Chocolate Chamomile Curiosity Brew

I have needed this so long. I finally got my Verdant order in (One of two, anyway, my monthly-tea-club box is due in two days, if tracking is to be believed) and it feels like Christmas.

Mostly the package is full of samples, but I sprung for a full ounce of both this and the chocolate phoenix chai, despite not having tried either of them.

So while excitedly ruffling through the box of little foil packets, this one jumped out as the one I just had to try first. I needed something cooling and calming, and this seemed the best candidate. I agonized a little about how to brew it at first; this tea is interesting in that it does not fall into the category of “cheap flavored black” that would prompt me to western-brew it, but I’ve never gaiwan-brewed blends involving herbs and spices before, and I imagine they infuse at much different rates than the tea leaves. Eventually I settled on western-brew, for now: four grams to twelve ounces of water. I’m pretty sure I’ll have to try gaiwan-brewing it at least once though, to satisfy my own curiosity.

I finally opened the pouch. The aroma of the dry mix alone is amazing. The first words that come to mind are “real” and “clean” I know it sounds odd, but this is my first step into Alchemy blends and it’s already abundantly clear that this is a rung or seven or two-hundred above the standard of flavored teas sprayed with artificial flavors; these ingredients are so fresh and fragrant. I can smell the mint, but it’s not overpowering, the cinnamon and fennel (I love fennel), too, are playing their role but not stealing the show. Despite the herbal stuff very present in this tea, it doesn’t have that “herbal” pungency (I’m not sure if that makes sense to anyone else, heh). All the ingredients— and there’s quite a handful of them, are dancing in a balanced harmony. I can’t imagine what a challenge this must have been to create.

The visual appearance of the tea is enchanting, both dry and while brewing. While dry, I am reminded of a curious forest full of twisted branches and dotted with alluring flowers. While steeping, the chamomile flowers and marigold petals float to the top, spiral-dancing at the slightest motion, while the tea-leaves unfold at the bottom to envelop the spices. The mint leaves seem a bit non-committal, uncertainly bobbing between the surface and the bottom. If you have a clear brewing vessel, I would really recommend watching the show.

I ended up getting three 12oz steepings out of four grams (and perhaps I could have coaxed more out, but there is just only so much liquid I can fit in my stomach). The first was where most of the chocolate flavor was; and although I suppose I should have slowly sipped and savored it, I found myself rudely gulping it down; I think somewhere on Verdant’s site, this tea is compared to mint-chocolate ice cream— that is spot on. I bet this will be pretty amazing iced, too. The second steeping was probably overall the strongest, highlighting more of the mint and spices. On the third steeping, the herbal notes are a background to the Big Red Robe and the Laoshan black; a wonderful finale as the blend returns to its roots.

Maybe I am a little overenthusiastic about this brew, but it’s been such an overwhelming past several days, and this is truly a little piece of heaven in all the chaos. Just going through the process of preparing tea does wonders to shed the stresses of the day, but combined with a tea like this, it’s honestly magical.

Wow, this really does smell like chocolate and chamomile. Don’t think I’d have ever thought to combine those two things, but it’s pleasant here. I’m also smelling some mint and…I think fennel? Tastes as cooling and sweet as it smells. Reminds me of the best, most therapuetic elements of Stash White Christmas (my go-to sickie chickie elixir), but instead of a medicinal tinge there’s chocolate-y sweet richness. Novel—comforting but also exciting.

This grows on me more and more the longer I drink it.

Thank you Bonnie for this tea.

I will keep it short.
I made the sample of this tea by boiling water and putting the teapot in the fridge to cool overnight.
I drank it cold, no sugar, milk, one hour before bedtime.
I realize that I don’t like chamomile. It gets me drowsy, sleepy, and dopey.
I did see some marigold petals and the tea expanded overnight to some soggy dense pile.

I’m falling asleep watching the Olympics and writing this review.

ZZZZ.ZZZZ.Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Goodnight.

I don’t think I’ll want to try this one again. I will however check out more Verdant Teas because they are so highly reviewed here.

I’ve been enjoying two Verdant blends this weekend – Sweet Cinnamon Pu’er and Chocolate Chamomile Curiosity Brew. Both have provided very enjoyable tea sessions. However, I should mention that in each case I’ve added a little more base tea to the blend. I followed the Verdant guidelines for this blend but I added more Laoshan Black and for me this produced a much better cup of tea. I resteeped twice but I would not want to try for a third resteep. I’ve already added this blend to my reorder list.

Verdant order arrived yesterday! :) Unfortunately I didn’t have much time to drink tea before I went to work, so I had a quick cup of Laoshan Black, and then worked the closing shift. (after that it was a shower and off to bed, so no more tea that night!) Now here I am the next morning, with my usual post-closing-shift head-splitting migraine. Late shifts don’t agree with me, you see. I’m a natural morning person. But it just provides an excuse to drink an absurd amount of tea for comfort! Ha :)

The tea leaves for this one are super gorgeous. Big full chamomile flowers, pretty yellow petals, and Laoshan Black and Wuyi leaves all mixed together in happy tea harmony.

I wasn’t sure about the parameters exactly and I was feeling too sleepy and cranky to look it up, so I just guessed: 2tsp in a 12oz mug, just under boiling water for three minutes. At these parameters, I mostly taste mint, but the nice kind of comfort sweet mint, rather than a punch you in the nose mint like toothpaste. Following the mint I get the pleasant flowery ’herbal’y taste from the chamomile which blends perfectly with the mint.

I get a hint of chocolate at the end of the sip. Honestly, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you what the base teas were in this if I didn’t already know beforehand. I’ll play around with the parameters to see if I can coax out their profiles better. But overall, this was a very good cup! I think this ounce will disappear pretty quickly! :) This was exactly what I needed for this headache.

Edit: Second infusion

Wasn’t sure how well this would stand up to a second infusion, but I thought I’d give it a go just in case. Turned out to be a good decision! :) The second cup of this really transformed a lot. It has a definite spice note note now! To the point that I’ve been comparing it to chai as I sip. This infusion is making me think someone should make a mint chai. :) If this is a sign of what it’d be like, I know I’d be buying quite a bit!

This was good & interesting! Not something I’d be likely to buy since I’m not that into chamomile… but man, it’s good with mint. I didn’t get the chocolate but it sure smelled good. Thx cavocorax! I’m glad I got to try it, because the sound of it was just TOO INTRIGUING.

A very pleasant mintyness with a great, relaxing chamomile taste. There’s a very unique earthiness from that Laoshan that gives it a velvety tongue feeling. Comforting and light, this tea is interesting in such a way that when I finish my sip, I get no chocolate. But the moment I go for another sip, I get a big chocolate aroma. So this tea works for me in the end. Curious indeed! With the second steep, this tea opens up that amazing chocolate aroma and full, earthy taste!

This was undoubtedly curious. Not much comes out of the bag, smell wise, but upon brewing (I did a single 10 second rinse) I was able to delineate many layers of flavor. I was most surprised by the role the fennel played. It was remarkably well balanced and a really nice afternoon cup.

For this tea I used 2 tsp and rinsed it twice. I used about 8 oz of boiling water.
Steep 1: I steeped this cup for 1 minute. mmmm this is better then I expected. First I taste chamomile and peppermint. Then I taste chocolate and maybe cinnamon. In the aftertaste I get a hint of floral. This is so good. Would be nice in the evening. It’s very calming and refreshing.

Steep 2: Steeped for 1 min and 20 sec. The chamomile is a bit weaker this time and the peppermint is stronger. Mmm and the cinnamon is stronger. The chocolate is a bit less noticeable.

Steep 3: Steeped for 1 min 50 sec. Mmmmm oh my cinnamon!! It’s the strongest flavor this time. There is a hint of chamomile in the aftertaste along with the peppermint. The peppermint in the aftertaste is more like that feeling in your mouth after your brush you teeth. Mmmmm OH MY!!! So good! This definitely is my favourite steep so far :) it caught me by surprise how much more the cinnamon came out in this steep!!

Steep 4: Steeped for 2 min 10 sec. Tastes very similar to previous steep except a bit less cinnamon. But I bit more chocolate!

Overall I really like this tea. At first very relaxing with the chamomile then later steeps cozy with the delicious tasting cinnamon and chocolate. :)

This is so good! I’ve learned not to get my hopes up with chocolate teas. They’re never quite chocolatey enough for me. But that’s not the case here. This is amazing. Such a true dark chocolate taste that melds perfectly with the chamomile and mint. I can’t believe it took me this long to try it.