Steep Information:
Amount: 3 tsp
Additives: none
Water: filtered boiling
Tool: Cast Iron Teapot with Mesh basket strainer
Steep Time: a little over 4, 9 minutes
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: cinnamon, apple, vanilla, MilitiaJim also gets caramel
Steeped Tea Smell: cinnamon, apple, vanilla, MilitiaJim also gets caramel
Flavor:
4 min: light, watery, cinnamon, vanilla
9 min: bitter black, cinnamon, vanilla, hint of apple
Body: 4-Light, 9-Medium
Aftertaste: 4-sweet apple 9-bitter black tea
Liquor: 4-translucent light reddish-burnt orange 9-darker reddish-brown
I think I need a steep in between what I did, however I was distracted by dinner.
The smell delivers on the pie. I assume “a la mode” = vanilla (assuming target was vanilla bean ice cream but I am not getting creamy or dairy so no vanilla bean ice cream).
The taste on the first steep was very weak, but held promise of being a light, but not too subtle, spiced black. The second steep went off the deep end because I forgot to watch it and it turned out very bitter keeping me from appreciating it.
I am going to give this tea another shot some other time as I think it has promise.
Post-Steep Additives: German rock sugar-brought in more the sweetness I expect from pie, I also like sugar
images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/52teas-loose-leaf-black-tea-apple-pie.html
I like this one with both milk and sugar. I agree, the flavor is weak, but the milk helps to make it a bit bolder.
i’ll have to try a splash of milk next time when i steep it properly, i was thinking maybe 6 minutes?