I’m finishing up the last bit of this tea and I haven’t yet reached a decision on what I think about it. I know that when I tried this tea last, I wasn’t very impressed.. or perhaps it didn’t fit my mood. I’m sure that these next infusions will confirm what I think! I’m excited to see what they bring.
First infusion: I’m getting a very strong wood scent – not like rooibos, but something a bit darker… it sort of reminds me of a damp log with mushrooms. There is also a hint of something toasted. Sipping… hmm… It’s so complex that I actually have to sip again to realize what I’m drinking. The dry wood flavor comes first and is the strongest for me. It changes into a nice sweetness in the same way a rooibos tea has that sweet element. It’s also very smooth, finishing with an almost bitter note.
Second Infusion: The cup still has that very woody scent, but it seems to be a little bit toned down. This one has a tad bit more astringency and seems “darker” to me. The wood and sweetness are still very present.
Third Infusion: I’m tasting some nice floral notes in the background.. they sort of explode when you least expect it! The sweetness has taken over and actually finds itself in balance with a playful bitterness.
Fourth Infusion: I like the mouthfeel of this cup. It’s rather full and think. I’m tasting a little bit of something minty at the tail end of the sip. There is still that drying, bitter wood mixed with a soft sweetness.
I will update further if there are any more cups to be had. It’s time for dinner, though & now wouldn’t be the best time to taste important details of this tea. I’m happy that I had the opportunity to try this tea when it was still around. I wish that I had tasted vanilla and waffle cones, but this one reminded me mostly of sweet wood.
