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Got my first tea of the month shipment from Verdant and figured I would try this one first. The dry leaf is delicately rolled and lightly oxidized….still a lot of green color their. I gave the leaves a quick rinse with 190 degree water and got started.
First infusion(5sec.): Very pale in color with light berry and possibly currant notes. Taste is sweet and mildly creamy with berry in the background….looking forward to the next infusion and having that berry come through more.
Second infusion(5sec.): Color slightly darker. The berry is still hanging in there and now there is a predominant toasted character. Flavor is stronger berry with sweetness giving way to light olive. Mouth-feel is creamier.
Third infusion(5sec.): Sweeter still berry but creamy mouth-feel is more subtle. A dryer spiciness is coming through in the finish.
Fourth infusion(5sec.): More floral in the nose. Berry is gone from nose mainly to toast. Sweetness falling back. Vegital coming into the picture still with pepper spice finish.
Fifth infusion(5sec.): Rotated leaves as per instructions. Mostly vegital with the spicy finish. Sweetness is pretty much gone.
I will probably do a couple more infusions to see where it goes but overall a very nice tea with complex subtle flavor. I will double the steeping time next to if it intensifies or just makes bitter.