Trying this one again after getting advice from the lovely Boychik. The first time, I followed the instruction on Kusmi’s site and I felt like I didn’t get any flavor other than bergamot. She recommended that I raise the water temperature and slightly lower the steeping time, so this time I did 3 minutes at about 205 degrees.
Since I forgot the first time, the dry leaf smells overpoweringly of bergamot, maybe with a touch of sweetness from the caramel. My nose had to keep its distance unless it wanted its sinuses cleared.
The liquid smells like a combination of bergamot, sweetness, and a touch of fruitiness – I would categorize it as fresh cherry. However, when the brew is freshly made and hot, I can mostly just taste bergamot with some sweetness. Yet again, I took Boychik’s advice and let it cool so that the flavors would be more prominent. I took a sip every few minutes or so as it cooled to see how it compared. I could definitely taste it getting sweeter from the caramel (I also added a little sugar so this may have interfered with the caramel flavor). I think it may be a case of an underdeveloped tea-tasting palate, but even when I let it cool to just slightly warmer than room temperature, I was getting at most a hint of cherry or “red fruit” taste.
I still really enjoy this tea, and I liked it much better this time around, since the bergamot was less overpowering. Thanks again Boychik!
Flavors: Bergamot, Caramel, Red Fruits, Vanilla
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This was one of my very favorites starting out, a nice twist on a regular EG tea, I love bergamot though!
I feel sad because in a lot of the other tasting notes I read on this, it seemed like the fruit flavor was obvious. I think I’m just too much of a newbie to fully appreciate this… :(
Sorry, i guess its combination of my friends, right desserts, music, the whole atmosphere makes this special for me. i dont drink this tea alone. Yunnan and Puerh are my alone teas.
Boychik I think it’s just me, it seems a ton of other people taste fruit in this way more prominently than I do. :P
you know what, come back to it later. Give it sometime. You maybe pleasantly surprised or just confirmed that its not your cup of tea.
This was one of my very favorites starting out, a nice twist on a regular EG tea, I love bergamot though!
I feel sad because in a lot of the other tasting notes I read on this, it seemed like the fruit flavor was obvious. I think I’m just too much of a newbie to fully appreciate this… :(
Sorry, i guess its combination of my friends, right desserts, music, the whole atmosphere makes this special for me. i dont drink this tea alone. Yunnan and Puerh are my alone teas.
Boychik I think it’s just me, it seems a ton of other people taste fruit in this way more prominently than I do. :P
you know what, come back to it later. Give it sometime. You maybe pleasantly surprised or just confirmed that its not your cup of tea.