March 10, 2008

More Assam Gold Rain...and my infuser problems. I was reading somewhere recently that you're supposed to brew in one pot, then transfer the tea to another pot. Just seems wasteful somehow. The infuser basket just collected the leaves, and they all floated to the top, so they didn't all actually brew. Then I get tea-dust-grit in my first cup of tea...ick.

Separately, I was contacted about getting some tea samples to review for a tea website. Should be fun. I realize that I've become a tea reviewer without even trying. But for me that's the fun. I'm sure that there's more I like about tea, but I'm just getting started.

Found another website call specialtyteas.com...it's got a lot of stuff, but I like adagio's site better for look and feel. My sister gave me a $20 gift certificate to amazon, but it's intended to get me a blue-tooth headset for my cell phone. ... sigh. I'm too tempted by the tea. I can buy another Adagio sampler from Amazon, and get a teapot thing to go with it. Maybe...

March 9, 2008

Assam Gold Rain, from Teavana...I am not thoroughly impressed with this tea. A friend of mine bought some for me as a gift, and I've tried making some several times. The result: too strong, too weak, almost just right. It lacks fragrance, aroma. And the flavor is a tiny bit tinny, which depends on how strong or weak I make it, the stronger, the tinnier. It's more astringent that I think the Assams should be, though.

I also get why Irish and English breakfast teas need to be strong. I almost couldn't taste the tea when I was eating with scrambled eggs. But I at least made it right this time. So it was pretty good, just not great.