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At least ten years ago, I purchased the Apricot teabags and loved them. Finally, last Fall (I think), I purchased the loose leaf version which I prefer. Why? Well, with the loose leaf you have more control over leaf quantity, and the leaves tend to be fuller, and there is better chance for leaf expansion & extraction of flavor.

My specs below are for hot tea, but I also iced this tea. The dry leaf aroma is really unique, and very smellicious! There is something really warm, nutty and comforting about this tea. There is a pronounced apricot aroma, which has a natural sweetness….like…like dark brown sugar. The color in the cup is a deep orange/brown. In the cup, I still get good aromatics of warm, nutty, sweet notes of the apricot. I can taste the base tea well enough, with less sweet notes (I drink it plain), while still savoring the warm, nutty apricot flavor. What I like about this blend is that it is straightforward and uncomplicated black tea with really good apricot flavoring. Rating: 86.

I iced this using my french press at 205 degrees, using one heaping tablespoon, steeping for ten minutes.

SIDE NOTE: As I write this the windows are open…this is the first cool night/morning in weeks, and I hear a train in the distance. I really enjoy listening to the sound of trains!

OK….back to the tea. This is a good iced tea. Since the tea is cold, I lost some of the aromas, but the nuttiness of the apricot was there. The taste of the tea and apricot was balanced well, medium in strength of flavor. A little sweetener would be fine, if you like, but I almost always drink my iced teas plain too. Rating: 80.

Cupped on 08-09 and 08-10-2011. Reviewed on Wed, 08-10-2011.