I haven’t had Jackee in a while – lately I’ve been too addicted to Chicago Tea Garden’s Keemun to stray – but I decide it was time to revisit him. This was a caramel-free experience but still quite enjoyable, mostly because I noticed for the first time the similarities between this one and CTG’s Keemun.
Jackee is much bolder, but the overall flavoring is similar – lots of depth, some acrid smoky (but nothing to a lapsang lover), a similar sweetness… Anyway, it’s pretty noticeable (at least it was today) that these two teas are in the same taste family. There are differences, though. Jackee, as I mentioned, is much bolder. It has a stoutness that makes it a bit of a wake-up type tea for me. CTG’s is softer and more delicate and overall has more complexity, including a floral end note. It’s also more of a ‘relax and meditate on each sip’ type tea for me.
I still like CTG’s version a bit better (what can I say, I’m a sucker for such soft yet complex teas) but noticing the similar tastes help me appreciate Jackee even when I don’t get to taste level caramel chew.
