I ordered this tea in the late 90’s because the description really sounded intriguing. I mean c’mon son, if this tea was good enough for eight world leaders, it was good enough for me, so I ordered it. Back in the day, I really liked it alot! I’ve been meaning to reorder it for years and I finally did so.
I have been cupping this since November trying to accurately pen a review. So here we go.
Upon opening the tin, I could smell the Assam, Darjeeling, and white Jasmine. Yes, there are full, white Jasmine leaves blended sporadically throughout this blend, which was noticeable. You can actually see all of the different leaves here. In the wet leaves, the Jasmine & Darjeeling come through mostly, among the mixture of other teas.
The cup is a very dark brown, and when I stood directly over my cup, the light hit it just right and made my tea look nearly black. I watched the steam rising off of the darkness, looking like ghosts dancing on my tea! There was a decent, sweet aroma, mainly of Darjeeling, Jasmine, and Assam. Those three teas seemed to stand out in the flavor profile as well, not dominating, but more like vying for position, each wanting to be noticed. I will say the Darjeeling probably got the slight edge here. I honestly couldn’t distinguish the other teas specifically; however, occasionally I noticed a burst from a Keemun. Or was that a Yunnan?? Or a Puerh perhaps, pointedly prickling my palate?? Eight teas can be confusing to the taste buds, much like a totally tenacious tortuous tongue twister!
WWHHEEEWWW!! The key here is that this is a smooth enjoyable cup of tea. An interesting and solid-yet not stellar-blend, with medium aromatics, flavors, and briskness. Lower water temps and a little sugar may unlock more nuances in this tea, increasing my rating. If this tea is good enough for me-and it is-then it is definitely good enough for you too! :))
Cupped and Reviewed: Saturday, December 17, 2011.
