Stained Fingers on Thursday - A Review of Pilot Blue Ink

Never have I seen a more non-water-resistant ink.

This scan was done on an HP Deskjet F4280 at 600dpi.
Note: Because these scans are done with a light emitting printer, actual colors will, more likely than not, be slightly darker than they may appear, here. The colors shown, here, are probably a bit more reminiscent of what the ink would be like under a bright light or if it were held up and viewed with a light behind it.

Tea Review Tuesday - A Review of Tao Tea Leaf's Ancient Pu-er Tuo-Cha

I have mixed feelings about pu'erh packed into tuocha. On one hand, it is incredibly convenient to transport pu'erh in this manner, but on the other, why is it necessary to transport pre-measured cakes of pu'erh? In general, I find them to be of a lesser quality pu'erh than what one might find otherwise. The convenience or lack thereof makes for an interesting discussion, but we shall set that aside for the sake of this review.

Tuocha properly refers to tea compressed into large bowl or bird's nest-shaped cakes. These Ancient Pu-er cakes by Tao Tea Leaf are more properly mini tuocha. The first rinse of the leaves, to awaken them, releases rich aromas, and I do not anticipate disappointment with this tea. Interestingly, the instructions provided by Tao Tea Leaf direct the drinker to let the tea steep for thirty seconds the first time, followed by ten seconds for the second steep. For each subsequent steep, add five seconds. Normally, my pu'erh steeps are thirty seconds for the first, increasing by ten seconds for each following, but I go ahead and follow the provided directions.

The taste of the first steep differs from the aromas rising from the tea. In the aromas were very earthy, wet notes. Meanwhile, the flavors on my tongue were lighter - floral even. I would not go so far as to say they were sweet, but the difference surprised me. My next surprise came, when I steeped the tea for a second time for the recommended ten seconds...and it was just as dark as the first steep with just as much flavor, if not more. The body of the tea has a rich flavor, somewhat earthy with a slight cocoa note. The edges and aftertaste follow with the lightly floral notes.

A third steep of fifteen seconds follows. The tea brews its darkest cup thus far. All of the flavors are balanced, and the aroma matches the taste quite well. With the fourth steep of twenty seconds, I find that the tea has begun to weaken. The color is lighter, and the flavors, while still rich, are much weaker than before. Having enjoyed the four steeps, I decide to stop here.

This Ancient Pu-er produced smooth cups with good flavor and a pleasant aroma. While many tuocha are not of excellent quality, I found this one to be quite tasty and an enjoyable cuppa (or four). For anyone seeking a shou pu'erh tuocha, look no farther than Tao Tea Leaf's Ancient Pu-er, which should certain satisfy. On my personal enjoyment scale, I would rate it an 86/100.




Photo credit to Built from Ink and Tea.
Tao Tea Leaf's Ancient Pu-er Tuo-Cha is available from their website, here.
This review was unsolicited and uncompensated.
Text is copyright 2014, Built from Ink and Tea.

Stained Fingers on Thursday - A Review of Diamine Marine Ink

Sorry for the issues with last week's Stained Fingers being shown on the site, folks! As you can see, we have been on a bit of a blue ink kick, lately (except for the Montblanc Corn Poppy feature), but a new wave of ink has been incoming, and next week will be something different!

This scan was done on an HP Deskjet F4280 at 600dpi.
Note: Because these scans are done with a light emitting printer, actual colors will, more likely than not, be slightly darker than they may appear, here. The colors shown, here, are probably a bit more reminiscent of what the ink would be like under a bright light or if it were held up and viewed with a light behind it.

Tea Review Tuesday - A Review of Mandala Tea's Noble Mark Ripe Pu'er Tea

This week's review covers one of the delicious pu'erh offerings from Mandala Tea. As I recently acquired a number of them in a pu'erh sale, expect to see more review of Mandala's tea in the near future. Part of my order was a pu'erh sampler, which included some of their Noble Mark shou (ripe) pu'erh, from a cake that was pressed in 2012. I also happened to get a bag of their loose Noble Mark pu'erh from 2011. Therefore, in addition to a review, today's post will also include a bit of a comparison, as I am drinking both teas side-by-side.

2012 on top, 2011 on bottom

Let us discuss the aroma. Noble Mark has a very dry smell with notes of cocoa, dirt, and just the slightest loam. While the leaves are dry, the aroma is not particularly deep, but it is moderately strong. In two separate pre-heated gaiwans, I placed a proportionate amount of leaf and rinsed the tea. The smells remain much the same, but I notice that the 2012 Noble Mark has more of a tart, mushroom note to it, whereas the 2011 is more subtle with that particular smell.

For the first steep, I infused both sets of leaves for thirty seconds with water that was just boiled. I found that the 2011 has a bit of a richer nose to it. With two cups prepared, it was time for a taste. The first sip of 2012 underwhelmed me a bit. I had anticipated more body, but it brought a high degree of smoothness and an aftertaste of light cocoa. The 2011 carried just a bit more in the body, yet it was likewise pleasant and smooth. It also seemed to have a deeper aftertaste than the 2012. As an aside, the 2011 steeped darker in the first cup than the 2012.

2012 on top, 2011 on bottom

Per Mandala Tea's recommendation, I extended the steep time by fifteen seconds for the second brew. This time, the 2012 steeped darker than the 2011, yet continued to carry its slightly-lighter aroma. In this second cup, the 2012 flavors seem to have caught-up to the 2011, as they taste nearly identical. I do not find one to be stronger than the other. Even so, they maintained their smooth subtleties - certainly not in-your-face flavors. The cups come and go.

The third steep has Noble Mark 2012 carrying a stronger color, yet 2011 carries a bolder taste. However, between the two, they are so similar that only this side-by-side reveals the differences. (Truly, even the gaiwan size difference may be affecting things.) The aftertaste of slightly-loamy cocoa is pleasant and provides an excellent contrast to the cool autumn air. A fourth steep reveals that the 2012 leaves are still steeping strong, while the 2011 leaves have begun to falter a bit behind. Due to their extremely similarity, I will not rate these teas separately, but on my personal enjoyment scale, I would rate Mandala Tea's Noble Mark pu'erh a 90/100. Definitely give it a try! Also, let me know in a comment how you felt about the side-by-side comparison of teas and whether I should do more comparisons (whether or tea, pens, ink, etc.)




Photo credit to Built from Ink and Tea.
Mandala Tea's Noble Mark Ripe Pu'er from 2011 (loose) is available from their website, here. and Noble Mark Ripe Pu'er from 2012 (cake) is available from their website, here.
This review was unsolicited and uncompensated.
Text is copyright 2014, Built from Ink and Tea.

Stained Fingers on Thursday - A Review of Organics Studio Jules Verne Ink

I would love to see this ink in a Montblanc Jules Verne fountain pen!

This scan was done on an HP Deskjet F4280 at 600dpi.
Note: Because these scans are done with a light emitting printer, actual colors will, more likely than not, be slightly darker than they may appear, here. The colors shown, here, are probably a bit more reminiscent of what the ink would be like under a bright light or if it were held up and viewed with a light behind it.

Tea Review Tuesday - A Review of Tao Tea Leaf's Purple Pu-er Tea

I love trying new types of pu'erh, as it happens to be one of my favorite varieties of tea. So, when I came across this "purple pu'erh" from Tao Tea Leaf, I was immediately intrigued. The dry leaves are an intriguing color, and, despite this being a sheng (raw) pu'erh, the aroma is a bit spicy and a bit smoky - not what I would have expected. Yet, with "purple" in the name, all expectations could be off.

Boiling water, I add some leaves to my gaiwan, then rinse the leaves briefly, when the water has boiled. A thirty-second steep yields the first cup, which carries a raw, slightly-vegetal smell that is reminiscent of a sheng pu'erh without holding the same straightforward aspect. The aroma of the purple pu'erh carries some wood notes, though not forest-y, some spices that remind me of nutmeg, and a very subdued scent that seems to be very multi-faceted.

Flavor-wise, I first notice that, despite the complex aromas, this still tastes as a sheng pu'erh at its heart. However, I find those sheng flavors supplemented by some natural spiciness, which adds a very pleasant aspect. The wood notes contribute to the taste of the tea, too. Their touch reminds me of the wood flavors that are embodied by wines, aged in wooden barrels. Several more steeps allow me to experience the gradual deepening of all the flavors, as the leaves unfurl.

Though I do not usually prefer sheng pu'erh, Tao Tea Leaf's Purple Pu-er Tea brings a unique tea experience for the drinker. Calling it "something different" is an unfair understatement in regard to this tea, as the complexity of the blend allows for a contemplative cup and a pleasant tea session. On my personal enjoyment scale, I would rate this tea an 93/100.




Photo credit to Built from Ink and Tea.
Tao Tea Leaf's Purple Pu-er Tea is available from their website, here.
This review was unsolicited and uncompensated.
Text is copyright 2014, Built from Ink and Tea.

Stained Fingers on Thursday - A Review of Montblanc Corn Poppy Red

Here we have a review of the brand new ink from Montblanc. If you have tried Corn Poppy Red, please share your thoughts, below!

This scan was done on an HP Deskjet F4280 at 600dpi.
Note: Because these scans are done with a light emitting printer, actual colors will, more likely than not, be slightly darker than they may appear, here. The colors shown, here, are probably a bit more reminiscent of what the ink would be like under a bright light or if it were held up and viewed with a light behind it.

Tea Review Tuesday - A Review of Peet's Coffee & Tea Winter Solstice Black Tea

This morning, I would like to share with you one of my favorite seasonal teas. Available only for a couple of months, starting at the beginning of November, this is one of those teas that drives folks to stock-up and make certain they have enough to last themselves until the following November. This blend invokes a feeling of winter and warmth for me, even when I drink it cold.

In very traditional brewing ratios, Peet's recommends steeping one teaspoon of this tea per one cup of just-boiled water for four to five minutes. Using my twelve-ounce mug, I steep my teaspoon and a half for the full five minutes. A myriad of smells waft from the mug of steeping tea. Most prominent are those of allspice and cloves. The citrus zest adds some sweetness to the aroma, but it does not feature heavily. At last, the five minutes are complete, and I eagerly await being able to take a sip.

Other ingredients in Winter Solstice include cinnamon, a Chinese black tea, and two Indian black teas, the combination of which makes for a mellow tea base. The cinnamon presents itself more in the flavor than in the smell. My tea finally cools to drinkable temperatures, and I take the first sip. It is worth noting that I typically steep my Winter Solstice for longer than recommended, as this tends to bring out even more of the spice flavors. However, in this five-minute steep, I find the flavors are perfectly balanced. This taste reveals the black tea base in full, and the spices and zest seem built upon the black tea and melding harmoniously. The zest and clove really stand-out in the aftertaste. The feel of the tea is one of warming. I notice that in a steep this long, I smell more of the vanilla, as it cools, which I cannot recall having noticed as much in longer steeps. As in many blends, the vanilla does an excellent job of mellowing and smoothing the blend without sweetening it.

"Refreshing" as a descriptor for Winter Solstice may seem a bit off, since such a term might sound better describing a green tea. However, with the feel of winter, a mug of Winter Solstice brings refreshment, warmth, and calm. On my personal enjoyment scale, I would rate this tea a 92/100.

Photo credit to Built from Ink and Tea.
Peet's Coffee & Tea Winter Solstice is available for a limited time each year from a Peet's store or from their website, here.
This review was unsolicited and uncompensated.
Text is copyright 2014, Built from Ink and Tea.