The dry leaves in the packet do smell like fruit and nuts….and wood—reminiscent of a fruitcake nestled in a cedar box.
The flavor seems a little thin, to me. And bitter. Almost like unripe grapes on the vine. Or like grape seeds—bitter and green with a woodsy bite.
The tea mellows out and becomes more “floral”, as it cools. Floral like gardenias. It seems like a white floral notes are common to tea leaves.
This was my first Darjeeling. It was okay, I guess. I’m not sure if I’m intrigued enough to seek out more.
