Why oh why did I splurge on this? I certainly do not regret my purchase, it was ahhhhmazing!!!!! but really, my wallet sighs every time I enter that shop!
Maybe this tea was calling to me. It smells like a rose garden in heaven, intensely floral and sweet and mmmmmmmm.
I was a little worried that it’d turn me off the way bergamot does, so I’m very grateful that it didn’t!
Steeped, it’s still incredibly floral. The taste is less so. I do wish that there was more rose but I also over-steeped it, and thus it’s possible I drowned the rosey part.
Besides the rose, I’m getting a strong chocolate note. Given that this is a Chinese black tea, I understand why!
Next time I brew it, hopefully the chocolate will be less dominant but it seems to me that it’d have a stronger profile than something floral in most any tea (except maybe bergamot which I can’t indulge anyhow)
The second steep of this was even less floral, but smoother and milder in the chocolate sense as well.
It reminds me of the Golden Monkey I have from Tao of Tea, only less harsh. Also, I’m tempted to see how this would fare iced. I suspect the cocoa would do nicely there, and that’s coming from a tea-freak who generally dislikes iced drinks.
and the rating? I’m tempted to lower the score from the 95 I want to give it, because the rose isn’t all that strong in the flavour… but then, I need to give it a few steeps and play around with it first. Either way, I’m in love. Fitting isn’t it? Roses, and love… this should be my Valentines tea, if I have any left by then!
This is You :-D
Profile
Bio
Let’s see… I’m a tea and workout fanatic, I work in HR, and most of my friends consider me to be an egg. White on the outside, Asian on the inside :)
-from philosophy to food, I love it all
Otherwise, what you see is what you get! I can be very straightforward and yet shy.
Also, I’ve started taking tea sommelier classes and it is an absolute blast! Well, so far I’ve only finished the first out of eight courses, but I am really looking forward to the next one.
Anyhow, if your curious as to how I rate things, this is how I work…
0-25
Like eating dirt, or some other unsanitary indelicacy that mentioning in my profile here would likely get me banned.
I don’t think I’ve found cause to banish a tea to the wasteland yet though so who knows what it’d inspire ;P
25-50
You know that expression “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater”? I imagine drinking that water would be terrible enough to warrant this rating!
I’d never make my enemy drink this, but perhaps I’d throw it at them. Good thing I don’t have any enemies!
50-70
This is “tea”?? I tried finishing the cup… but my body rejected it. There may be others who enjoy this tea, but it’s beyond me!
70-80
I tried liking it, and I can almost get there! I certainly don’t hate it, but something is holding me back. Allergies? Men in white suits? who knows… certainly not me!
80-90
Lovely tea! Not my all time fave but close. I likely wouldn’t repurchase, but may decide to based on many factors: price, accessibility, whether it fills a “tea gap”, medicinal applications, and how often I crave it.
Every once in awhile I find the sweet spot that bumps these up to 90+. Those are the days I need to buy a lotto ticket!
90-95
Sweet Camellia! this is realllly good tea! Don’t talk to me until I’ve finished my cup…
95-100
Tea of the gods. I would do anything to get my hands on more of this liquid gold!
Location
Toronto (Mississauga, but I work in TO)
