GABA Black Pearl

This sample was generously provided by Whispering Pines

I don’t drink alcohol that often because even small amounts make me feel like crap, but I miss my old staple stout Dark Matter (Hoyne’s Brewery, Victoria, BC). It’s such a local favourite that I’ve see a few food businesses incorporate it into their products- the most noteworthy (to me) being Cold Comfort’s ice cream. I miss Victoria sometimes. (thank you for taking me to that happy place, tea).

Steep Count: 2

Thanks so much for sharing this, Kawaii433! I certainly don’t think I’ve even had a tea that looked like this before? The closest might be Zen’s black dragon pearls. Black bundles with hints of gold, but these leaves have a sheen to them. GABA is Gamma-AminoButyric Acid — a neurotransmitter responsible for inhibiting overactive firing of neurons in the brain. It is the body’s anti-anxiety mechanism supplemented in the natural form through a drink. (Info from Mandala’s GABA black.) This sounds like a great idea in theory. I can’t say if it helped my anxiety, as I looked up what it meant after drinking the tea. I wish I had known to pay attention to my anxiety at the time…
On to the flavor: If you were a fan of Butiki’s Premium Taiwanese Assam, this might have the closest flavor profile out there right now, that I know about. However, since the GABA unravels into quite a large amount of leaves, I probably shouldn’t have used one teaspoon. So the second steep ended up a little brisk which I’m sad about. But the third steep didn’t have that bite to it at all and was much like the first steep again. The Butiki starts out long and wiry, which means I would have been using less leaves compared to these unraveling bundles. Then at times, the tea seems more like one of those Ruby black teas. But I also at times described Butiki’s PTA to Ruby as well. So maybe this is a tea in between a Ruby black and Butiki’s PTA. I’m sorry I don’t have more distinct flavor notes for this though… A Ruby tea tastes a Roman nougat in a Russell Stover candy at times… though this tea isn’t QUITE that. The next day, I did want to revisit PTA because of experiencing this tea and it just reminded me that it’s always like caramelized strawberry, so possibly this tea is more like a Ruby than PTA. Nothing can really compare to the PTA, I suppose.
Steep #1 // 1 teaspoon for a full mug // 16 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // 7 minutes after boiling // 3 minute steep
Steep #3 // just boiled // 3 min
2019 sipdowns: 22

Wow, its been a while. Got a sampler of this in an order last year and finally sipping it down. Given my last note was almost 5 years ago, I thought I would make a new one.

I’ll agree with the description in that it does have kind of a cereal vibe to the flavor. Not really my thing.

However, I am glad to be trying to again. Tastes change over time and it can be nice to revisit to see how my perception changes.

I’m also updating to match better with my new rating system.

Trying another GABA tea. This one is black pearl GABA. I don’t know enough about black tea to know what type they used.

It was tightly balled up and when unfurled, they were big, dark, full leaves. After the rinse, it smelled lovely, like toasted bread, some sweetness, spice. The liquor was a medium amber color, there is some spice(s) that I can detect but not sure which one. Cloves perhaps? It had a creamy texture, had bready notes, some slightly tart notes (can feel the sides of my tongue react), sourbread-y. The mouthfeel was rich, comforting and smooth.

Initially, I began with 5g, 205°F, 110ml, rinse, 10s, 15s, 20s, 25s, but after the fifth steep of 30s, it was too perfumey for me. I decided to switch to their recommendation which is one tsp. (4g) in 8 oz, for 3 min, and a second steep for 5 min. I liked it better the way they recommended or if I ever gongfu it again, just up until the 5th steep.

I would love for someone who can detect the tastes/aroma to review this. At the moment, it’s just me. hehe Their description was interesting “unique cereal notes that to me taste like the waffle things in chex mix!”

Update: Got another sample and the liquor really smells likes a yummy cereal. I followed WP directions this time since gongfu (in my opinion, didn’t do it justice).