A sample from ashleyelizabeth. This is a tea I’ve been curious about for a while, primarily because I like almonds (and amaretti biscuits in particular), but also because it seems to divide opinion.
I gave 1.5 tsp of leaf about 4 minutes in boiling water. No additions. To begin with, I honestly though this was a rooibos. Now I know better. I’ve never had a tea with a Lapacho Bark base — indeed, I’m not really sure what it actually is. Research required, I think! Anyway, while brewing this tea smells completely like almond essence, or almond cake…it’s quite strong, but it has a bakey element behind it that makes it smell very appealing.
To taste, this is pretty much liquid marzipan. There’s something slightly biscuitty, too, and the apricot seems to help bring the two together into a really pleasant amaretto flavour. Underneath all that, though, there’s a something bitter and unappealing that I’m not really liking very much. I’m not sure whether it’s the orange, or the rose, or just the unusual base, but whatever it is isn’t gelling very well with the flavour as a whole. It’s not a flavour I recognise, so I’m guessing it’s probably the base. It tastes almost burnt, somehow.
I’m going to say I like this one well enough for the minute — it’s pretty spot on for amaretto, if it wasn’t for that odd flavour that spoils it at the last minute. I have a couple more cups worth left, so I can experiment a little more. I’m glad to have had the opportunity to try this one, though, so many thanks to ashleyelizabeth for sharing with me!
