Time for black tea! I picked another random Upton sample, and this is what I got. Oddly enough, the dry leaf reminds me a lot of Chinese black tea, both by look and by scent. The leaves are on the small side, but there are a lot of golden tips and a bit of magical fairy fuzz on the inside of the bag. Dry scent is thick and somewhat savory, and it reminds me of the Yunnan sweet potato aroma. There’s a syrupy dried fruit scent that brings me back to Assam as well.
The steeped tea smells quite similar to the dry form – there’s a rich sort of sweet potato-y aroma as well as sweet dried fruit notes. Ooooh! The beginning of the sip is quite savory with a rich flavor that does remind me of a Chinese black. However, the end is all Assam, with strong molasses and raisin notes and a touch of astringency. What a cool tea! The molasses flavor lingers on my tongue in the aftertaste, and it’s so rich and authentic. Tasty. :)
Flavors: Molasses, Raisins, Sweet Potatoes, Thick