This was last night’s pre-bedtime cup. I usually try and choose a herbal as my last tea of the day, but I figured I deserved a treat after the week I’ve had. Plus, this one has rooibos in it, so it’s not exactly like drinking a cup of black tea, is it? A compromise, at the very least.
I used 1tsp of leaf, and gave it 4 minutes in boiling water. I added a splash of milk. Of all the Sherlock blends, this was one I was looking forward to the most. The description/combination of ingredients is one that really appeals to me. Rightly so, it turns out.
While brewing, the main scent is the chai. It’s spicy, warming, very comforting. As a result, I was expecting the chai to be the main note in the flavour, but this isn’t really the case. The initial flavour is a creamy vanilla laced with chocolate, and it’s beautifully smooth. The cream aspect is almost heavy tasting, in the way of whipped cream – very distinctive! The spiciness of the chai emerges second, and I can detect notes of ginger, cinnamon and clove. It works well with the initial vanilla/chocolate/cream combination, and puts me in mind of a spiced oatmeal cookie with chocolate chips. A little unusual, but rich and decadent at the same time, and wonderfully dessert like. I’d actually consider adding this one to my cupboard once my sample is gone. It’s not like anything else I’ve got, and it makes for a wonderful-tasting treat!
As for the fandom aspect, I actually think this one sums up Mycroft pretty well. It’s smooth, rich, and strikes a diplomatic balance between the (fairly strong) competing flavours. It clearly has friends in high places.
