We stopped by The Spice & Tea Exchange while we were in Asheville and picked out this tea on a whim. I made a travel mug for the boy to take with him when he was leaving for St. Louis, and he called 5 minutes after leaving to say how good it was. It certainly smells good while it’s steeping, and puts a wonderful smell in the air. The dry leaves smell like nutty hazelnuts with a wonderful cookie aroma. Sadly, I’m not getting much cookie in the taste at all. It’s a nice cup of toasty hazelnut black tea, without much cookie noticeable. There is a sweetness to the tea, so maybe that’s supposed to be the cookie? With milk and sugar it becomes a creamy cup. The black tea is definitely strong (almost to the point of being bitter), so this will be a nice morning tea.
-Dry blend has medium black tea leaves and twigs.
-Dry leaves smell of nutty hazelnuts with an underlying cookie scent. Tea liquor aroma is of toasty hazelnut.
-Tea liquor is a clear very dark brown color.
-Robust flavor with a nutty finish. Somewhat bitter malty aftertaste.
-Best with milk and sweetener.
-Good tea. A strong cup of toasty hazelnut. Little cookie flavor noticeable.