2145 Tasting Notes
I didn’t enjoy the herbal tea included in the tea co-op box this month, so I’m glad the sample size was small. It means I didn’t feel as bad about immediately sticking it in my swap box. The mixture of cinnamon chips, ginseng root, peppermint, echinacea, sarsparilla root, licorice root, and organic south african rooibos may have smelled wonderful, but had a flavor that is what I imagine dirty gym socks would taste if I had decided to boil them up and make tea out of them. It wasn’t entirely pleasant, but if you’re a fan of “detox teas” then this is probably right up your alley.
You can read my full review on my blog:
http://www.notstarvingyet.com/index/2014/11/18/tuesday-tea-tea-co-op-november-box-simple-loose-leaf.html
Preparation
At first glance Purple Tea of Kenya looks like a black tea, but the flavor profile takes on the characteristics of green, oolong, or black tea depending on the temperature you decide to steep it at. When steeped at 160°F it has a vegetal, almost hay-like flavor reminiscent of green tea. As you raise the temperature up to 180°F a light floral flavor begins to develop and the tea more closely resembles an oolong. At 212°F the flavor profile edges more towards black, with a combination of both fruity and toasted notes. I also find that even if I steep this tea at 212°F it takes on oolong and green characteristics as the tea cools, something that is very unique to this tea.
You can read the full review on my blog:
http://www.notstarvingyet.com/index/2014/11/11/tuesday-tea-purple-tea-of-kenya-butiki-teas.html
