I’m rather liking this, which is a good thing, since I ordered the 8 oz. tin and they accidently shipped me a whole pound. This strikes me as a great choice for those days when I stand in front of my tea mountain and I can’t for the life of me figure out what kind of tea profile I want to revel in. On first sip I’m getting the malty Assam, but then it breaks away into the subtle smoky, chocolaty keemun. I understand from other posters that this can go bitter in a hurry if it’s not watched, so I stuck with four minutes for the steep, and I’m glad I didn’t go over that. My initial impression is that this is a good, sturdy start-to-the day tea without being overly malty. This morning I’m drinking it hot. This afternoon I might make some iced in my Takeya pitcher, and perhaps stick a mason jar of cold brew in the fridge. Might as well try it all kinds of ways. It’s not like I’ve got a shortage!
This is You :-D
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Bio
My very first ever mug of tea was Bigelow’s Constant Comment, when I was about eight or nine. We also always had Lipton when I was growing up. While I almost never drink that now, it was my gateway, and I brewed it strong and on the stout side.
These days I tend to favor black teas, but hojicha and genmaicha are everyday go-to teas for me, too. Anything toasty is good. I’m not a fan of vegetal green tea flavors at all, though I will drink flavored greens if the flavors mask the veggie taste. For the most part, I cannot abide herbals. I’m not a fan of red rooibos, though I do have a couple of green rooibos teas that I like on occasion. I’m not a tea snob by any means, while I tend toward loose tea these days, I’m not above drinking bagged tea as well, as long as it’s decent stuff.
My day job is teaching (middle school), and in the summers I work for our city’s parks department (swimming pools).
In my off time, I am a voracious reader. I also love music and movies. My tastes can be quite eclectic.
I’m plagued by chronic migraines and fibromyalgia, but I manage to be pretty functional, despite the curves they throw at me.
I’ve not much thought about a rating scale, but here goes, on the fly…
90-100: Tea that I like a great deal, or even love. Tea that I will always replace when I run out.
80-89: Tea that is quite pleasant, and wouldn’t turn down. Tea that would probably be replenished at some point.
70-79: Tea that drinkable, though not particularly special. Ho hum stuff.
60-69: Tea that I have to be in the mood for, and that I wouldn’t be lost without.
50-59: Tea that isn’t impressive, though I’d likely finish the cup.
40-49: Tea that I sip on for a while, trying to find something redeeming, but that I usually dump and swap out for something else halfway through.
30-39: Tea that is only just drinkable, as in any-port-in-a-storm. If it wasn’t a storm situation, it’s probably something I’d dump and forget.
20-29: Teas that get dumped after only a sip or two, because they aren’t my cup of tea at all.
0-19: Tea that gives tea a bad name. Teas that I can’t stand, I find highly inferior, and are just plain vile and nasty.
Location
Montana
Before I read your last sentence, I was already thinking, “Ooh…bet it’s good iced!”
I did some in the flash-chill pitcher. It was pretty good, though I might lean toward liking it hot a little bit better.