I swapped with Ashley for this, traded my loved, but not often craved marshmallow genmaicha figuring that I drink black teas much more frequently so it would make sense.
I got the tea and it smelled heavenly. So heavenly, in fact, that I was sad I had just started a new steeping sequence with another tea and would have to wait a day to have this in the morning.
My husband generously shared his cold germs with me and we both ended up staying home yesterday and I thought this chai would be just perfect. I had read Ashley’s note on how fine this tea was so I decided to use my perfect teapot instead of my beehouse as I figured that would help keep all the ground up tea in its place. Waited impatiently for it to steep and then cool down, took a sip and BLEH! ARGH! GROSS!
Frank, I normally love your work but when others say this is “earthy” I didn’t realize they meant it literally tasted like dirt. Maybe I’m just not an assam fan. Maybe mine had too much pepper and ginger mixed in with the assam of which I’m not a fan. Maybe mine actually was dirt covered in grossness. Maybe I shouldn’t have had the first sip right after finishing two chili cheese corn dogs (yes, they do exist!), but after waiting a while to let my palate readjust it didn’t get any better. Hubby hated it too and I’m pretty sure I lost a few points there.
Sorry Frank, this one is going up for swap ASAP. Not for me at all.
