This is definitely a very interesting and different tea. The dry leaves are long, dark and twisted with scents of cocoa and dark fruit.
1st infusion – 4 min boiling water
The tea is a medium, translucent brown and the tea leaves are not yet unfurled. The taste is smooth and naturally very sweet with hints of raisins and figs. There is very little to no bitterness or astringency.
There are not many teas that make me say “wow”, but this is one of them. Delicious and the natural sweetness is addictive.
2nd infusion – 5+ minutes boiling water
Unfortunately, I lost track of time on this infusion. Thankfully, this tea is quite forgiving. The scent is more cocoa this time around and less fruit which carries through to the taste. There is a slight roasty flavor – all around a really great, easy drinking tea.
The beautiful leaves are still not quite unfurled so I may have another steep or two (either tonight or tomorrow). Really great stuff, this is.
I only used about half the sample, so I’m looking forward to a round of gongfu brewing soon!
I understand that this is supposed. To be the same tea as Ruby 18 and Black Ruby. If so, this is one of my favorites and is a most unusual tea. It is almost impossible for it to get bitter, and it tastes great steep after steep. I am planning to get some from Shui Tea since theirs was so much better than Southern Season’s.
It was definitely one of the most unusual and interesting teas that I’ve had in awhile.