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I brewed quite a strong cup, and my first few sips tasted metallic and robust. As the tea mellowed in my cup, I got fruity and floral notes, a well rounded and interesting cup. The second steeping was smoother and not quite as flavorful, this might be a one steep tea for me. Overall I like this tea, it’s enjoyable to drink, but I’m not sure I’d buy more for daily drinking, and it’s not complex enough for a special occasion tea.

This is a solidly drinkable black tea, not complex, not astringent. I enjoyed this cup, the first steeping was stronger than the second. I got a coppery, metallic tang while it was very hot and more cinnamon notes as it cooled. As this is not a strong black tea, I might reach for it in the afternoon, for a soothing cup where I don’t expect too much and am pleasantly surprised at the drinkablility of this tea.

I wouldn’t call this a smooth cup of tea, the Assam in this blend gives it quite the metallic aftertaste. But this is quite drinkable, the Darjeeling in the blend smooths out the rough edges of the Assam. I’m not sure I’d like either tea on its own but together it works. It’s not very complex, just coppery and astringent with a pleasant finish. I’m not sure I’d buy this again, but will do my best to sip down this bag.

Well I sipped down this whole bag of tea, so I figured it deserved a tasting note. The last cup from the bag was just as gingery as the first, and I did enjoy the spicyness of this cup. That being said, the clove note of the Chai was dominant as well, and rather competed with the ginger note. By this last sipdown cup I concluded I don’t like my ginger mixed with a chai, if I need the two mixed, I can do that myself. I’d rather have a ginger or ginger/citrus tea.

The dry leaf smells a bit fruity but the tea brewed up to a light and slightly sweet cup. It was more complex than I expected and the first cup in the pot had an astringent aftertaste. As it cooled down I could detect lingering cinnamon notes. I enjoyed this tea more as I drank each cup from the pot. I can’t remember if I have ever had tea from Tanzania, but I’d purchase this one again.

The tea smelled very peppery in the bag and smelled very peppery in the cup. Unfortunately this meant the tea was very peppery and I didn’t taste any fruit or blueberry notes. I might try less leaf or a cold brew , but it seemed the pepper was just a bit overwhelming in this blend.

I got this tea for Christmas in a sample size. Brewed in a teapot for 3 minutes, the dry leaves are small and wiry and smelled like unsweetened cocoa. This tea has a slightly bitter cocoa aftertaste that lingers pleasantly in your mouth. As far as Keemuns go, I am impressed with its chocolatey taste, though it seems to be just one note. Maybe a slight honey or carmel taste. I do really like the tea, but I have drunk other Keemuns that I liked better that cost a bit less. As other reviewers have noted, this is an expensive tea. I can also think of some golden monkey or fujian teas that were just as chocolatey. I’m glad I got to try such a high grade of Keemun, I’m not sure it is worth purchasing.

My dad bought all the Upton Import Lapsang Souchongs he could find and settled on this as his favorite. I thought I’d give it a taste on this Christmas morning. It is smooooooth. I don’t think I’ve drunk a LS this smooth before. Before I knew it, my mug was half empty and I was refilling. The smokyness is subtle but definite, it tastes like enhanced black tea instead of tea that is hiding something.
I am now thinking I need to taste test all the Yunnans or Assams and find my favorite. What would the world do without the scientific method (my dad was a chemist for 40 years) and spread sheets to rate tea. And yet somehow I have survived without a spreadsheet up until now…

I wasn’t sure I liked this on first sip, but it’s grown on me as I’ve experimented with steeping times. I have brewed it with more leaf and longer steeping times to get 4 steeps out of it. It’s a subtle chocolate taste with some yeasty and nutty notes as well. I’m glad I tried it, but I think I prefer more robust flavors and a hint of astringency. For a soothing afternoon cup, it hits the spot and would go well with any holiday cookie!

This and a bagged Oolong are my go to teas while traveling. If you compare this slightly vanilla and other spices to a loose leaf tea, it’s going to disappoint, but I think it’s one of the more drinkable bagged teas and not as in your face clove and cardamom as some bagged chai. I always seem to have this in my travel bag, so I thought it should be in me cupboard, not that my cupboard actually reflects reality, but I’m trying to get it closer. Vanilla spice will give me an alertness boost, and has a soothing flavor profile, I’ll probably keep reaching for it as a convenient pick me up when I am away from my infuser.