Barnes & Watson

Picked up at my local bulk tea section. Disappointing that I can’t find more information online about it.

Burned it a bit I think at 205 degrees. It was quite strong and a little astringent. The second time I steeped for 4 minutes at 180 degrees. This was better. I couldn’t detect what character the black tea brought but the jasmine scent was very well-done and not overpowering. Has a tiny bit of tannic bite that less oxidized jasmine teas don’t, maybe. I was able to get about 2.5 great infusions out of a rounded tsp per 8 oz. Overall a good everyday purchase.

The aroma of the dried blend is very strong – a perfumed vanilla. Not unpleasant.

The brewed tea is exceptionally smooth and creamy. Vanilla note is not as potent as I feared. It isn’t a vanilla bean flavor though, more of a fragrant mango vanilla or monoi de tahiti, or like the vanilla coating on yogurt raisins. The black tea itself isn’t very present, although that’s normal for me in flavored teas.

Strong but not bitter. Not astringent. Very smooth and almost creamy, sweet taste. Both straight and with milk and sweetner taste good.

’Here’s Hoping’ Teabox Round #4 – Tea #25

Nothing much to say but a solid black tea. Another example of a standard assam. Brisk, bold, tough and brassy.
Steep #1 // few min after boiling // 3 min
Steep #2 // just boiled // 4 min

First try: The leaves (unsteeped) have an amazing aroma, and the tea looks lovely with colorful flower fragments. After steeping, though, it becomes more mediocre. Reminds me of “Mango Mist” from Tealuxe.