Dude, what happened? The first time I had this tea, it was seriously awesome. It must have hit my happy spot or something because it made me almost euphoric. The second time was a total let down. So I’ve been hesitant to try this one again. But in my desire to de-cupboard more tea, I figured I’d bust this one out.
This third tasting isn’t starting very promisingly – I overbrewed it. Oops. The chocolate taste is still not really there except as an afterthought, but I’m okay with that. The chili taste is nice and tingly – on the border of a bit too spicy but nice. It’s a fairly thin bodied tea, feeling a bit like a second steep from a regular tea. The oversteeping has made it a little rough but a dash of half & half has fixed that and given it a slightly more luxe feel.
While not as enjoyable as my first perfect cup, this is a likeable tea. It’s different and, oddly enough, makes me think of gourmet hot chocolate – the kind that doesn’t taste actually like chocolate but you probably paid nine dollars for it. At the hoity-toity ski lodge. In the middle of winter. Even though you don’t ski.
I’m not back to being in love with this tea, but I’m giving it a slight point bump. It’s different and is fairly successful in its different-ness. This isn’t a tea I’d need to have on hand but I could see the occasional (if rare) desire to have a cup.
