Edit: I doubt that the odd flavor was Pekko’s fault, it probably absorbed the scent from something else during its voyage across the pond; so I’m giving this a 70 as not to change the “Steepster Rating”
This tea is… Interesting…
Dry leaves: I opened up the bag and noticed a familiar smell that I couldn’t quite identify. The leaves are small, curly, and soft, and have a nice olive and white coloration.
Brewing: The leaves unfurled to reveal small young buds, and the liquer is a pleasant light yellow. While steeping it, I again smelled that smell that I couldn’t quite place.
Tasting: As I brought the cup to my lips, my brain cried out “TABASCO SAUCE!” for that is exactly the smell I had been thinking of. Confused, I took a sip and experienced a nice, light throat sensation and found a pleasantly bitter taste with notes of pine and melon… and, well, Tabasco sauce (not the spicyness, just the flavor)…
I’m now on the third steep, and still confused. The taste certainly isn’t unpleasant; in fact its growing on me, but I can’t seem to shake off the feeling that I’m drinking some very mild Tabasco.
For the benefit of my sanity, I may have to send some samples to someone o_0
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I like your tasting notes. You have a wider range of scent profiles than most people. It’s like aroma bingo isn’t it.
and ‘Toabasco’ is the winner!
Haha, thanks Bonnie. Its fun to see what tastes/smells you can dig out of tea :)
Don’t know anything about the vendor, but if they are a 3rd/4th party vendor (like most are) and don’t get this directly from the farm, the likelihood is that it was stored poorly at the distributors (and then it is both the distributors fault and the dispensing vendor who should be cupping each new lot from them prior to selling anything from it. The often held onto misconception with coffee and/or tea is that the trip from origin to source is anything like direct. Its like Assam teas…most aren’t even aware that Assam has flushes like Darjeeling and that we as a nation typically only chance upon 3rd flush and most of that is almost a year old by the time it makes its way to the shelf. There are flavors in teas that we have yet to even savor and could very well be that this teas tabasco is part of that….
I like your tasting notes. You have a wider range of scent profiles than most people. It’s like aroma bingo isn’t it.
and ‘Toabasco’ is the winner!
Haha, thanks Bonnie. Its fun to see what tastes/smells you can dig out of tea :)
Don’t know anything about the vendor, but if they are a 3rd/4th party vendor (like most are) and don’t get this directly from the farm, the likelihood is that it was stored poorly at the distributors (and then it is both the distributors fault and the dispensing vendor who should be cupping each new lot from them prior to selling anything from it. The often held onto misconception with coffee and/or tea is that the trip from origin to source is anything like direct. Its like Assam teas…most aren’t even aware that Assam has flushes like Darjeeling and that we as a nation typically only chance upon 3rd flush and most of that is almost a year old by the time it makes its way to the shelf. There are flavors in teas that we have yet to even savor and could very well be that this teas tabasco is part of that….