TC76: Lumbini Estate FBOPF Ex. Spl.

This is the third Ceylon I’ve ever tried and two out of three have been great. This is one of the wonderful ones. Like most Ceylon the leaves are twisted wiry tendrils that are a bit dark. This one has chestnut colored leaves interspersed. The smell of the leaves is dark like dried currants and raisins with a touch of aged leather smell. The tea is an explosion of flavor with vanilla, spice and fruit and wisp of smoke. Tastes great sweetened or unsweetened. There is a lovely orange spice to the smell of the brewed leaves. I am not sure whether I like it more or less than the Malikkanda that I have a tin of . . . very close. I’m starting to swing away from Darjeelings toward the lovely Ceylons.

Just received this in an Upton Ceylon Sampler.

The feel is dark and heavy but watery, too. Odd mix.

The taste is heavy. There’s a trace of malty sweetness at the very tip of my tongue but an acrid dark brown flavor hits the middle-back of my tongue and slides to the undersides of it, too. It has almost a coffee edge to it, really. That same sort of acidity/burnt/chocolate/brown flavor.

I’m on my third mouthful and I’m not too sure I like this at all.

The tea is puzzling. My very first reaction on tasting was “blugh!!”, but then turned into a “ew, I don’t know”, then “it certainly has its merits but I’m not a fan”, then “this is awfully strong/harsh but I could stand another mouthful”, then “maybe this one just really needs sugar” (I am not one to put milk or sugar in teas unless sick… I’m a straight-tea drinker), then “I think it may be good but I don’t like it”, then “I’ve no clue, totally mixed feelings”.

Long finish.

Oh, and there’s a little fishiness in there in the back of the throat I noticed on this taste.

I don’t think I like it, but I do think it’s a quality tea that certainly has its merits, as said. I could see others loving it.

I’m gonna throw in some of the rock sugar a family member gave me a while back. If updating is appropriate after doctoring, will do so lol.