I am really enjoying the smell of this tea. It is pungent, robust and complex. The dry leaves have a aroma that’s a mix of fruity and floral notes with some nutty ones, like cookies. Somehow it also reminds me a bit of some Chinese green tea. The wet leaf smell is dominated by passion fruit to an extent, but behind it there are notes of macadamia nuts, charcoal, mountain forest, sage and thyme flowers. The empty cup and liquor smells of beeswax most notably.
The taste is robust and tangy at the same time. It starts of with some roasted nuts and charcoal notes, but the bitterness is very light. Soon after, it becomes more vegetal, only to get somewhat fruity with a mix of sweet and sour flavours in the finish. The astringency is very mild and comlements nicely the floral and cooling aftertaste. Overall, it’s a very refreshing drink.
Mouthfeel is a little on the thinner side, but very smooth and slightly mouth-watering. I definitely wouldn’t get the tea for the mouthfeel alone, but it’s good enough to not be a huge downside. All in all, this tea is worth the price for sure, especially if the idea of a Dong Ding with some high notes excites you.
Flavors: Char, Cookie, Floral, Forest Floor, Fruity, Honey, Nuts, Passion Fruit, Roasted Nuts, Sage, Tangy, Thyme
