I bought this from an S&V order recently – from the Christmas sale! I couldn’t resist trying this. I’m trying to find a familiar flavor profile and the “silk” in the name sold it for me. This turns out not to be like what I was imagining, but it’s tasty anyway. I wanted a very deep chocolate brew, but this one is lighter — the color of the brew looks like the inside of butternut squash. The flavor of the large, long, hints of gold leaves is slightly smoky. It’s tough to describe this. The profile of a lighter Chinese tea with hints of smoke. I actually used bottled water in my tea kettle, so this was the best the flavor was going to get. No chlorine tap water here. So maybe this is just one of those teas I’m not tasting the subtlety of. I’m sure that happens with tastebuds. Or this is better when it isn’t steeped Western. I like this, but I just wished for something deeper, darker. I wish I could describe it better!
Steep #1 // 1 1/2 teaspoons for a full mug // 16 minutes after boiling // 3 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 3 minute steep