Thank you to Amanda for this lovely sample!
Three of my grandkids came by for a short visit while mom took four others to appointments and one was off on her own (18 and drives). Eight kids…2 foster, 3 adopted, 3 bio. So I made tea and popcorn. Lion and Lamb Lapsang Souchong is a favorite with one and good with popcorn. Bear Trap is a winner for the 9 year old watching cartoons, but the 16 year old composer and I drank Marco Polo and discussed the scent and flavor.
This is a splendid tea. At first, the golden liquid tasted creamy, almost vanilla but not quite and had a floral lilly quality without being any type of flower one could put one’s finger on. I asked my granddaughter what she thought…she was amazed at the flavors and complexity. We added a little sweetening and some cream. “I taste some citrus do you?” Was it orange…no. I thought about it. “How about Honeydew melon?”…“Yes…I can taste it in my nose”, she laughed. “And a little earth…I mean dry dirt.” Well I didn’t get any of that…but she was certain for herself. At any rate this is one delicious tea. Really good and worth having on hand always. I’ve got to get some Marco Polo soon!
Their mom arrived (my daughter). “I’m taking the bus and coming back tomorrow grandma.”, she said. “Me too.”, said my grandson (not happening…9 years old on a bus ah no way). So what is this tale all about? Why do I recount this tasting this way? It’s because tea drinking for me and for millions of people is community. Tea is to be shared and mainly within the family. Makes my old heart glad.
*Second steeping proves excellent. If I were blindfolded I would almost say someone switched in some oolong…is that what I am tasting? That elusive floral creamy butteriness?
