Subtle Tea Loose Leaf Black Tea 'Vanilla Cream'

Tea Information:
Tea: Vanilla Cream
Type: Black Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: Subtle Tea
Purchase: Here
Ingredients: a black tea with Chinese and Indian Assam leaves blended together with natural vanilla bits

Steep Information:
Prepared in store

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: It smelled like vanilla
Flavor: It tasted like black tea, hint of vanilla
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: Aftertaste was slightly vanilla
Liquor: translucent brown

Post-Steep Additives: simple syrup, not much change

Rating: 2/4 leaves
Leaf system:1=Bleh! not again if it were free2=Acceptable, if it were free or there were limited other tea options3=I might purchase this tea from time to time, or select it while out4=A staple in our cupboard from now on, I will purchase and keep purchasing

Subtle Tea Loose Leaf Green Tea 'Almond Cookies'

Tea Information:
Tea: Almond Cookies
Type: Green Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: Subtle Tea
Purchase: Here
Ingredients: china sencha with grated coconuts & almonds

Steep Information:
Prepared in store

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: It smelled just like the almond cookies you get at Asian bakeries
Flavor: It tasted like a sweet green tea with light almond flavoring.
Body: Light-Medium
Aftertaste: Aftertaste was a sweet cookie taste that reminded me of celestial seasonings “sugar cookie sleigh ride”
Liquor: translucent green

Post-Steep Additives: simple syrup, a little sweeter

Rating: 2/4 leaves


Leaf system:
1=Bleh! not again if it were free
2=Acceptable, if it were free or there were limited other tea options
3=I might purchase this tea from time to time, or select it while out
4=A staple in our cupboard from now on, I will purchase and keep purchasing

Subtle Tea Company Store Review

121 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016
(212) 481-4713
http://www.subtleteastore.com

After MilitiaJim finished work he and I headed to SubtleTea for tea and dinner.

The store was skinny and long, and had tea for sale but I wasn’t quite sure how to buy it (ask the staff? Find a bag and bag it myself?)

There was a large communal table with power units and ipod chargers built in at above table height in neat pipes almost artistic. There were also plush little couch nooks.

MilitiaJim balked at paying nine dollars for a sandwich, so we just got tea.

The staff was happy and pleasant.

MilitiaJim ordered Almond Cookie

I ordered Vanilla Cream

MilitiaJim wanted something more sweet for his cookie drink and so added simple syrup to both of our drinks. Sweetening them up a bit. I don’t think it changed either flavor much.

Subtle Tea Loose Leaf Black Tea 'Pumpkin Spice'

Tea Information:
Tea: Pumpkin Spice
Type: Black Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: Subtle Tea
Purchase: Here
Description: ?
Ingredients: black tea, cinnamon, pumpkin bits, spices

Steep Information:
Amount: ~1.5 tsp
Additives: none
Water: filtered boiling 6 ounces
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: I practically snorted it and still got no scent
Steeped Tea Smell: spice, cinnamon, pumpkin pie
Flavor: bitter black tea
Body: Full
Aftertaste: bitter, spicy
Liquor: nice deep reddish-brown

Steepster traveling teabox tea!

I didn't really know what I was expecting, it sounded nice (who doesn't like pumpkin pie?) and I figured it was worth a try.

So after the nice spicy scent of the steeped tea...I got a mouthful of bitter tea water.

Disappointing.

I certainly could have used to hot of water or steeped too long (I try to follow package directions the first go round). since I only get one go at each TTB tea I'll have to wait until someone else takes a crack at it.

Post-Steep Additives: lactose free fat free milk, didn't help

Resteep: TBD

Rating: 1/3