33 Tasting Notes
This has got to be one of my all-time favorite black teas, I have yet to find something to replace this at my #1 spot, and although a few have come close nothing has de-throned it just yet. Being one of TWG’s signature teas, I usually pick it up at one of their salons while in Asia or UK and keep a good supply of it so I don’t run out. Awesome value for the price too, IMHO.
The brewed leaves smell of ripe forest berries muddled with black Vietnamese sugarcane, makes me want to eat them. The aromas of the liquor itself are a bit more subdued, kind of like a hot caramel was poured on top of said berries. The taste is very smooth, but surprisingly not fruity like you would expect based on the smell — center stage are some wood barrel notes, like ones used to age a berry wine or liquor. Although it is excellent unadulterated, 2-3 tsp of raw honey (per 300ml) makes the berries explode to the forefront while the caramelized sugarcane balances it out, reminds me of a dark berry creme brulee. Rockstar all the way.
Flavors: Berries, Caramel, Fruit Tree Flowers, Wood
Preparation
First infusion: Very rich and mellow aroma and taste, coats your mouth. Well balanced. Woody, smoky and toasty, with a very faint hint of berries. Second infusion much like the first, although the acidity of the toasted wood begins taking on more steamed kale or roasted greens. Floral notes become noticable. Upon further infusions, the toasted wood begins fading as the floral/berry notes become more prominent and the liquor becomes sweeter/milder. This probably could have gone much more than the 6 infusions I put it through, but keep in mind I rarely make it past 5 with any tea just because I run out of time or move on to something entirely different.
Looking forward to brewing this in multiple styles, I think it will offer up a lot of characteristics to discover.
Flavors: Flowers, Honeydew, Kale, Mineral, Wood
Preparation
Medium floral notes in smell and taste. Very light hints of flower greens, like a slight scent of a greenhouse from 100ft away on a hot day. Has distinguishable sour mineral notes I’d expect from a Tie Guanyin and barely distinguishable smooth/creamy pine but not a “coat-your-mouth” silky kind. None of the toast/smokiness or woody flavors develop throughout the infusions and generally a tad weak for the variety.
Balanced but light, missing some traditional characteristics of a Tie Guanyin and does not change all too much over multiple infusions (other than just getting a bit weaker).
Still a good starter for the price and better than others I’ve had.
Flavors: Flowers, Mineral