When I was placing my last order with Adagio, they offered me a free sample of my choosing if I shared my order on Facebook. I’d placed a big order of blacks and oolongs (because although I usually prefer greens, I never have darker teas when I do want them), so I indulged myself on this one. From the description / reviews I was under the impression it would be similar to a Dragonwell.
The dry leaf is long and loosely rolled. I can’t unroll the leaf without breaking it, but I can peer down the center of it like a little telescope. Sniffing it, there are faint smells of grass and something akin to cocoa powder. Not what I expect from a green, but intriguing.
Steeped this morning in my little Amsterdam 2-cup teapot, which is great for the mornings when I want something a little fancier than a mug. I have a matching cup and saucer to go along with it.
I steeped for two minutes, and when I pulled the infuser basket out and let the excess tea drip from the leaves, it looked clear. In the cup, it’s a very pale gold (although my teapot and cup are rose colored, so colors aren’t completely accurate.)
On the first sip, it reminds me of something in between the first and second steeps of a Dragonwell. It has a vegetal overtone to it, but it’s not as strong, and there’s a buttery flavor supporting it. Adagio compares it to pumpkin seeds, and I can see where they get that comparison. (Although presumably these are pumpkin seeds that aren’t burnt and covered in salt!)
In short: I really like this tea. I’m delighted I got to try it, and I’ll probably keep it in my cupboard!
