103 Tasting Notes
The raw tea has a dry aroma, somewhat of grain and fruit.
Brewed, the tea is a golden color with an aroma that is roasty, perhaps of toasted nuts.
First Steeping: Moderate flavor, with floral notes and a toasty nuttiness. Almost no astringency.
Second Steeping – Same temp 5 minutes: Very similar to first steeping. No astringency.
Third Steeping – Same temp 8 minutes: A bit milder than the last steeping. Three is probably all that can be had out of this tea.
Preparation
The raw tea leaves have a clean scent and a hint of something like fresh cut hay. The tea steeps to a mild yellow.
First steep: Light clean taste. Slight hint of vegetativeness, but not overpowering nor unpleasant. This is a very mellow green tea.
Second Steep – Same temp 5 minutes: Lighter taste, still pleasant. No vegetativeness this steeping.
Third Steep – Same temp 7 minutes: Pretty similar to the last steeping, maybe a bit less flavor.
Fourth Steep – Same temp 10 minutes: Too watery to enjoy.
Preparation
The unbrewed tealeaves have a wonderful, fruity aroma, almost like fresh cut alfalfa. The tea brews golden and retains a little of the fruity aroma.
First Steeping: The taste tastes nutty and mild with a just a very little bit of astringency.
Second Steeping – Same temp, 5 minutes: Similar color and aroma to first steeping. Very similar taste and strength to first steeping.
Third Steeping – Same temp, 7 minutes: Lighter color, aroma, and much lighter flavor. Interestingly, the fruityness comes out in the taste.
Preparation
The unsteeped tea smells wonderfully of mint. Once brewed, the tea is a dull golden color and the scents of tea and mint mingle plesantly.
First Steeping: The mint dominates, but the green tea is still there. If you like mint, this is for you.
Second Steeping: Same temp, 5 minutes. The second brew showed the green tea more and the mint a bit less. Still pleasant though. The jasmine really shows through in the smell.
Third Steeping: Same temp, 7 minutes. Very weak. Almost flavorless.
Preparation
Rishi’s Earl Grey is the best smelling earl grey tea that I have ever encountered. Taking a big whiff out of the bag brings the citrus aromas of fresh lemon and grapefruit. The tea brews into a dark red/brown tea. The aroma of the tea is muted compared to the unbrewed leaves, but still pleasant and clean. The taste is slightly astringent, with the flavor of the black tea showing through bergamot flavoring. Truely a great cup of earl grey.
