Like the other teas I’ve had today, this was picked out because it was (practically) a sipdown and helped to drink down all the DAVIDsTEA blends I have. Technically I still have enough for another cup of this, though…
The sample of this came to me by way of Janelle’s tea stash sale. I can’t remember why I picked this one out – I think because I was looking at trying more oolong blends?
Dry, this smells like bergamot and citrus with something really floral; jasmine? After looking up the ingredients (I hadn’t done this prior to now, not sure why exactly), turns out there is jasmine in the blend along with some other stuff. I have no clue what a schizandra berry is, to be honest, but I wasn’t anticipating either that or jasmine. Although, looking closer at the leaf now I totally see the berries. Not sure how I missed them before…
For preparation I steeped up 2 tsp. of leaf in my 12 oz. timolino, with near boiling water. I’m trying to remember the steep time; I think it was four minutes? This steeped up to be very pale in colour. I also meant for this to be my first work tea of the day (kind of a morning tea), but I ended up drinking Cold 911 first. It feels a little odd drinking an Earl Grey so late into the day.
There’s a woman at my kiosk taking her sweet ass time browsing, which would be fine except she has a baby with her (six months old by my guess) that has been SCREAMING for a solid ten minutes, and the mother is doing literally nothing about it. Not moving the stroller back and forth, or feeding the kid, or even saying soothing things. My headache from all the fucking screaming is KILLING me. Urghhh… TAKE CARE OF YOUR FUCKING BABY!
In so far as the smell, it’s a very strange amalgamation of bergamot and jasmine with some lavender notes? Not exactly super appealing. The taste isn’t as bad as I thought it would be, just based on the smell. The bergamot comes off pretty weak, and the jasmine/lavendar combo is a touch perfumey, though the oolong base tastes pretty good. Somehow everything is just not properly synchronizing, though.
This is something I might be a little reluctant to drink again, and as such definitely not a reorder if I were to ever get the chance. I think I’ll be able to finish off that last cup without too much problem, though. Happy I tried it, but not sold on the taste. Thanks nonetheless Janelle!
