Banana Split Flavored Black

OK… so after reading mrawlins2 tasting note on this tea this morning, it inspired me to dig out my own pouch of this that I had purchased… oh… I don’t even remember when! I’ve had it a while, anyways… and it’s about time to give it a try.

This is really an interesting tea! I can taste the bananas, the strawberries, vanilla, pineapple, cherries and the chocolate. (Frank… more chocolate would be good… because, well, more chocolate = more chocolate. See how that works? I like it when math is simple like that)

My note to Frank aside, the chocolate in here is at a pleasant enough level, and quite honestly, if it were stronger it might overpower the other flavors. As it is, they are at a pretty harmonious level because I can taste each flavor in there, even if it is a very subtle taste.

And… apart from that, I can also taste black tea! Some astringency to this one, almost dry/starchy… not heavy on the drying, but it’s there.

Not my favorite from 52 teas but it’s still really good.

This is a tea that is better as it cools a bit. Initially I could taste no fruits at all but as it cooled I began to get a pleasant banana and slight cherry sweetness toward the end of each sip. The tea used as a base is very strong, slightly astringent and slightly bitter. I recommend steeping it for less than 4 minutes. It is an ok tea. I can see myself drinking it again. I prefer 52teas’ Coconut Cream Pie, which seems to have more flavor.

Many thanks to threewhales for sharing this tea with me.

I didn’t expect much from this tea because banana splits aren’t exactly my favorite desserts. However, this tea really nails it. Initially I can taste the banana followed by sweet pineapple/strawberry combo flavor. The vanilla and chocolate round out the experience in the aftertaste. This is REALLY, REALLY good!

First you taste the banana, then the chocolate with a hint of vanilla in there….and finally you realise that there’s a cherry on top you didn’t notice at first. The black tea comes through and keeps it from being overly sweet. An enjoyable cuppa. Not for every day, but a nice treat once in a while.

This tea is good, though I feel as if my palette isn’t refined enough to pick out specific details of each of the flavors. For me, it’s more of a slightly bitter black tea that has a fruity sweetness to it, and hints of chocolate in the aftertaste.

The leaves definitely look the part though, with large pieces of dried fruit mixed in, and a wonderfully chocolaty aroma.

The taste did expand a bit as the tea cooled, so I’m interested to see what happens with another few steeps using different water temps and steep times.

Preliminary report… DO NOT OVER SWEETEN!
It’s really easy to because the blend by itself has so many sweet fruits in it. I really suggest brewing this plain and then adding sugar crystal by crystal.
THAT’s how sensitive it is

Visually this tea is made up of heavily broken black tea leaves. Not quite tea-bag size, but a bit larger. Large chunks of bananas, strawberries, vanilla beans, cherries and cacao nibs are mixed in for a decent visual. Togetehr these brew a dark caramel liquor.

The aroma here is more chocolate and banana than anything else. It actually reminds me of a Nutella banana panini I had at a local coffee shop once (shhh, don’t tell the tea!). I can catch just the faintest hint of either the strawberry or the cherry but I’m not really sure which.

WOW! The astringency here is very high. Not so much a pucker as much as a sting. That’s not always bad though. It depends on how you like your tea. This does bring the flavor down a couple notches for me though as it makes it more difficult for me to discern the more nuanced flavors. I do catch the chocolate through the finish which dries the tongue, and the banana.

This tea was very good from start to finish.

The scent of the leaves was decadent; banana and chocolate. You can see little pieces of dried banana and pineapples throughout the black tea. After brewing (hot with sugar) the aroma of the tea mirrored the leaves; banana and chocolate. The aroma was in no way overpowering, in fact it adds to the tea. The taste starts with banana, then the chocolate then pineapple and cherry. I missed the strawberry, but that could have just blended in with the chocolate.

While this sounds like a lot going into one mouthful, and it is, it is still in no way overpowering. It is sweet and delicious but carried by the black tea note that appears underneath everything else going on.

Honestly, if you do not like banana splits you will not like this, it incorporated just about everything into one cup. And just like with real banana splits, you cannot have this tea everyday, a cup or two here and there and you will be satisfied. Enjoy.

Just awesome. Really.