Judging by the scent, I can tell right away this will be a dark tea. The papaya and pumpkin are ripe and strong and very sweet. It is an intensely interesting and unique aroma.
Unfortunately, the taste does not live up to it’s aroma. It is a very weird flavor I am really not used to. The papaya is there, but the pumpkin does not blend well, and the cardamom really doesn’t help.
This is the second pumpkin tea I’ve had that surprised me how interestingly unique but oddly disappointing it has resulted. Thankfully, this doesn’t have a strange banana flavor, and is quite strong for such an odd blend, thanks to the cardamom and cinnamon.
There might be a clash of seasons here, of summer and autumn, with the darker papaya and pumpkin attempting to blend with peach and blossoms. There is a bit of paleness that follows the odd after-taste of pumpkin.
It is quite ambitious. It is also not a tea to drink all the time, considering how odd it is. It might be better iced near the end of summer, transitioning to autumn, which would make sense of the clash of seasons here.
Glad you enjoyed it, except for the aftertaste. I just couldn’t get past the smell of it!
I think this might be one of teavanas better flavored oolong teas. I just really love it on a really cold day :) probably cause of the pumpkin. It does have an aftertaste.. so i try to not use water thats really hot because i feel like it makes it bitter. thats just me though (: