2016 Chocobrick Black Tea

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What, a non-advent note? What is the world coming to?! :P

I often have to wait a bit to start drinking my advent teas, just because I take photos of all of them for my Instagram stories, and often the lighting just isn’t good in the morning (thanks, winter!). So this has been my first tea of the day on those days, steeped Western style with one chonk for a 16-ounce mug.

I wouldn’t say it’s anything to write home about, but it’s a very yummy, malty, and smooth Chinese black tea with just enough heft to be good for the morning. There’s sweetness, woodiness, a bit of brown sugar and dried stonefruit as well.

Very nice as a daily drinker, and if I remember correctly it was very reasonably priced. It looks like this was only made in 2016 though, and hasn’t been produced since. It’s funny how it’s called “choco” and is in the shape of a chocolate bar, but the tea doesn’t taste chocolaty to me at all.

The smell of the brick is beautiful. Gives me strong hints of strawberry. Brewed this gongfu style starting at 30 secs and adding 15-30 each steep.

1st & 2nd Steep: These steeps give a smooth feel with no astringency at all. The flavors remind me of vanilla and berries.

3rd & 4th Steep: The vanilla becomes toned down a bit and a more floral taste appears. Still super smooth.

5th Steep & beyond: Floral taste gets stronger but the sweetness stays around somewhat. A slight astringency sets in as you get deeper.

This is absolutely one of my favorite teas and I can’t recommend it enough.

The squares in this brick are pretty big, considering it is a 100g brick and only 9 squares.

Chocobrick black was easy to break. The notes are mineral, malt, bittersweet chocolate, sweet, and bit of a brisk quality to it. I got 9 infusions, with the final ones being quite dry and bitter. Overall, a pretty good daily drinker.

Full review on Oolong Owl http://oolongowl.com/2016-chocobrick-white-black-tea-white2tea/