My first sampling of a Teavivre tea, and I am very impressed. First, I found the packaging impressive. There has been a little bit of chatter here on Steepster about the packaging, so I wanted to address that in my first Teavivre tasting note. This may not be as environmentally ideal as some other tea companies are … and I’d like to say that I definitely have great appreciation for those who strive for environmentally sound packaging. That being said, what I found so impressive about the packaging for this tea is this: it demonstrates a definite respect for the tea that is often lacking in other company’s packaging choices. And, I have to say that I love it when I find a tea company that truly respects a tea like this. It shows me that they aren’t all about the bottom line (while that is important to any company) and that the quality and integrity of their product is at least just as important.
This tea is a fantastic Keemun. I love a good Keemun: smoky (but not too smoky), rich and flavorful. This Keemun has a nice smoky presentation which is strongest in its scent, but doesn’t overwhelm the flavor and muddy its complexity. A really comforting tea and yet it is also quite invigorating and bold.
I taste hints of a smoky caramel flavor, with a slight fruity character underneath the bolder, smoky tones. The fruity flavor is almost wine-like, similar to some other Keemun teas that I’ve tried, but this one is different in that it has a more distinct presence to it … a more hearty background of flavor to support the somewhat light wine-y tones.
Certainly one of the very best Keemun teas I’ve ever had the opportunity to try.
