So this is actually from today. Dried leaves smell quite earthy and are smaller, green/grey/browner than the downy white silver needle I’m used to. Rinsed leaves very winey sour, muscatel but a 20 sec steep renders them less so. The glass infuser has lots of particles in it that don’t want to settle and pour directly into my bone china cup and only settle once the first cup is drained.
A lot going on taste wise but all of it subtle. First sip is sweet and that’s nice but it doesn’t last. There’s a nuttiness and flouriness, like dough. There is perfume snd some later sour notes that come through more in the second steep which is override very flat and blah which is not to say that it’s flavorless, just nothing bright or deep or exciting, but second steeps tend to be my least favorite. Still even the first was dry, not what I would call refreshing.
Third infusion leaves smell Darjeeling cup smells sweet, tastes like spicy cardboard, black pepper. I think I may try a fresh brew as I don’t see how this could get any better. Might wait to get some spring water though. Ugh. Must not rate.
