). Anyway, as much as I hate the medicine taste of rooibos, this wasn't so bad. It has a bit of tart, coming from the citrus and lemon, along with a light spiciness from the ginger. The rooibos taste doesn't come out until the aftertaste, where it's light enough that it doesn't bother me. Surprisingly, it tastes a lot like a roasted green tea, which I liked. Overall, it's a pleasant herbal tea, but it just doesn't match up with real tea. (the ginger and lemon work very well with each other, though). Makes for a good night tea, though!
Other notes:
Today (Easter!) was actually really productive! First, I found out the perfect way to make Royal Milk Tea (the Japanese one, I adapted this off of a recipe online)
1. Boil water (note: for this recipe, just use a milk to water ratio of 2:1).
2. Add leaves- I used a mix of Uva and Darjeeling; 1:1 (it's also good with some keemun, but in lower amounts)
3. Boil for about 2-4 minutes, or until dark brown.
4. Add the milk and sweetener (2:1 ratio for milk, as said before, and I just messed around with the sweetener- use a lot of sugar and/or condensed milk, 1/4-1/3 cup?). Stir continuously.
5. Let it reach boiling point, where it starts bubbling (you can stop stirring around here). Like with chai, let it bubble to the top, take it off the heat, stir, and let it bubble to the top again. Do this about 2 or 3 times, and then take it off of the heat.
6. Depending on the strength you want it, leave the pot out for a couple minutes or strain immediately (I liked it both ways, really). Chill, and enjoy!
Other than that, I got really far on the history project (but I didn't work on anything else, heh). I got all of the flags/markers for each army done, inked the main parts of the map, and made it so that the army markers magnetically stick to the place where they actually were in the battle. I'll work on it more tomorrow since I need to buy more magnets and let the flags set (because glue). The model will be done once I set up houses (city markers), tanks (to represent the German push), ink the roads/header, place the map/build the box, and (maybe) place barbed wire on the map (for the Russian defensive positions). I'm actually having a lot of fun with this now, since I'm getting somewhere. Tomorrow, since there's no school, I'm going to try and buy all of the stuff I need, finish up what I can, study for tests, bake a Nutella/Chocolate Chip Cookie/Twinkie cheesecake for a friend's birthday (the girl I used to like/still sort of do), and complete the rest of my homework. I'm hyped!
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Four Seasons- Mingjian
Type: Flavored Herbal
Brew Time & Temperature: 4 minutes, boiling; I didn't brew a whole pot today- I just threw the tea bag into a mug full of boiling water because I'm in a rush
Leaf Appearance: Small, dark orange and brown rooibos needles with medium-sized (relatively) chunks of ginger and large pieces of green leaves (maybe the myrtle?). I think there are some lemon chunks, but they may just be ginger (they look very similar in this tea).
Color: Dark orange/caramel brown; it's clear, but opaque (so you can't see the bottom of the cup)
Smell: Minty, ginger/spice, a bit sweet
Recommended with/as: As is, sweetener
Rating: 8/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Gonna rush through this one today, for reasons below (see Other Notes). Anyway, as much as I hate the medicine taste of rooibos, this wasn't so bad. It has a bit of tart, coming from the citrus and lemon, along with a light spiciness from the ginger. The rooibos taste doesn't come out until the aftertaste, where it's light enough that it doesn't bother me. Surprisingly, it tastes a lot like a roasted green tea, which I liked. Overall, it's a pleasant herbal tea, but it just doesn't match up with real tea. (the ginger and lemon work very well with each other, though). Makes for a good night tea, though!
Other notes:
Today (Easter!) was actually really productive! First, I found out the perfect way to make Royal Milk Tea (the Japanese one, I adapted this off of a recipe online)
1. Boil water (note: for this recipe, just use a milk to water ratio of 2:1).
2. Add leaves- I used a mix of Uva and Darjeeling; 1:1 (it's also good with some keemun, but in lower amounts)
3. Boil for about 2-4 minutes, or until dark brown.
4. Add the milk and sweetener (2:1 ratio for milk, as said before, and I just messed around with the sweetener- use a lot of sugar and/or condensed milk, 1/4-1/3 cup?). Stir continuously.
5. Let it reach boiling point, where it starts bubbling (you can stop stirring around here). Like with chai, let it bubble to the top, take it off the heat, stir, and let it bubble to the top again. Do this about 2 or 3 times, and then take it off of the heat.
6. Depending on the strength you want it, leave the pot out for a couple minutes or strain immediately (I liked it both ways, really). Chill, and enjoy!
Other than that, I got really far on the history project (but I didn't work on anything else, heh). I got all of the flags/markers for each army done, inked the main parts of the map, and made it so that the army markers magnetically stick to the place where they actually were in the battle. I'll work on it more tomorrow since I need to buy more magnets and let the flags set (because glue). The model will be done once I set up houses (city markers), tanks (to represent the German push), ink the roads/header, place the map/build the box, and (maybe) place barbed wire on the map (for the Russian defensive positions). I'm actually having a lot of fun with this now, since I'm getting somewhere. Tomorrow, since there's no school, I'm going to try and buy all of the stuff I need, finish up what I can, study for tests, bake a Nutella/Chocolate Chip Cookie/Twinkie cheesecake for a friend's birthday (the girl I used to like/still sort of do), and complete the rest of my homework. I'm hyped!
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Four Seasons- Mingjian
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Day 70: Cinnamon
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Flavored Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Medium-large, semi-rolled black leaves with small chunks of cinnamon bark added
Color: Sort of a dark orange/bronze; clear (surprisingly, it's not opaque like previous teas)
Smell: Mainly the spice of the cinnamon, with the earthiness of the black tea base
Recommended with/as: As is, milk, sweetener
Rating: 7.5/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Ugh, when I smelled the dry version of the leaf, I instantly did not like it (it's just like Red Hots or Hot Tamales, candies which I hate). Also, I'm doing this review at 11:30, so it's going to be quick. On to the review!
Brewing it did not help get rid of the smell I dread so much (however, it did bring out more the black tea smell, which I liked). The taste was, well, what I expected. It's very spicy the moment it touches the tongue, (that cinnamon gives it a really, really strong kick), but doesn't linger for very long. Rather, the taste of the tea base remains, leaving a strong earthiness as an aftertaste. Other than the very strong spice at the beginning, it's actually a really smooth tea. It certainly is cinnamon though, and I say if you're into cinnamon (I am not), you'd like this. I wasn't able to drink it with milk or sweetener because of the rush review, but I think that I would enjoy it much more. I'm giving it a 7.5 since I don't like the flavor, but I'd say the quality makes it taste around an 8.
Other notes:
Holy crap, I weighed myself for the first time in about a month or 2, and I gained almost 10 pounds (107 to 115). I guess it makes sense since I've been eating a ton of sugary snacks and barely exercising and shit, but damn, 10 pounds. It's time to start eating less crap now and counting calories! Let's see if I can drop this weight (or at least some of it) by the end of the project.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Ginger & Lemon Myrtle
Type: Flavored Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Medium-large, semi-rolled black leaves with small chunks of cinnamon bark added
Color: Sort of a dark orange/bronze; clear (surprisingly, it's not opaque like previous teas)
Smell: Mainly the spice of the cinnamon, with the earthiness of the black tea base
Recommended with/as: As is, milk, sweetener
Rating: 7.5/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Ugh, when I smelled the dry version of the leaf, I instantly did not like it (it's just like Red Hots or Hot Tamales, candies which I hate). Also, I'm doing this review at 11:30, so it's going to be quick. On to the review!
Brewing it did not help get rid of the smell I dread so much (however, it did bring out more the black tea smell, which I liked). The taste was, well, what I expected. It's very spicy the moment it touches the tongue, (that cinnamon gives it a really, really strong kick), but doesn't linger for very long. Rather, the taste of the tea base remains, leaving a strong earthiness as an aftertaste. Other than the very strong spice at the beginning, it's actually a really smooth tea. It certainly is cinnamon though, and I say if you're into cinnamon (I am not), you'd like this. I wasn't able to drink it with milk or sweetener because of the rush review, but I think that I would enjoy it much more. I'm giving it a 7.5 since I don't like the flavor, but I'd say the quality makes it taste around an 8.
Other notes:
Holy crap, I weighed myself for the first time in about a month or 2, and I gained almost 10 pounds (107 to 115). I guess it makes sense since I've been eating a ton of sugary snacks and barely exercising and shit, but damn, 10 pounds. It's time to start eating less crap now and counting calories! Let's see if I can drop this weight (or at least some of it) by the end of the project.
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Ginger & Lemon Myrtle
Friday, April 3, 2015
Day 69: Sri Lanka
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 2 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Small, broken up dark brown tea leaves (fannings, I believe) with small, curled yellow pieces (I don't know what they are, to be honest)
Color: Dark copper with a light oily film on top; it's mostly clear, but the color/darkness makes it hard to see through
Smell: Very similar to an assam, but not that strong; earthy and a bit malty, mainly
Recommended with/as: As is, milk, sweetener
Rating: 8/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Gonna be a short review today, since I'm lazy and need to start doing work. Anyway, I think the tea is decent enough as a strong, unflavored breakfast tea (I think I've had better during this project, though). It's very malty and earthy, similar to other black teas. However, it's not as creamy or sweet; there is a little bit of bitterness, along with citrus (lemon-like) that sets it apart from different unflavored blacks. It's very smooth and doesn't leave the throat dry after drinking. It's decent with milk and honey, but for some reason, I actually prefer it straight. Overall, it's a nice unflavored black, but there's better out there.
Other notes:
I did absolutely nothing today other than video games (well, after this post I plan to study for AP Bio + work on that speech and maybe write a bit for history). 3 days left in spring break, so hopefully I do something before that ends! All I want to finish before that ends is most of the history project (drawing that map and writing the paragraphs, mainly), doing English homework and stuff, and studying for AP Bio (got that final at the end of the month!).
That reminds me, here's my study plan for April & AP Bio:
Before break ends: do all of the section practice tests in the study guide, find out what I should really study
7-19: Study 1 section each day, about an hour each day (starting at section 10 and working down)
20-24: Review everything/general for as long as it takes for me to fully master it
Also, day 69 now (heh)
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Cinnamon
Type: Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 2 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Small, broken up dark brown tea leaves (fannings, I believe) with small, curled yellow pieces (I don't know what they are, to be honest)
Color: Dark copper with a light oily film on top; it's mostly clear, but the color/darkness makes it hard to see through
Smell: Very similar to an assam, but not that strong; earthy and a bit malty, mainly
Recommended with/as: As is, milk, sweetener
Rating: 8/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Gonna be a short review today, since I'm lazy and need to start doing work. Anyway, I think the tea is decent enough as a strong, unflavored breakfast tea (I think I've had better during this project, though). It's very malty and earthy, similar to other black teas. However, it's not as creamy or sweet; there is a little bit of bitterness, along with citrus (lemon-like) that sets it apart from different unflavored blacks. It's very smooth and doesn't leave the throat dry after drinking. It's decent with milk and honey, but for some reason, I actually prefer it straight. Overall, it's a nice unflavored black, but there's better out there.
Other notes:
I did absolutely nothing today other than video games (well, after this post I plan to study for AP Bio + work on that speech and maybe write a bit for history). 3 days left in spring break, so hopefully I do something before that ends! All I want to finish before that ends is most of the history project (drawing that map and writing the paragraphs, mainly), doing English homework and stuff, and studying for AP Bio (got that final at the end of the month!).
That reminds me, here's my study plan for April & AP Bio:
Before break ends: do all of the section practice tests in the study guide, find out what I should really study
7-19: Study 1 section each day, about an hour each day (starting at section 10 and working down)
20-24: Review everything/general for as long as it takes for me to fully master it
Also, day 69 now (heh)
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Cinnamon
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Day 68: Sencha "Ureshino"
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Green
Brew Time & Temperature: 1 minute 45 seconds, (around) 75-80°C
Leaf Appearance: Small dark green leaves, needle like (very thin), curled; since it's a tea bag, many of the leaves are broken up or very small
Color: Bright light green; a bit cloudy due to green tea particles (probably won't be a problem if you use the actual loose leaf)
Smell: Grassy, vegetal/brothy, a bit ocean-like and sweet
Recommended with/as: As is
Rating: 8/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Man, it's been a while since I've had a good sencha (or really, any unflavored green tea), and this was a nice re-entry into Japanese greens. It's mainly grassy and vegetal, with a bit of tart (coming from citrus-like notes). I couldn't taste the sweetness that was in the smell, but there were some floral notes that gave it a very, very slight sweetness. It did leave my throat a bit dry after drinking, but wasn't that bitter. It didn't linger in the mouth, and was a bit abrupt in terms of flavor length. A problem I found with the tea is that it got bitter pretty fast (but you could circumvent this by not using a teabag, and instead using a gaiwan or something). It's not really limited to only this tea (it applies to all senchas), but it was something I thought I should mention. Overall, it's a decent, basic sencha (would probably benefit if I had the loose leaf), but I think there are some better ones out there.
Other notes:
Well, today I went out to watch a movie with friends (Cinderella- not my choice). It was fun and I actually got to hang out with people that aren't my family, so there's that. The movie was decent (and does a good job of retelling Cinderella), but it didn't really have any redeeming qualities other than that- it was very vanilla. Other than that though, I worked a bit on the AP Bio speech and English homework. There wasn't really much I did when I got home (and I have no idea what I'm going to or want to do tomorrow).
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Sri Lanka
Type: Green
Brew Time & Temperature: 1 minute 45 seconds, (around) 75-80°C
Leaf Appearance: Small dark green leaves, needle like (very thin), curled; since it's a tea bag, many of the leaves are broken up or very small
Color: Bright light green; a bit cloudy due to green tea particles (probably won't be a problem if you use the actual loose leaf)
Smell: Grassy, vegetal/brothy, a bit ocean-like and sweet
Recommended with/as: As is
Rating: 8/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Man, it's been a while since I've had a good sencha (or really, any unflavored green tea), and this was a nice re-entry into Japanese greens. It's mainly grassy and vegetal, with a bit of tart (coming from citrus-like notes). I couldn't taste the sweetness that was in the smell, but there were some floral notes that gave it a very, very slight sweetness. It did leave my throat a bit dry after drinking, but wasn't that bitter. It didn't linger in the mouth, and was a bit abrupt in terms of flavor length. A problem I found with the tea is that it got bitter pretty fast (but you could circumvent this by not using a teabag, and instead using a gaiwan or something). It's not really limited to only this tea (it applies to all senchas), but it was something I thought I should mention. Overall, it's a decent, basic sencha (would probably benefit if I had the loose leaf), but I think there are some better ones out there.
Other notes:
Well, today I went out to watch a movie with friends (Cinderella- not my choice). It was fun and I actually got to hang out with people that aren't my family, so there's that. The movie was decent (and does a good job of retelling Cinderella), but it didn't really have any redeeming qualities other than that- it was very vanilla. Other than that though, I worked a bit on the AP Bio speech and English homework. There wasn't really much I did when I got home (and I have no idea what I'm going to or want to do tomorrow).
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Sri Lanka
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Day 67: Cookie
Brand: Lupicia
Type: Flavored Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Black (or very dark brown) CTC leaves, with some rolled black leaves and small chunks of almond
Color: Copper/dark orange-brown; clear
Smell: Very sweet (it does smell a lot like freshly baked cookies), caramel, nutty, and a bit roasted
Recommended with/as: As is, milk, sweetener
Rating: 9/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Before I start this review, let me mention that I may be a bit biased- cookie tea is actually one of my favorite teas from Lupicia, and I've picked up a 50g bag from them more than once.
Anyway, I'm a bit disappointed that I didn't have this tea earlier today, but it's okay since it did make for a good work/study drink. It's great on its own, but personally, I'd suggest it with both milk and sweetener (as always, I use honey). It doesn't taste as sweet as the smell, but it's still relatively sweet. You can certainly taste the baked-ness (?) of the tea, which gives it a bit of a rich, toasted taste. There are some creamy, nutty notes, very similar to hazelnuts. There's also a little bit of a bitterness (which isn't noticeable with milk); however, this doesn't detract from the taste. In my opinion, it actually gives it a bit of depth (leading to sort of a bittersweet caramel or burnt sugar taste). Overall, it's smooth and makes for a nice breakfast tea (I'm speaking from experience here).
Other notes:
Oh crap, apparently I can't count because I wrote Day 63 twice. All day numbers are now updated, and hopefully no one saw that. In any case, today I sort of (?) got stuff done. The boards are now almost cut & sanded to how I want them, and I cut the foam board and drew a rough sketch of the map. I just need to buy model trees, a few tanks, houses, and troop/unit markers, and cut out the tracks and put it together. I got rid of the plan to make all the pieces move at the same time with a single rod (I looked at the German battle plan, and they pretty much encircle a small area and that's impossible to do with my design), and instead am going to make it so that you can just move the tanks (still on a track) with your hand. I'll probably take a break now from that project (might still ink the map + mark the locations of things), since I have to find and order all of those pieces I said above. I'm pretty happy with how it's turning out, though.
Other than that, I finished a dissection write up all on my own (it's been a week and my group has done absolutely nothing for that), and have decided that if they don't work on the document by Monday and finish a minimum of 1 section, I'm going to turn it in with just my name. I feel like I'm finally done with relying/waiting on them to do their part. Also, tomorrow I get to hang out with some of my friends and watch a movie, woo! I guess I'm looking forward to that. That's all for today, folks!
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Sencha "Ureshino"
Type: Flavored Black
Brew Time & Temperature: 3 minutes, boiling
Leaf Appearance: Black (or very dark brown) CTC leaves, with some rolled black leaves and small chunks of almond
Color: Copper/dark orange-brown; clear
Smell: Very sweet (it does smell a lot like freshly baked cookies), caramel, nutty, and a bit roasted
Recommended with/as: As is, milk, sweetener
Rating: 9/10
Tasting notes and thoughts:
Before I start this review, let me mention that I may be a bit biased- cookie tea is actually one of my favorite teas from Lupicia, and I've picked up a 50g bag from them more than once.
Anyway, I'm a bit disappointed that I didn't have this tea earlier today, but it's okay since it did make for a good work/study drink. It's great on its own, but personally, I'd suggest it with both milk and sweetener (as always, I use honey). It doesn't taste as sweet as the smell, but it's still relatively sweet. You can certainly taste the baked-ness (?) of the tea, which gives it a bit of a rich, toasted taste. There are some creamy, nutty notes, very similar to hazelnuts. There's also a little bit of a bitterness (which isn't noticeable with milk); however, this doesn't detract from the taste. In my opinion, it actually gives it a bit of depth (leading to sort of a bittersweet caramel or burnt sugar taste). Overall, it's smooth and makes for a nice breakfast tea (I'm speaking from experience here).
Other notes:
Oh crap, apparently I can't count because I wrote Day 63 twice. All day numbers are now updated, and hopefully no one saw that. In any case, today I sort of (?) got stuff done. The boards are now almost cut & sanded to how I want them, and I cut the foam board and drew a rough sketch of the map. I just need to buy model trees, a few tanks, houses, and troop/unit markers, and cut out the tracks and put it together. I got rid of the plan to make all the pieces move at the same time with a single rod (I looked at the German battle plan, and they pretty much encircle a small area and that's impossible to do with my design), and instead am going to make it so that you can just move the tanks (still on a track) with your hand. I'll probably take a break now from that project (might still ink the map + mark the locations of things), since I have to find and order all of those pieces I said above. I'm pretty happy with how it's turning out, though.
Other than that, I finished a dissection write up all on my own (it's been a week and my group has done absolutely nothing for that), and have decided that if they don't work on the document by Monday and finish a minimum of 1 section, I'm going to turn it in with just my name. I feel like I'm finally done with relying/waiting on them to do their part. Also, tomorrow I get to hang out with some of my friends and watch a movie, woo! I guess I'm looking forward to that. That's all for today, folks!
Next on the 100 Days of Tea: Sencha "Ureshino"
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