Ancient Forest Black

2nd infusion…

This is a very comforting cuppa! That’s really what I keep thinking about while sipping this! Yes, it’s bold and fairly malty yet smooth and it just seems like it has all the properties to be that friend you can lean your shoulder on when you need it!

The 2nd Infusion was just as good as the first and just as dark and bold! It’s more malty and a creamier finish…there is a slight roasted aftertaste once the creaminess passes.

This is very unique and nummy!

Smelling the dry leaf made me think I accidently grabbed the Black Merlot I had last night (I checked and it was not). Theres floral notes, as well as something else, but I don’t wanna pour the contents out again to see what it is and the outside of the bag is heavily scented by another tea so….
I thought I oversteeped this since I forgot to set the timer. Liquor is a very deep red/brown, also making me think I oversteeped. Wet leaf still floral. The flavor is much more mellow than the aroma lead me to believe which made me think I didn’t oversteep afterall. It’s not dull or drab, just mellow with the tiniest bit of astringency. I first thought malty but then backed that off to a wood flavor with a touch of smoke. Though floral it’s not too sweet, but a little. I liked this tea well enough and would visit it again, though not enough to put on my right away purchase list; which I guess I should start since all of the samples that several fine Steepster folk have so graciously shared will eventually run out. There’s so much work to do to make oneself a fanatical obsessed tea drinking addict.
I tried a second steep and it was a hair lighter but also sweeter. Astringency went up a notch too so after this cup I’m done.
tunes-Dave Mathews Band=Christmas Song/Long Black Veil/Gret Street/Big Eyed Fish…all live versions

Thank you to TeaEqualsBliss for sending me some of this tea.

This is a really remarkable black tea. Strong and robust, with a very pleasing earthy quality to it. The earthiness is almost pu-erh like but … different too. In my review of this tea (which will publish soon on the SororiTea Sisters blog), I described the earthiness this way: “Consider an old growth forest just after it rains. The smell of the trees, the earth, the leaves and the air … that is what I taste in the background… that essence.” – that is what I’m tasting in this cup. It is very good, very rich, and a very nice way to start the day.

Per: https://www.shantitea.ca/sthome/product/ancient-forest-black:
Origin: China / Serving: 2.5 grams per cup / Temp. 100*C / Steeping Time 2-5 Min.

“A full bodied, earthy infusion typical of high quality Yunnan black teas. Cultivated from the ancient protected tea tree forests of Yunnan Province, China, this rare and exquisite black tea makes a full-bodied and earthy infusion with a rich and penetrating aroma heavy with age and collective wisdom. The flavor of this deep amber infusion is unlike any other black tea available. Truly exceptional.”

“Directions: 2 min without milk, 5+ min with milk”
“Ingredients: Tea (Camelia Sinensis)”
Canada Organic – Biologique Canada: http://www.organicbiologique.ca/en/

Technique:
Tea mug with Finum brew basket. 8-oz water with total dissolved solids (TDS) of 26 ppm, heated to 212*F. 2.5 grams (My Weigh Durascale D2 660). No sweeteners, milk or cream were added.

Fragrance: Earthy / hints of sweet tobacco
Dry leaf: Moderately dark brown leaves with some gold tips
Infused Leaf – Deep Amber

2-min. Initial observation: Not yet strong enough will step another min.
3-min.: Rich and full-bodied with a pleasing earthy aroma and not a hint of bitterness or astringency. My cup was empty before I knew it – Excellent!!

4-min Re-steep: Not yet strong enough.
5-min Re-steep: Improving
6-min Re-steep: Just as enjoyable as the first cup.

Impression: A smooth, rich, mellow, relaxing, and very satisfying cup of organic tea! An excellent weekend morning experience not to be rushed, and not to be missed!

Thanks to Safiya Motala and Shanti Teas for kindly providing this generous free sample.

this came to me by way of a lovely surprise gift from CelebriTEA. a note in my inbox queried whether her package had arrived…? (what package? i wondered) steepster is a brilliant community and CelebriTEA decided a tea surprise was in order!

i’ve never had any shanti teas before. erring on the side of caution (stupid allergies) CelebriTEA chose a selection of unflavoured brilliance to arrive on my doorstep. this was the first i tried.

confession: often even with tea swaps even if i’m hugely looking forward to a sample i’ll drink it once and wait a bit. even if i buy it myself…. i don’t do back to back servings (i’m a terrible resteeper). i did with this tea!

hint of malt, hint of chocolate, very smooth caffeine kick. ‘refined’ is the word i would choose. a natural sweetness, though i do enjoy a bit of turbinado and cream. if i think really hard possibly light elements akin to citrus? making me think it may be fijian in origin? possibly?

lovely. thank you so much CelebriTEA for thinking of me as i knuckle down in my studies =0).

xoxoxox.

how can there be so few reviews for this tea? it’s awesome? if you enjoy straight black teas, folks- this is one i would recommend for sure!