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Finally trying this sample from my order a while back. It sounded interesting and especially unique for a Darjeeling. And it is! It seems like this is where that flavor that was missing from the new batch of Hattialli Assam has gone to! I used a bit more than a teaspoon of leaves to even out the rest of my sample for next time.

Steep #1 // 20 minutes after boiling // 4 min
Accidently went for 4 minutes when I was going for 3. But from the fragrance I can tell this one will be divine. It has that lovely plumy/fruity flavor… that elusive flavor from the Hattialli. Sadly, it does have a bit of astringency that is odd since I don’t really find that in Darjeelings. It can be tamed though! With a level teaspoon and a shorter steep time. I don’t really get the chocolate flavor that is mentioned by Butiki. Other than the astringency, it doesn’t taste like a black tea.. but I just wish the plum could be separated and leave the bitter behind… which does get worse as the cup cools. But this is definitely a unique Darjeeling.

Steep #2 // a few minutes after boiling // 3 min
This cup had much less of the magic/plum but also much less of the astringency. I think if I hadn’t oversteeped the first cup, the second would have been much better. It wasn’t bad though! Much more like a typical non-special Darjeeling!

Butiki Teas

Just a heads up since you mentioned it in this post, we just got in a batch of Hattialli Golden Paw, which is very very similar to our Hattialli Golden Lion.

tea-sipper

Good to know! I don’t dare ask for a sample..

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Butiki Teas

Just a heads up since you mentioned it in this post, we just got in a batch of Hattialli Golden Paw, which is very very similar to our Hattialli Golden Lion.

tea-sipper

Good to know! I don’t dare ask for a sample..

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Bio

Hi! I love tea and trying new ones – it adds a bit of variety to my day! Books, music, TV & movies are my thing… and tea, of course.

Some of my favorite tea shops (still operating):
birdandblendtea.com
teavivre.com
52teas.com
svtea.com
whisperingpinestea.com
justea.com
harney.com
Dammann Freres
fusionteas.com
Javateaco.com
Lupicia
Octaviatea.com
Davidstea
eco-cha.com
what-cha.com
singleoriginteas.com
teasenz.com
tealyra.com
Mandala
verdanttea.com

Favorite tea shops (RIP):
butikiteas.com
steapshoppe.com
steepcityteas.com
aquartertotea.com
dellaterrateas.com
zentealife.com
angrytearoom.com
theteamerchant.net
joysteaspoon.com
tealiciousllc.com
Rivertea
Specialteas

My icon photo is Richard Mayhew from the graphic novel ‘Neverwhere’ by Neil Gaiman, Mike Carey & Glenn Fabry.

Most of the teas listed in my cupboard are actually sample sizes. I don’t really have 2,000 ounces of tea around here! Many of my teas have only one teaspoon left… maybe two. But I like keeping them in my cupboard list for reference to what I could be sipping. Usually, I write tasting notes once for each tea. I’m still drinking them, just not writing tasting notes each time!

I’m always in search of: Hattialli, Qu Hao black, Jin Jun Mei, teas using marshmallow root.

My dislikes: hibiscus, ginger (unless in chai), turmeric, bee pollen, charcoal type flavors

My ratings:
95-100 – Super awesome deliciousness favorites – cupboard essential
80-95 – Also pretty delicious
65-80 – Pretty good
50-65 – Okay
1-50 – Probably won’t want to sip it again

I’m planning on being a Steepsterer as long as there IS a Steepster, so if you’re not hearing from me, that means something happened to my health… if you know what I mean. (Or as evidenced by the great computer hiatus of 2019, something happened to my computer… I have a dumb phone so can’t access internet on that. As of 12/20/21 my wifi might start getting unreliable.)

Happy sipping!

Location

USA

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