Scheherazade Send Message

264 Followers / 340 Following

100

Recommended

Scheherazade drank So Long, and Thanks for All the Licorice by Butiki Teas

2238 tasting notes

Slowly working through my untried Butikis. This one is a double win for me – the name makes me smile, because I love Douglas Adams, and a smile from me at work is a rare thing these days. Black licorice is also one of my favourite things, and to have it replicated in tea form is something out of my dreams. Usually licorice in tea is in root form, and I just don’t get along with that. Anyway, we started off an a good foot, as this tea has given me TWO reasons to be cheerful this morning!

So. The tea. As per the recommended parameters, I gave 1.5 tsp of leaf 3.5 minutes in boiling water and added a splash of milk. While brewing, the scent is primarily chai like, with very prominent spice notes. The initial flavour is also predominantly chai, and I can pick out cinnamon, clove, cardamon and fennel. In a way, this is a tea of two halves, because as the initial chai flavour fades it leads naturally into a delicious, almost chewy, black licorice flavour. There’s a hint of aniseed sweetness, but it’s not really a particularly sweet blend – a hint of sugar might make this one more candy-like. I’m happy with it as is, though. Licorice isn’t a particularly sweet flavour to my mind, and I like the almost tarry, molasses-like depth of flavour that it adds to this blend.

This is another Butiki stunner, and pretty much the perfect chai blend in my estimation. Just the thing for a chilly January morning.

Preparation

Boiling 3 min, 30 sec 1 tsp

I Like This

11 likes

0 comments

People who liked this

Profile

Bio

Hi :) I’m Sarah, and I live in Norfolk in the UK. My tea obsession began when a friend introduced me to Teapigs a good few years ago now. Since then, I’ve been insatiable. Steepster introduced me to a world of tea I never knew existed, and my goal is now to TRY ALL THE TEAS. Or most of them, anyway.

I still have a deep rooted (and probably life-long) preference for black tea. My all-time favourite is Assam, but Ceylon and Darjeeling also occupy a place in my heart. Flavoured black tea can be a beautiful thing, and I like a good chai latte in the winter.

I also drink a lot of rooibos/honeybush tea, particularly on an evening. Sometimes they’re the best dessert replacements, too. White teas are a staple in summer — their lightness and delicate nature is something I can always appreciate on a hot day.

I’m still warming up to green teas and oolongs. I don’t think they’ll ever be my favourites, with a few rare exceptions, but I don’t hate them anymore. My experience of these teas is still very much a work-in-progress. I’m also beginning to explore pu’erh, both ripened and raw. That’s my latest challenge!

I’m still searching for the perfect fruit tea. One without hibiscus. That actually tastes of fruit.

You’ve probably had enough of me now, so I’m going to shut up. Needless to say, though, I really love tea. Long may the journey continue!

My rating system:

91-100: The Holy Grail. Flawless teas I will never forget.

81-90: Outstanding. Pretty much perfection, and happiness in a cup.

71-80: Amazing. A tea to savour, and one I’ll keep coming back to.

61-70: Very good. The majority of things are as they should be. A pleasing cup.

51-60: Good. Not outstanding, but has merit.

41-50: Average. It’s not horrible, but I’ve definitely had better. There’s probably still something about it I’m not keen on.

31-40: Almost enjoyable, but something about it is not for me.

11-30: Pretty bad. It probably makes me screw my face up when I take a sip, but it’s not completely undrinkable.

0-10: Ugh. No. Never again. To me, undrinkable.