88

Just received this in an Upton Ceylon Sampler.

The feel is dark and heavy but watery, too. Odd mix.

The taste is heavy. There’s a trace of malty sweetness at the very tip of my tongue but an acrid dark brown flavor hits the middle-back of my tongue and slides to the undersides of it, too. It has almost a coffee edge to it, really. That same sort of acidity/burnt/chocolate/brown flavor.

I’m on my third mouthful and I’m not too sure I like this at all.

The tea is puzzling. My very first reaction on tasting was “blugh!!”, but then turned into a “ew, I don’t know”, then “it certainly has its merits but I’m not a fan”, then “this is awfully strong/harsh but I could stand another mouthful”, then “maybe this one just really needs sugar” (I am not one to put milk or sugar in teas unless sick… I’m a straight-tea drinker), then “I think it may be good but I don’t like it”, then “I’ve no clue, totally mixed feelings”.

Long finish.

Oh, and there’s a little fishiness in there in the back of the throat I noticed on this taste.

I don’t think I like it, but I do think it’s a quality tea that certainly has its merits, as said. I could see others loving it.

I’m gonna throw in some of the rock sugar a family member gave me a while back. If updating is appropriate after doctoring, will do so lol.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 0 sec 5 g 12 OZ / 354 ML

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I live as a nomad now and my cupboard is no longer huge, it goes from bare to maybe 3 or 4 at a time – whatever I can easily carry in my rucksack. But am ordering samples from places so I can keep trying new stuff or more easily carry a variety for my moods that’ll fit!

Note to those who read my reviews:

I only about a year ago learned I have synesthesia and that is why I’ve always wrote my reviews primarily in colors. Clearly, if you’ve read any recently, that’s still how I write most of the time as that’s still how I best describe flavors. Today I realized that may be worth putting out there for folks who come across my reviews.
Moving on:

Unless otherwise noted, I use 2.25g of tea to 6oz of water for my tastings.

Geeky, vegan, dominant, serious, non-gendered, childfree, eclectic, alternatively-styled, friendly and open-minded are good descriptors of me, I think. Also: extremely introverted, but not at all shy.

I grew up on bag teas, mainly Lipton, at my father’s and great-grandmother’s homes. I loved getting up before everyone else and sitting with a hot cup and reading or watching some quiet tv in the morning.

I didn’t bother much with tea for the years of my teenhood because of no longer seeing either of these people and my mother’s house wasn’t one for tea… more coffee drinkers, instead.

During my adulthood I started drinking it again, but still mostly bag teas like Lipton, Tetley, and some herbal mixes. I enjoyed these but went no further…

…until I was at a restaurant one night and ordered a Darjeeling tea to give it a try.

I fell back in love with tea and have since been trying all sorts of loose leaf and some bag teas.

I’m currently delving mainly into white teas, but my tastes wander.

Not sure what else to say here… if you like my notes or are interested in chatting about something, do feel free to send a note. I love meeting new folks, especially since we share at least one interest, being on this site and all.

Location

SE Asia, at the moment Bangkok

Website

http://wanderings.world

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