Steep Information:
Amount: 2-3 tsp, one entire sample bag
Water: 500ml filtered 212° water
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL (black, strong)
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: French vanilla, which made me think coffee
Steeped Tea Smell: french vanilla, milky, coffee
Flavor: bitter, astringent, milky, french vanilla creamer, black tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringent, black tea
Liquor: Opaque dark brown, like coffee
I placed a large order of mostly samples so I could experiment with more flavors from thepuriTea, it’s sort of like pokemon, I want to try them all (mostly).
I think the 3 was a bit long, perhaps 2 or even 1 minute would have left this tea less bitter and astringent.
The flavor though is a very milky smooth wawa french vanilla coffee and creamer. I am not sure if it is the fact french vanilla is permanently affixed to coffee in my head or there is really a coffee flavor to the tea. MilitiaJim agrees.
Post-Steep Additives: German rock sugar, sweeter, no longer bitter but still astringent. The sweetener brings out the sugar more.
Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/06/thepuritea-loose-leaf-black-tea-french.html
I love your comparison of ordering a bunch of samples to Pokemon!