When I first tried this tea I was rather disappointed: the dry-leaf aroma was all but absent and the first seep returned a very muted flavor. But then it started growing on me – and kept doing it for days. This tea has a very balanced and smooth taste: just the right proportion of fruity sweetness, malt and bitterness. After finishing the first cup I thought that it was actually not bad at all. Next morning I wanted more of it, and then at lunch, and in the evening, and the day after… Almost every time when I wanted a cup of tea I kept reaching for this little cake.
This is an archetype of a Chinese red to me. It has nothing of note but somehow carries the essence of what Hong Cha should be. This tea is incredibly versatile and can go along with any mood, but is especially good at accompanying food (anything baked).
On the negative side, this is not a tea for gong fu: the best way to have it is to make a large pot Western-style and do not resteep. There is not much complexity. It is an epitome of a daily drinker – and at a very affordable price.
It is like after dating many impressive and showy but high-maintenance people you finally find someone who may not be so unique and stunning but you feel that this person is definitely a long-term relationship material. I am very happy with this find and will get a lot more.Flavors: Bitter, Fruity, Malt, Raspberry
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Interesting to notice a raspberry flavors. Or is it some kind of typo?
Actually, I read the reviews of this tea by other people and raspberry was mentioned multiple times. and while drinking it I thought that I can see what made them mention raspberry: it is not the lush fruity sweetness typically associated with raspberries, but rather another component of the raspberry flavor, the robust, almost malty backbone unique to those berries. I am certainly struggling to express it, but I could certainly see why those reviewers thought about raspberries.
Interesting to notice a raspberry flavors. Or is it some kind of typo?
Actually, I read the reviews of this tea by other people and raspberry was mentioned multiple times. and while drinking it I thought that I can see what made them mention raspberry: it is not the lush fruity sweetness typically associated with raspberries, but rather another component of the raspberry flavor, the robust, almost malty backbone unique to those berries. I am certainly struggling to express it, but I could certainly see why those reviewers thought about raspberries.