Gong Fu Sipdown (148)!
Picked up a sample of this one just large enough to do a Gong Fu session. I have to say I’m a pretty big fan of DT bringing in these more “high end” (at least compared with their regular offerings, at the very least) pure teas as limited edition offerings. I think it’s a good way for less ‘hardcore’ tea drinkers to samples teas they might not otherwise seek out – and I’m all for people broadening their tea horizons.
In hindsight, I feel like this may have actually been better Western style than Gong Fu. Not that it was bad – but the session felt a touch flat/stagnant. Usually over a Gong Fu session you see some sort of evolution of flavour before the gradual decline/waning of it. With this one their was no incline, just the decline as the leaf was gradually spent. The flavour was nice though; mostly I found it sweet with a nice mix of honey and cocoa notes. Less of a “refined” cocoa though, and more of baker’s chocolate sort of thing, with that light but pleasant bitterness. I’m not sure that I agree with the “fruit notes” that are supposedly in this – I got way more fruit from the fruit & nut chocolate I was pairing with the session than I did from the tea itself.
Session only last about six infusions; flavour decline by that point was harsh. Pleasant overall, though! And…
No rating because I’ve officially signed and turned in DAVIDsTEA hiring paperwork now. So, from this point until I’m no longer employed there I’m leaving any DAVIDsTEA blend unrated in order to be nonpartisan in regards to Steepster’s rating system. Any DAVIDsTEA ratings you see are from prior to my working there.
Flavors: Chocolate, Cocoa, Dark Bittersweet, Honey, Malt
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Congrats on the job!
Is this a tea you would want in your cupboard?
Personally, probably not so long as Supreme Pekoe were still available. I find that one delivers a bit better flavour wise than I experienced with this one and they had comparable honey notes, which is the reason I’d want to stock either of the two. But if Supreme Pekoe stopped being an option, than maybe.
I’ll pick up a bit of Supreme Pekoe to try if it is still available.
Congrats on the job!
Is this a tea you would want in your cupboard?
Personally, probably not so long as Supreme Pekoe were still available. I find that one delivers a bit better flavour wise than I experienced with this one and they had comparable honey notes, which is the reason I’d want to stock either of the two. But if Supreme Pekoe stopped being an option, than maybe.
I’ll pick up a bit of Supreme Pekoe to try if it is still available.