Note: I had started drinking this after my 8-9 cups of 2005 CNNP Aged Ripe. Therefore, I was a little tea drunk from the morning session.
Anyway, I had about 5 steeps from the sample via Dark Matter 2016. I must say that overall these teas have been pleasing. This one was especially great. Then again, I’ve liked a majority of the teas that I’ve tried from Verdant thus far.
My notes during the session:
First steep: 5s—Nutty, chocolaty, sweet roasted oolong flavors. The mouthfeel is nice. The flavors remain in the mouth for a while after the first cup. I think this’d be a great substitute for chocolate, that is, when I desperately need “the fix.” Unfortunately, this is a small amount of tea, but would definitely considering buying more.
Second steep: 15s—Less chocolate, more oolong notes. The roasted oolong flavor really comes out in this cup. Reminds me of a Taiwanese oolong a friend had given me a few months ago. Really has that nutty quality to it. I’m picking up a hint of squash(?) or raw pumpkin(?) in the tea. Still very sweet.
Third steep: My wife, who by all means is solely a coffee drinker, is wanting a cup. Her thoughts are, “A bit astringent . A bit grassy, yes? A bit woody? Somehow sweet. Nothing much here—kind of light.” However, I asked her whether or not she had tasted the nutty/chocolate notes. She had given it thought, and considered that “it did.”
I was pretty tea drunk this morning, though; therefore, my notes are a scattered mess. I did write in caps, “THIS IS TEA, RIGHT? MARIA THINKS THAT I’VE REALLY STARTING DRINKING….” I recommend this tea. The one downfall to it is that is doesn’t last too long. I had a total of 6 steeps before the flavor dispersed.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFHFTTOA-4W/?taken-by=s.g_sanders1
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFHGtZGg-9C/?taken-by=s.g_sanders1
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFHI2Vzg-0p/?taken-by=s.g_sanders1 (Tea Drunk)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFHoxH7g-3B/?taken-by=s.g_sanders1
Flavors: Chocolate, Cocoa, Nutty, Pumpkin, Thick
