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Tasting Note 3,500!

I think it is really fun that a benchmark note is landing on a special tea – in this case, my birthday present from my bestie, Melissa, a little early.

We are big strawberry tea fans over here, with black and green versions usually on shelf. I don’t know that I have ever had a strawberry oolong, though.

This is a great tin for gifting because it is so festive looking. The front of the pink tin is rather fancy and ornate, posh if you will. The back is very cute, featuring a simple strawberry milkshake topped with whipped cream, blushing and smiling with eyes closed. Would this be called kawaii?

The aroma is almost confusing because you don’t expect the authentic smell of scented milk oolong mixed with strawberries and cream. Well, I didn’t.

I had this with breakfast and decided to do several tests. How is it as a true resteeper, not combining steeps? How does it best pair? I usually pair with contrast rather than similarity. I had Good Seed bread by Dave’s Killer Bread, toasted and buttered. A small bit was plain, and bit was smeared with Fortnum & Mason Strawberry Jam, and a big portion was smeared with Bonne Maman Chocolate Hazelnut Spread.

First the tea – unmistakeable that this is oolong, you are not going to be fooled that it is a green tea with strawberry. The ingredients list milk flavor so I am assuming this is a scented or flavored milk oolong. First steep was 190F for three minutes and the strawberry is fairly light. Taste is unchanged when having plain buttered toast. Strawberry jam just sort of carried that berry sense across without enhancing it. Hazelnut chocolate spread was the winner by far. The chocolate contrasts sharply with the tea and added flavors making the strawberry AND the vanilla pop much more. At this point, I feel like there is surely a bowl of strawberries and cream somewhere on the table because that is what my brain is interpreting this as now.

For the second steep, which was without food, I kept the same steeping parameters. The tea is definitely strong enough to resteep even if you are not combining and the milk oolong personality comes out even more. There is still a hint of strawberry and the vanilla may be showing up a little more now because of the fading of the strawberry.

Don’t expect a KAPOW thick and sweet strawberry shake. I don’t think this would make a good dessert-replacement latte. If you add sugar it might enhance the strawberry shake vibe but we generally don’t add sugar and I liked it as it is – a subtle strawberries and cream milk oolong is my best description. Marvelous with chocolate.