This is much like a scented/flavored tea. It’s less about the flavor of the tea leaf itself and more about the quality of the added scent/flavor. The base tea is good, but fairly understated. It cannot compete with the overt smoke flavors that are there.
So, with that in mind, I would say that if you are after a smoky, savory tea experience, this tea does fairly well. The smoke flavor is rich and savory – not ashy or burnt. Notes of smoked meat and campfire log, with some notes of maple and brown sugar like you would find in smoked meat. Honestly, if you’ve ever had Cracker Barrel sausage patties (a Midwest classic), or even just hickory-smoked bacon, then you know what this tea tastes like.
All that said, it is tasty, if the flavors above are what you are after. Try drinking it outside too – the smoky richness really opens up in the fresh air.
Not at all something I would drink all the time, but it is a quality product.
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Dry leaf: hickory smoked bacon, campfire logs. In preheated vessel – hickory smoke, smoked sausage, hints of maple syrup and brown sugar.
Smell: hickory smoke, smoked sausage (less overt than dry leaf), woody, some red fruit notes, hint of dried apricot, black tea blend
Taste: hickory smoked sausage with some maple notes, roasted almonds. Aftertaste is light and smoky.
