Tea Notes: An Introduction

I've been on a bit of a tea kick recently. The hot tea warms me up on these cold days and there are so many different kinds to try.  While I still enjoy a cup of black coffee with sugar or a fancy latte from time to time, teas are so versatile and becoming a staple in my work routine.  In order to keep track of the many varieties I intend to try, welcome to Tea Notes!

Tea Notes is an unscheduled post containing notes and my own personal rating of different teas.  Some posts may take a while to be posted b cause they contain a review of each item in a set. For example, I am currently working on 2 sample collections from David's Tea. Please note that I have no formal training in the art of tea, which you may find to be rather obvious as you read the posts, but I'm learning.  I've been using my Keurig Brewer to heat the water, but a new variable temperature kettle is on its way from Amazon (I'm a Prime member, yay to free shipping!  As a side note, if you don't already use it, Amazon Smile is basically the same as the regular site, but a small portion of each sale goes to a charity/organization of your choice. I chose the Boxer Transfer Network... They do some wonderful things saving all kinds of dogs, not just boxers, and giving them the lives they deserve. I adopted my best friend from the BTN in a failed foster attempt and I couldn't be happier!). When the kettle arrives and I've learned how to use it, the teas will finally be brewed at the temperature they should be. That is exciting to think about.

I will be using a typical 0-5 star rating scale for my overall experience with the tea or accessory.

 5 stars means that I absolutely love the product and want to stock up on as much as I can.  This rating is likely to be very rare because it basically means there is no room for improvement and I cannot think of something better.  However, we will see about that.  If I love something, I'm going to tell you!

4 stars means that I truly enjoyed the product and would definitely purchase it again.  It is likely a part of my regular stock.

3 stars means that I found the product to be pretty good.  I would most likely purchase it again if it were on sale or as a seasonal selection.  It is enjoyable or useful, just not my favorite.

2 stars means the product is palatable, but I am not a fan.  I am unlikely to purchase a 2 star item again.

1 star means the product was pretty bad.  I may have finished drinking/using it, but I will not buy again.

0 stars mean that I found the product to be utterly disgusting.  It was so offensive to my senses that I threw it out before finishing.  If the company that sold the product has a satisfaction guarantee policy, I am likely to return it.  If not, the tea leaves may be thrown on the compost pile or tossed and the packaging recycled or re-purposed.


Some upcoming reviews include various selections from Harney & Sons, David's Tea, ForLife (product review), and Joie (product review).

Harney and Sons has been my go to tea company for the past few years and have enjoyed all but a few of their varieties.  The prices are affordable, the teas are a nice quality, the tins are cute and useful, and they have frequent sales and coupon codes. If Harney and Sons started a tea subscription program, I'd be sure to check it out!

Recently, I decided to branch out and try some new teas and brands. A couple of weeks ago, I purchased two sample collections from David's Tea: David's Top 12 and the 2015 Tea of the Month collections.  Ordering a full size of an unknown tea from an unfamiliar brand seemed crazy and the sample collections, while pricy, were a nice alternative. Each collection is housed in a slim, nicely constructed box with caffeine levels, instructions, and a brief description for each tea printed on the inside of the box lid. The teas' lists of ingredients are on the bottom of the box. The individual teas, in sets of 12, are stored in adorable little tins that are tastefully labeled with each tea's name. The tins will find a new home on the spice rack or in my craft box when they're done holding the samples.  The variety in each box provides an introduction to a rather diverse collection of options.  I am glad I had a few tea accessories already because the order does not come with any tools for measuring or steeping. 

Do you have any suggestions to make? Favorite brands? Infusers? Mugs? Steeping tricks? Please comment! I am quite new to this and value your input.