I’ll confess to being a little scared of this one, because it has a roasted oolong base and roasted oolong is my nemesis. I can smell it upon opening the packet – just oolong, and no caramel apple. It’s nutty and a little metallic. Hmm. I followed the recommended parameters and used 1.5 tsp of leaf for my cup, for three minutes, in water cooled to around 180 degrees.
In practice, I needn’t have worried. This is a gentle flavoured tea, it’s true. The sweetness and caramelly smoothness seem to come as much from the oolong base as from any added flavouring, and it’s a more natural taste as a result. I’m not getting much in the way of apple, although there’s a hint of red apple sweetness and a tiny bit of fresh, appley sharpness during the initial sips. As this one cools, though, it becomes mostly just oolong. There’s none of the metallic awfulness I was expecting, thankfully, but there is quite a strong roastiness that’s a little bit at odds with the sweeter flavours. I can totally see how it works as toasted nuts after having read the description, though.
This isn’t my favourite of the flavoured Butiki teas I have left, but perhaps it was never going to be. I don’t dislike it, and I’ll easily be able to finish my 1oz bag, I just think on balance the base tea is not for me. I might try a little crystal sugar next time just to see what effect that has.
I almost always sweeten my flavored Butikis. This one is SO GOOD with a little squeeze of agave.