From 2015 Dark Matter group buy:
I finally get to try one of these dark matter teas! I’ve been rather busy so I’ve been trying to sip down some of my older teas and sample packs rather than to rush through these and forget what I’ve tasted. I chose this one since unless it wowed me it doesn’t really sound Ike something that I would be interested in and I wasnt quite able to give in 100% attention anyway with making dinner and whatnot.
I was expecting something like a darker TGY but the leaves were in small smooth compact irregular balls with a ruddy dark chocolate color. It definitely smells toasty like hojicha or roasted barley tea. The tea unfurls into very nice whole leaves a only slightly lighter chocolate color than the dried.
I brewed this for 3 steps western style. Just under boiling water with about 1.5-3 min infusions. The first one was mostly toasty. Like pure toast, with an edge to it that almost suggested burnt or charcoal. It wasn’t bad but I started to question if there would be much of a taste difference if any plant matter was so thoroughly toasted. Later steeps still had a lot of toast but actually had some identifiable tea flavor although it was more like a malty black tea than a green oolong flavor.
I think this tea would probably benefit from some shorter steeps to tease some other flavor out from the toast. I’ll probably brew the remainder of the sample in a gaiwan and do so at a time I can pay more attention to it. As is though it’s pleasant enough to drink but not something I would ever buy for myself.
Flavors: Toasty