So I intended to take takgoti’s suggestion and brew this at 180, but I was too impatient for the water to cool and gave up at 190. But I can totally see how boiling would be too much for this tea. There is a hint of something at the end that I think would develop into overwhelming bitterness if brewed at boiling. But at 190, it’s totally okay. I imagine that at 180 it might be pretty much gone.
I was actually really excited to try this one because of the great reviews but I’m feeling a little deflated. It tastes… normal. It’s nice – has a good flavor, a little fruity, a little malty, a little smoky. It’s kind of a combo of all the good things that I appreciate in different types of teas, but they are all rolled into one tea. Which you would think is a good thing (and I think most people would agree) but it leaves me feeling that the tea is a bit confused.
It’s a well-done blend, I think. You get all the good out of the teas and none of the bad – no rough edges or harsh tastes. DH gives it a 4/5 star rating, so I think the sadness I’m getting from it is a personal taste thing. The tea itself is good. Just not my speed.
