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“Pouch of this appeared in my black tea box; probably from Kaylee — so thank you! I am focusing on small pouches before I open other ones; and I need to focus on them as well, having something over...” Read full tasting note
“Sipdown It’s cold-ish and raining here in NE Ohio. The sun teased us yesterday morning, but that only lasted a fraction of a moment. Alas, today is much more dreary. I decided it was best to brew...” Read full tasting note
“Adventageddon Day 10 – Tea 1/4 Gongfu! I thought this tea was super rich and fudgey! In addition to being a bit of a malt bomb, the intense dark cocoa and warm freshly baked bread notes (with...” Read full tasting note
“Day 10 of the Tea Thoughts Winter Countdown box. Still pretty weak, so I don’t have the strength to gong fu day 9’s tea; will have to circle back to it. I just brewed this one up Western style....” Read full tasting note
This exquisite tea is harvested from ancient tea trees in China’s Yunnan Province, one of the world’s best tea growing regions. With a deep, well-rounded taste, each sip contains a complex array of flavors ranging from ripe fruit, cedarwood, peppery spice and sweet raisin. Subtle notes of cocoa whisper gently during this tea’s malty, lingering finish. Rich in antioxidants and anti-aging properties.
NET WT (per tin): 1.98 oz (56 g)
Company description not available.
Pouch of this appeared in my black tea box; probably from Kaylee — so thank you!
I am focusing on small pouches before I open other ones; and I need to focus on them as well, having something over 700 grams of black tea for me alone, is a bit too much. Of course, sometimes I prepare a cup for family members or friends coming over; but it doesn’t happen that often, sadly.
Anyway, this is a solid black tea, easydrinkable and not tannic or astringent. Rather I do notice cocoa and malt, somewhow a bit into sweet teritory; round and smooth. It’s not a top-notch tea with extra flavour profiles, but as a daily drinker it would be more than fine.
Sipdown
It’s cold-ish and raining here in NE Ohio. The sun teased us yesterday morning, but that only lasted a fraction of a moment. Alas, today is much more dreary. I decided it was best to brew something to give me motivation and energy enough to clean the house.
This was a really lovely session. It was malty enough, but not too much so. It had a slight cocoa sweetness on the initial sip, which is immediately overtaken by the malt.
Flavors: Cocoa, Malt
Adventageddon Day 10 – Tea 1/4
Gongfu!
I thought this tea was super rich and fudgey! In addition to being a bit of a malt bomb, the intense dark cocoa and warm freshly baked bread notes (with walnut undertones) were so dense and packed in. I’ve really been craving black tea all weekend, so this was a really perfectly timed out session!
Today’s Advent Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/C0sEWVnuQOF/?img_index=1
Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpQv5NXFCAg
Day 10 of the Tea Thoughts Winter Countdown box. Still pretty weak, so I don’t have the strength to gong fu day 9’s tea; will have to circle back to it. I just brewed this one up Western style. It’s a little drying, but I didn’t find it bitter or acidic. I feel like I’ve had Chinese black teas with more heft and a thicker mouthfeel. This one’s landing as medium-thin. I’m getting notes of malt and cinnamon in the sip, and pepper and clove in the finish. I am really starting to worry that my sense of taste hasn’t fully recovered since the last time I had covid, though, because I’m not picking up any of the cocoa notes that are supposed to be here. I probably should see a doctor about it at some point. I’m just not sure what I’d even say that wouldn’t sound ridiculous – “before I got sick, I had a very sensitive palate and sense of smell, and now it’s merely average?”
Sorry to hear. I had hoped the decreased sensitivity in my palate might be from terrible seasonal allergies since moving to a town surrounded by ryegrass. But as that season has come and gone this past year, I realize the lack of ability to finely differentiate aromas and tastes is probably due to last Christmas’s covid. I didn’t have to retrain my senses but drinking tea is different now – less pleasurable – and so are cooking and eating. Perhaps that will change with more time.
Ugh. While it’s comforting to know I’m not alone, I’m so sorry this happened to you too! I have read that some people do recover their senses more fully over time, so you’re right, there may still be hope for us :-)
My co-worker daughter lost her sense of spicy food completely. She was doing garlic spread and used a whole bulb before she noticed any garlic taste. Her boyfriend said it is toxic.
Thanks again for the amazing samples, Octavia Tea! This is a classic Chinese Yunnan tea: Black leaves with touches of gold. One heaping teaspoon seems to make the perfect brew. This is everything I want and expect in a classic Yunnan tea. The brew is black as night, the mouthfeel is smooth and silky, no astringency or bitterness can be found. Even the third steep in which I only filled the mug half full was very delicious and full of flavor. Lovely chocolate notes with hints of sweet potato and even a bit of a starchy quality. It’s a lovely tea. I really like it. I’d stock up on this one. The cupboard must always have at least one Yunnan!
I’ll also say: I do like many of Octavia’s teas, but their sizes are a bit awkward. They have a sample size that has a few teaspoons, then a tin with 1-3 ounces of each tea depending on the tea, then the other option is a full pound. (I like their packaging for the samples though – very thick and resealable!) So I wish they had a two ounce pouch option or something. That is my one complaint of Octavia’s awesome teas so far!
Steep #1 // 1 heaping teaspoon for a full mug // 16 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 3-4 minute steep
Steep #3 // (half mug) just boiled // 6 minute steep
