88

GCTTB V1

Another tea that I’ve been wanting to try from Liquid Proust for a while – I’m happy enough of it lasted in the box for me to get a mug’s worth for the way to work. It looks like this has definitely been a popular one in the box.

This is kind of a weird pairing: I don’t think I’ve ever seen blackberry and sage anything before. However, I’ve had Fauchon’s Peach and Thyme blend and I remember enjoying that quite a lot so I figured this would be similar in idea and delivery. And it is!

The blackberry flavouring is actually really, really nice. I’ve tried a handful or two of blackberry teas at this point and I find it’s a flavour that’s hard to execute well: it’s either not strong enough at all or it comes off as terribly cloying or unnatural/artificial. This is up there with Butiki’s blackberry flavouring though: it’s rich, distinct, has that sweetness that comes with perfectly ripe blackberries and it isn’t overpowering or fake tasting. I’m also finding that it compliments that jammy sweetness/stonefruit like note that good keemun has as well.

The sage is definitely less distinct: I 100% get a nice herbaceous sort of note in the background of the tea but I’m not confident I could blindly tell it was sage without this prior knowledge. It does compliment the blackberry though; the mix of sweet fruit and a more savory note elevates this tea and makes it both seem more exotic and nuanced. I feel like if I was just tasting the blackberry or just tasting the sage I would still enjoy the flavours but that this would be a more average or forgettable tea. The pairing brings more life to the drink, for sure.

Of the blackberry and sage, the blackberry is certainly the stronger note though. And actually, I think the sage is probably the more subtle out of it, the blackberry, and the base. And that would probably be my one criticism: if this were just a little stronger I think that flavour would be much more distinct. That said, if it were too much stronger I think that it would dominate the cup in an unpleasant way. It’s a tricky ratio/balance for sure.

I believe this is the second batch/version of this tea? I hope that means that there’ll be a third batch, because I found this one to be absolutely delightful. Definitely Top Five Liquid Proust teas I’ve tried so far; dare I say top three?

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

People who liked this

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Profile

Bio

Hello! My name is Kelly, though many people in the tea community call me Ros or Roswell.

I am a mid-twenties tea addict, blogger, and all around nerd. I grew up in the Prairies, but a few years ago I relocated to Quebec to pursue a career with DAVIDsTEA in the tea industry! I’m still working on getting my French language skills down…

My first introduction to tea, in any form outside of instant and bottled iced tea, was about seven years ago when I happened to stumble upon DAVIDsTEA while looking for a birthday present for a friend! I tried their Birthday Cake rooibos blend, and I’ve been hooked on tea ever since! In those seven years; I was introduced to the online tea community, expanded my interest in flavoured teas to include a deep love and appreciation for straight teas and traditional brewing methods, got a tea themed tattoo, started reviewing teas, amassed a sizable tea and teaware collection, became a TAC certified Tea Sommelier, & even came full circle by beginning a career in the tea industry with DAVIDsTEA!

I consider myself a Jack of all Teas, and strive to have a knowledge and appreciation of all tea types, formats, and styles of drinking. I don’t like to feel boxed in to just being a “flavoured tea” or “straight tea” drinker – my expectations may vary depending on the type of tea or how it’s been processed/prepared but if it’s good tea, it’s good tea no matter how it’s been made!

You name it, I probably drink it- and I’ll absolutely try anything at least once.

My default method of preparation is hot, Western style, and straight – but I’m not opposed to additions if I’m in the right mood. If I ever add something to a tea or use a different method of preparation I will ALWAYS call it out in the tasting note though.

I like to listen to music when drinking tea, especially when I’m brewing a large pot at a time or steeping Gongfu. Often I curate very intentional tea and music pairings, and sometimes I share them here in my tasting reviews. Music is something that I find can deeply affect the experience of having tea.

I’m also one half of the “tea and fandom” podcast GeekSteep where, weekly, we discuss newly explored fandoms over tea as well as try to figure out the perfect tea to pair with each fandom. You can find us on Spotify and Apple & Google podcasts.

Favourite flavour notes/ingredients: Pear, lychee, cranberry, cream, melon, pineapple, malt, roasty, petrichor, sweet potato, heady florals like rose, hazelnut or walnut, sesame, honey (in moderation), and very woody shou.

Least favourite flavour notes/ingredients:
Lemongrass, ginger, strongly spiced profiles (and most Chai in general), mushrooms, seaweed, chamomile, stevia, saltiness or anything that reminds me too much of meat that isn’t supposed to taste like meat…

Currently exploring/obsessed with: Sheng from Yiwu, Yancha (Qilan in particular), anything with a strong sweet potato note. Also, I need to try ALL the root beer teas! Searching for a really good caramel flavoured blend, ideally with a black tea base.

Please contact me at the instagram account listed below if you would like me to review your teas.

Currently I’m employed in the tea department of the DAVIDsTEA head office. While I’m still sharing my own personal thoughts on new & existing DAVIDsTEA blends, I am no longer numerically rating them due to the obvious conflict of interest. Any comments expressed are a reflection of my own thoughts and opinions, and do not reflect the thoughts and opinions of the company. Any DAVIDsTEA blends you currently see with a numeric score were reviewed prior to my being hired there and have not been adjusted since becoming a DAVIDsTEA employee.

Location

Montreal, QC, CA

Website

https://www.instagram.com/ros...

Following These People

Moderator Tools

Mark as Spammer