From the EU TTB – Round 3
My only experience with this variety of tea previously has been a sample of Silver Buds Yabao, which I liked on the whole but wasn’t wild about, if I recall correctly. Nevertheless, I was interested to try this blend upon discovering it in the box. It’s winter, after all, and it both looks and sounds interesting…
I will admit, I was cautious with my brewing parameters. I used 1 tsp of leaf, and gave it approximately 3 minutes in water cooled to around 170 degrees. Possibly I could have gone a little hotter or a little longer, but I wasn’t 100% sure how to approach it in the first instance.
Anyway, the tea. It smells like something that’s GOT to be good for you. Very herbal, a little orangey, a little piney. Like a walk through a forest after rain. The flavour is similar, although not as strong as I was expecting. The main flavour is pine, followed by juniper, and then rounded out with a mild vanilla creaminess. It’s delicately sweet, in the way I remember Silver Buds Yabao being sweet.
It’s undoubtedly an interesting blend, unlike almost anything I’ve tried before. It’s definitely wintery, and beautifully appropriate for a cold, crisp day like today. It’s not within the normal range of flavours I’d choose, but it’s good to challenge yourself sometimes! In this case, it was a pleasant surprise.
