I was quite hesitant about this tea to be honest. I bought it with some silver needle and black dragon pearl when i went to teavana for some tea while i wait for my shipment from china. The main reason i bought it is it smelled nice enough, and it was 75% off a 1/4 lb tin, as teavana will no longer be carrying this tea. So $17 for 1/4 lb of loose leaf AND a large tin…
The leaf smells malty, and slightly of cocoa. I used what seems to me to be my now standard 2 tsp in my 4 oz gaiwan (i like a stronger tea, and i infuse the leaf until im drinking plain water lol) and after a quick rinse i brewed for 30 seconds at 195, adding 15 seconds or so every other infusion.
This tea has a nice, strong body while hot which backs off a little as it cools. For me, the taste quickly changes in my mouth. It starts with a light smokiness, then a bit of sweet potato, walnuts without the bitterness they have, and finishes with a slight floral aftertaste. This tea was quite smooth to me, probably since i used so much leaf with such a short infusion.
In a way, this tea reminds me of the black dragon pearl, but where the pearl has a nice cocoa profile, this tea has a sweet potato/walnut taste. IMO, the pearl comes out slightly ahead, but this is an excellent every day tea, and would most likely make a great iced tea. It is a fun tea to drink when you have the time to focus on it and observe the nuances of flavor it has. Overall, im extremely pleased with the purchase, especially considering i picked it up so cheap.
Flavors: Floral, Smoke, Smooth, Sweet Potatoes, Walnut
