I like trying odd teas like this. I’m not expecting too much, but I did enjoy Kusmi’s seaweed tea blend so I figured I probably wouldn’t hate this.
I love how this tea smells! Like really good nori sheets – the kind that has a bit of soy sauce or additional flavoring to make it just a little darker, a little richer. Such a great smell. LOVE.
The taste is very much seaweed, too, just like the smell. Unlike Kusmi’s Algotea which has a green tea base, this has an oolong base and I think it makes it smoother. The Kusmi has a tendency towards mineral-esque astringency at the end, but this is almost silky. Based on the smell and liquor color, I assume it is a dark oolong but honestly the taste of the seaweed is dominant.
In the second steep (1min), the oolong base pokes out a bit more. The smell is a bit more smoky and peachy with the nori smell taking a slight step back. The taste, however, very similar to the first steep though with the nori perhaps being a bit more balanced by the oolong.
This is a funky but awesome little tea. It’s definitely not for everyone. If you wouldn’t consider nori as a legitimate snack food, I’d probably pass this one. But for me? I love it!
