18 Tasting Notes
Quite astringent the first few steeps but after maybe the 4th or 5th steep it dies down a bit. It definitely has a smokey finish and quite dry on the tongue while smelling the wet leaves smell like stone fruit, perhaps an apricot or something like dates? Made me salivate intensely which I don’t know whether that’s a good thing or not. Overall it was an interesting experience to try.
Flavors: Mushrooms, Smoke, Stonefruit, Tobacco, Wet Earth
Preparation
This tea has a very pungent fruity smell with a light mint finish to it. It reminds me of menthol or light smoke in the smell. The apricot is distinct and delicious as well. I could only wish to have this bottled into a perfume of some kind. The taste is crisp, clean, clear, and most of all delicious. The vegetal flavor with its smokiness makes it a unique tea experience. This tea deserves to be drunk gong fu style and no other style. There is very little to no astringency in this tea which makes me love it so much more.
Flavors: Anise, Apricot, Brown Sugar, Cinnamon, Dates, Floral, Marshmallow, Smoke, Vegetal
Preparation
Smokey, Roasted tea with a very aromatic cinnamon smell. Light astringency if done via Gong Fu style. Enjoyable on cold nights or brisk mornings.
Flavors: Astringent, Brandy, Brown Sugar, Cedar, Cinnamon, Heavy, Smoke, Thick, Wet Wood
Preparation
This tea definitely reminds me of a chai with it’s clove notes and sweet flavor. I definitely did not enjoy this tea alone, this just needs milk and sugar (and lots of it) though it honestly feels like a good breakfast tea or an afternoon pick-me-up. I would recommend trying different temperatures as well as different brewing times for this tea. At first following the directions made my tea taste terribly bitter and I had to try again with less time and less heat.
Flavors: Cherry, Cinnamon, Citrus, Cloves
Preparation
I could never place this tea in a flavor category but I know when I taste it, it just feels great to swish around my mouth. It’s spicy but also tender, the body has a slick thickness to it that I really enjoy and with just a little bit of honey it tastes totally different. I also love how you can make a cocktail out of this tea with a little bit of gin. Definitely something I will be coming back to again and again.
Flavors: Ginger, Smooth, Spicy
Preparation
Definitely had a very interesting experience with this tea. I could taste the nutty popcorn taste but mostly had a really strong seaweed taste. It just felt like I was eating something rather than drinking.
Flavors: Nuts, Popcorn, Seaweed