652 Tasting Notes
Another sample from the generous Angel!
Before brewing this (Western style for me), I had finished a mug of the Superfine Keemun Mao Feng that I have recently been super impressed by.
I wasn’t sure what to expect of a “red black” tea.
First sip, I was surprised at how…sour (?) it seemed to taste on my tongue!
Not BAD, but nowhere near as sweet as the aforementioned Keemun.
It was a light color, and it had sort of a strange taste that felt somehow familiar to me, but I couldn’t place my finger on it. The closest I came was like kind of a bitter raisins taste. But I’m not entirely sure.
I appreciate the opportunity to try this one, but it’s not one I would purchase.
Perhaps gong fu style would make a big difference overall.
I’m not rating this time around because I feel like I need to try my second sample first :)
Huh.
This was pretty good for a sludgy, artificially flavoured tea!
I saw the newsletter where it was unveiled, and knew I’d have to at least try it. So i was at the mall recently and picked up 50g. I was going to get 25 grams as per usual, but the smell of the leaves in the can in the store, along with the knowledge that it’s a fleeting flavour…. i had to get 50.
I made some earlier, here at work, and I accidentally put too much cream in it. I use 10% cream. I had to add the cream to my cup before the tea was ready, rather than standing around uselessly waiting for it to steep (time is money, people), and i added too much, so this was very light even though I let it steep forever.
I HAVE read other reviewers comment on this brewing up quite light for an EG, therefore the cream thing may not have totally been my fault.
Anyway, though it came with the typical layer of oily sludge in my cup, the flavours in this tea are really tasty. I found it was all very well balanced, and the milk/cream made me not mind the sludge. The rose and bergamot makes the fake chocolate thing take a backseat, so it wasn’t at all bad!
I don’t regret buying 50 grams, I’m sure it will come in handy as a desserty tea treat at work :)
This is the first tea I tried out of the generous bunch of samples sent to me by Angel of Teavivre.
I don’t know WHY, given that I’ve only tried a few in my lifetime, but when I see the word “Keemun” I always get a little nervous, because I expect them to be smoky. I don’t really do smoky teas, I don’t really dig them.
I was SO pleasantly surprised when I tried this! I absolutely LOVED it!!
Wow. It was such a rich, bright, flavourful cup of tea. A bit of malt, and honey and raisin notes, and not even 1% smoke!
It’s not at all what I expected. It was such an enjoyable cup that I will absolutely order some in the future. Thanks so much Angel, for allowing me to try something I otherwise would have balked at!
i’m curious as to how this will compare to the other keemun i love from teavire. I’ve got this one here to try.
My goodness.
This is a sample I had chosen with my last Teavivre order, and one I will definitely be purchasing next time.
It’s incredibly flavorful, malty, raisiny, and BREADY. Mmmmmm, bread tea!
I steeped Western style as per my norm, and did two steeps per half of the sample bag. It is NOT a disappointing tea!
It’s so flavourful and clean tasting. Not sure how better to describe that. It’s a bright, juicy, delicious cup of tea.
WISHLISTED!
SIPDOWN!
Finally. Finished. This. Ginormous. Tin.
Not one I loved. The flavour profile didn’t really appeal to me. A little too smoky. I like a malty, chocolatey black tea, or a fruity raisiny one…
It was nice and bold and worked great with milk/cream in it for breakfast, but the taste of this one just wasn’t my cup of tea.
I’m happy to see it gone so I can work on others!
R.I.P. Queen Catherine…your empty tin will be put to good use :)
Regrets…so many regrets.
I wish I had ordered more of this one, especially considering how much of a fan I was/am of Crimson Horizon as an unflavored tea.
This is delicious. Very nutty. Not overly sweet, but definitely mildly dessert-like. I plan to resteep with a bit of sugar, to make it extra dessert-like.
I added a splash of 10% cream, which is how I like Crimson Horizon. It’s a good, strong, sturdy black tea – my favourite. The addition of the praline flavour just throws me over the edge of awesome.
I’m face-palming myself also because I didn’t order ANY of the Pistachio Horizon. So disappointed in myself and my terrible decision making skills. :(
IF YOU HAVE THIS AND HATE IT, SELL IT TO MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE :)
Strange, how our tastebuds surprise us sometimes! I’m finding a lot of these surprises with the last batch of Butiki teas I ordered.
This is one I didn’t order myself, because it seemed like one which wouldn’t appeal to me. However, Stacy noticed this and very kindly threw it in, because she enjoyed it so much she thought I should definitely try it.
I was hesitant, but it’s really good! I steeped it twice at work yesterday. I would never have thought to put melon with espresso flavour, but it somehow actually works!
I feel like these last few months have really seen some amazing and very unique flavour blends come from Butiki, SUCH a shame that this is the end!
I am definitely savouring all of the ones I bought, however :)
Made a cup of this at work to enjoy this afternoon. It really is plummy and cakey. I swear I think i can even sense the cashew notes.
I really enjoyed my cup and I’m going to try adding a sprinkle of sugar to the next one just to see what happens :)
Sad that this is the end!
My last massive Butiki order came in last week, but the mailman left a delivery notification so we could pick it up at the post office. Well, we had Snowmageddon part two on Saturday, so we didn’t leave the house. My husband had to go out yesterday so he offered to pick this up for me. I wasn’t entirely sure what the slip was for, because I am waiting for a couple different things.
Anyway, he gets home and he says (sarcastically, as always) – “Good news, it was more tea”
Then he proceeded to open my tea cupboard, pull everything out and show his cousin how much tea i have. Then he gestured to my tea shelf, where all my tins are. And his cousin opened the other cupboard where my most frequently drank teas are and gestured at those.
And my husband says “And that’s not counting all the tea you probably have hiding somewhere”
I told him I actually am not even hiding any. But that I would have hidden this latest box if I’d been the one to pick it up. Truth.
Ah well. I told him the company is one of my all time faves and they’re closing so I had to stock up so shut up about it.
JEEZ!
hahaha yeah i’m not looking forward to the 3?4? things that are inbound to my house…they are not small orders…
I want to drink this every night. The great thing is, since it’s more affordable than GO, I feel like I’m allowed to drink it, I don’t have to mete it out by the leaf, clinging to it for as long as possible because it’s a “special” tea for rare occasions.
This is delicious and I don’t feel bad drinking it as often as i please.
It’s thick and rich and smooth and allllll vanilla. I will buy more. Oh yes.