In honor of Butiki closing their doors yesterday, I am having a big mug of Crimson Horizon this morning. It is the first tea that truly surprised me with an unexpected flavor when I had just begun my journey of non-bagged teas, and even after a year of exploring the black teas that the world has to offer, I have chosen this tea to honor Butiki. Not Hong Yun, not Zhen Qu, but an often overlooked CTC who’s notes of malt and baked bread give a gentle round mouthfeel with an astringency that lifts the flavors of the tea without becoming obnoxious, and who’s opening note of asparagus, fleeting as it may be, opened my palate up to the world of “unexpecteds” in tea. Butiki was a perfect first instructor in tea. Weeding through “meh” teas and only offering those that had something unique about them was Butiki’s gift to everyone that purchased from them. This “not so humble” CTC will be missed terribly when it is gone…..
Flavors: Asparagus, Bread, Malt
