Lychee Black

Had for afternoon tea with the husband today. This one was actually quite good! I was a little skeptical/meh about trying it because I was so bowled over by Butiki Lychee Oolong and because these days I almost always prefer fruit flavored teas to have a green or oolong base…but this was delicious, burst-juicy lychee much like the oolong one. Huh. Wonder if lychee’s just one of those magical flavors that goes like gangbusters with tea. Threw it on the list of “if you reorder from ATR, what are some options you’d be happy about stocking up on” teas. Yum.

Doulton’s Shakespeare: A Tasting Note in 5 Acts
Act III scene 2

“Let’s go hand in hand, not one before another.”
The Comedy of Errors, Act V scene 1

So this is lychee! I do believe that this has a part of some other teas in my recent past. I’m thinking that it was in one of the Golden Moon samplers — perhaps Sinharaja or Honey Pear? I couldn’t tell you what the tea base is with this blend since the lychee is so overpowering. It seems like the tea is merely here to be a vehicle for the fruit. With that said, it’s not a bad tea at all. It’s sweet, nectary and pleasant. But it’s not really remarkable.

Speaking of unremarkable(see what I did there?): could anyone tell me the basic plot of The Comedy of Errors or even a famous quotation? I had to look it up to gain a bit of information to know what it’s even about. There’s nothing wrong with this play, but it’s just not memorable. The plot features a double set of twins who were separated as children, and then become confused for one another as adults. Hijinks ensue. According to R. Martin and A. Tichenor (in their Reduced Shakespeare book, p. 68) “This play can actually be pretty funny — there are lots of opportunity for slapstick comedy. (Of course, MacBeth can be pretty funny if you put lots of slapstick in it. On its own? Not so much.)”

This might make a pretty good cold brewed iced tea, but I’m not really so excited to try it that I have to put an order in right now! It’s more like when I finally get around to trying out American Tea Room I will purchase another sample of this and try it iced. NE

I gave this one a whirl as I had a sample packet that I had purchased. Seeing as I can actually smell a bit again, this tea smells sweetly when dry. I don’t exactly pick up on the lychee scent, more of an apple to me.

Once brewed, I still smell some of the fruity, sweet aroma, but it is diminished. I only brewed this one for 2 min @ 200. As for the taste, I don’t like strong black teas and very much dislike the vegetal taste some develop. It brewed up nicely. It is a sweet tea. I’m picking up on some of the honey-like tones that lychee fruit has. It doesn’t have that near citrus hint of flavor that real lychees have, but it’s close. It’s a nice tea and I think it’s well-balanced. I’m not so certain I would have liked it as much had I let it steep the recommended 5 minutes that the packet instructs.

The medium-dark liquor of this tea has a very light flavor. The tea itself has floral notes, while the lychee adds hints of plum and honey. Taste it first before adding sugar the first time you brew this up, as it is quite sweet on its own.

The only thing that would make this cup better for me is if the actual tea flavor was a tad stronger in comparison to the lychee.

Sipdown no. 64 of 2017 (no. 345 total). A sample.

A transition cup from early to mid-morning. We are thinking of going hiking with friends today. I see one more cup in my future before that.

When lemonades and / or teas can get the lychee flavor right its like drinking a little bit of paradise. This company did a good job. I really wish I was sipping this on a beach right now. The dry smell is great; as is the wet smell. I love the fusion of the black tea flavors mixing in with the lychee. nom.

I felt so proud sipping this down at work. My new place of work actually has a kettle unlike Sephora! There is a proper break room which makes tea-enjoying more doable and enjoyable. I bought a Perfect Mug on sale after Christmas just for work since I’m too ridiculous not wanting to give up one of my mugs from home. I know it probably doesn’t sound like a big deal to most, but it felt pretty damn good being able to sit down, relax, and sip on this tea at work. Like whaaaat? Such a good feeling.

Would I get more? I would if I needed to make an ATR order more worthwhile. Excellent lychee flavour.

This is from a swap awhile back but I never got to it. I’m fairly certain this is the first time I’ve had lychee. It’s definitely a different flavor profile than what I’m used to with flavored blacks. It’s very floral, but sweet, kind of like strawberries.