I was very very pleased when I found this tea in the 007 select, because well, …coconut, and also because I had been wanting to try a pouchong and just hadn’t been able to pick one out for purchase.
I am usually worried when loose tea leaves have such a strongly flavored smell, but Im pretty sure I sunk my nose into this bag for a good 20 seconds and then exclaimed to my boyfriend that he rush over immediately to check this out. It’s a wonderful coconut treat aroma like you would get from a proper full fat macaroon, as one would expect from a tea thats been given its flavor from hearty coconut milk.
I brewed this in a Gaiwan at 180 for 3 minutes, 3 times for 3 infusions. I found the tea to change slightly between infusions, as the coconut aroma and taste subsided, the tea gives up more complexity. First of all, it’s a very pretty colored brew, most likely the obvious sign it’s a pouchong, as its a medium golden tan color. The wet leaves smell, again, strong with coconut but it had a very decadent appeal, I almost want to equate reminiscently of slightly toasted mugginess from autumn leaves.. it’s great. Each infusion brought more of that aroma and less coconut.
The taste of this tea is a full bodied balance of the sweet buttery coconut and an earthy toasted pouchong. It leaves a lovely slightly nutty finish, perfect for sipping on while barely working on something.
I really enjoyed this tea, I desperately want to serve this with a mushroom Tom Kah Soup!
