I had a small sample of this when I ordered from Teavivre. Oh… my… gosh… the warm inviting scent of roasted chestnuts hit me when I peeled the packaging open. It brought back memories of me in medical school really getting into teas and trying them! This one was so memorable because I remember watching the leaves become bigger, and it was the first time I saw a large leafed tea! The taste was amazing too! This is a dark oolong and smokey like chestnuts NOT like lapsang souchong.
I used my yixing teapot set for this and shared it with my husband. This teapot is surprisingly big! 16oz! The two 4oz yixing teacups could be filled twice. The leaves expanded to a medium size leaf. I wish I didn’t put them in the tea strainer as to let them expand and dance in the water. However, I thought it would have been necessary since I didn’t have another vessel to place the steeped tea. I can see this tea becoming very bitter if left unattended!
The result was a nice dark brown tea with a toasted aroma. It became sweeter as it cooled more. This reminds me of autumn and the leaves that fell from the trees and dried up. The taste was smooth but at the end of a sip was slightly astringent. There was some cocoa and roasted nuts mixed with honey. Perhaps there were some mild raisin or fruit tones mixed with very mild florals. I love the complexity of this tea. Its as if it holds a secret! There was a hint of earthiness to it, not in the same sense as pu-erh though. I love the warmth to it like a big blanket on a snowy cold day. I absolutely love this tea. It just reaffirms my love for oolong teas… and especially non-flavored teas. This is a wonderful tea. And it is so pure yet so complex.
