Thank you for Angel at Teavivre for the generous sample!
Dry: This is a very interesting and attractive dry leaf with tightly rolled curly tea buds that appear green, olive, and silvery all blended together. They are also fluffy, almost feathery, as I placed them in the steeper. This is a very different look and feel from some other greens like dragonwell, for example. The dry aroma is sweet with a touch of floral and hay.
Steeped: The recommended steep time is 1-6 minutes so I went with 2 minutes to start. This resulted in a light olive green clear liquor that smelled mildly savory and pleasant. The second time I went with 5 minutes and this resulted in a deep olive clear liquor that has a notably stronger vegetal fragrance. The steeped tea itself unfurls into lovely olive buds with a few dark green cut tea leaves mixed in.
Taste: With the first 2 minute steep, there was a very mellow flavor that was almost like I was tasting the aroma. It was enjoyable, but I wanted something bolder to detect the nuances of the green tea. With the 2nd longer steep, there is noticeably more flavor. It has an initial savory, almost brothy note that is chased by something almost faintly citrus. It is not a sweet citrus, but more like a tiny crisp note at the end of each sip. It is fun playing with the steep times as this tea is very versatile in regards to being able to meet the preferences of the individual via short steep or longer steep without becoming overly bitter. Although I must admit it is not my favorite of Teavivre’s greens, I would gladly have it any day and am very glad I have been able to try it!
Flavors: Cut Grass, Fruit Tree Flowers, Vegetable Broth
