119 Tasting Notes
Temporary note: I never picked up on bergamot in this every time I tried it brewed hot. One day, I poured overage into a french press pot and when I tasted it cold the next day, I finally noted the bergamot nuances that this tea is purported to have. Still can’t find the vanilla sweetness it claims but maybe my tongue is not sophisticated enough. Give me time.
Own one ounce sample. Tips look grey/green, golden and silvery, unlike the bright green photo on website. First brew per instruction at 180F/2 min, 3 tsp in 500ml. Came out very, very light yellow tasting of hot water with only scent, but more flavour followed when sipped cooler. Second steep tried at boiling temp but that brought some bitterness. It didn’t ruin taste but at least deepened the liquor colour. Third steep back down to 185F: brew seems to improve with later steeping and am picking up
a toasty flavour that I never noticed before. Light bulb idea to try adding toasted rice to this Chinese green to make own blend of toasted rice green tea.
Preparation
Because chocolate mint tea is a flavour I enjoy, I stocked up on two pouches. I agree with other reviews that it is more mint with a whiff of cacao nibs. I don’t hate it but wanted more chocolate. I definitely recommend trying this; a lovely choice for people who like subtlety in flavoured tea.
Not a in-you-face butterscotch flavour when I put my nose in the mug but it is there as I sip. Personally I don’t think the black tea base is strong enough to take milk but I tend to not add anything to black tea. This tea can take long brewing time and not be bitter.
Preparation
First, getting tart sense of cranberry when drunk hot. Steeped at 212F boiling for 4 min. As it cooled, picked up unctuous suggestion of buttery baked goodness but just slightly. In fact, it is in the aftertaste as you roll the ghosts of the flavours on the tongue and inhale the vapours do you get the name of this brew. I always thought I preferred tea straight and hated foody scents but I was wrong. This tea is delicate and is a sweet suggestion of its eponym.
2tsp in 500ml at 205 F for 3 min. Nice deep red golden colour typical for a “red” tea. Delightful scent of strawberry and burnt sugar. Dry astringency on the tongue and can still taste the strawberry scent when breathing through the mouth. Second steep at 212 F for 3.5 min and added agave syrup and a few splashes of whole milk. Can still taste the black tea and the fruit/floral scents still detected. Will try for a third steep at 212F for 4 min black with just a touch of sweetener. This is a lovely tea but other than good quality black tea, not sure it’s worth the $22/3.5 oz at Williams-Sonoma.
