Additional notes: Well, today has been a tea day of trying teas I thought needed working with.. their previous sippings needing fine tuning. THIS one was PERFECT the first time I had it six months ago, it would win my ‘best Not-Darjeeling yet tasting like a Darjeeling’ award. I had it a month or so ago and the flavor was completely different. Not bad, just faded, plainer tasting, lost the magic. I’m not sure if I just brewed the perfect cup the first time OR the non-airtight packaging ruined this tea (that Single Origin sends their teas in), or this one just ages very very fast (I’ve had this one only a little over six months). So here goes: I wanted to try slightly above and below parameters from the first tasting notes, since the last time trying to follow those tasting notes didn’t work out:
Steep #1 // 16 min after boiling // 2 min
Flavor is definitely not like the first time. It’s so muted! Disappointing. It pretty much tastes just like a month ago.
Steep #2 // 5 min after boiling // 4 min
This cup isn’t much better than the last. The stone fruits I was noticing when this tea was new are completely gone. It tastes like one of those creamed corn flavored teas now. I’m pretty sure this has aged. I think it wins the “ages too fast” award. I’d LOVE to stock this in my cupboard at all times, but only if the flavor remained like the first magical cup. Maybe putting the tea in an airtight container would have helped? Single Origin sends it in a brown paper fold-over flap pouch with a clear window (at least they did with the samples six months ago). But I don’t think I’d want to stock something if I couldn’t even drink the sample quick enough. I’m very grateful the first cup I had was so nice though. One of my favorite cups of tea. Lesson learned: drink your favorite teas asap.
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Hello, I’m sorry to hear about that. We noticed the same thing and switched our packaging in February to an air-tight/ziplock pouch.
We had chosen our original packaging because 1.) it was completely bio-degradable 2.) It was manufactured in the United States 3.) It was made out of recycled materials.
But as you pointed out, it wasn’t air-tight and so we decided to change. Unfortunately our new packaging isn’t as bio-degradable (but this is a small price to pay for preserving the quality better!).
We hope in the future you will give us another chance. :)
Ah, I’m glad you noticed it as well. So it wasn’t that I was steeping it differently. I completely understand your reasoning for the original packaging, but if the tea was losing its flavor so fast, it was better to change. I will definitely not give up on this amazing tea, especially since there is new packaging. ONE day I will order from Single Origin!
Glad to hear that. :) We are waiting on the last samples of South Indian first flushes to arrive, but we should be getting in some exciting new teas!
Hello, I’m sorry to hear about that. We noticed the same thing and switched our packaging in February to an air-tight/ziplock pouch.
We had chosen our original packaging because 1.) it was completely bio-degradable 2.) It was manufactured in the United States 3.) It was made out of recycled materials.
But as you pointed out, it wasn’t air-tight and so we decided to change. Unfortunately our new packaging isn’t as bio-degradable (but this is a small price to pay for preserving the quality better!).
We hope in the future you will give us another chance. :)
Ah, I’m glad you noticed it as well. So it wasn’t that I was steeping it differently. I completely understand your reasoning for the original packaging, but if the tea was losing its flavor so fast, it was better to change. I will definitely not give up on this amazing tea, especially since there is new packaging. ONE day I will order from Single Origin!
Glad to hear that. :) We are waiting on the last samples of South Indian first flushes to arrive, but we should be getting in some exciting new teas!