This is good, kind of lightly smoky. The dry tea has a spiciness to it which I’m guessing comes from the essential oil. I can see coriander seeds but it doesn’t have that spicy sweet lemon aroma that typically accompanies freshly ground coriander. The wet leaves smell more smoked and less fragrant than the dry leaves.
I’m having this with honey and a bit of light cream. I eventually want to try this with maple syrup. It seems like quite a few of the notes I’ve read about smoky teas show people using maple syrup as the sweetener so it must offer something to this particular type of flavor. The only other smoked tea I’ve tried is Twinings Lapsang Souchong which I really enjoyed and which had a much stronger smoky flavor. I’m not sure how the production of the teas differs, but I really would like to taste more smoke in this one.
Second Steep
8 ounces water + 212 degrees + 50 seconds
My second cup brewed up darker than my first. It’s definitely a little stronger after the longer steep. My desk smells suspiciously like cigarettes now.
Third Steep
8 ounces water + 212 degrees + 1 minutes, 10 seconds
This third cup tastes much like the second. It still has a bit of smokiness but it’s fading.
Flavors: Smoke, Spicy
