Aperitif (organic)

Meh. I dunno, this one was ok… but not great.
Rather bubble-gummy actually, and in my world, that is like the “friend zone” of teas. Once you fall in, there is NO getting out.
I couldn’t really identify the apple or any other notes. It was just… candy like and that was it. shrugs
I don’t see how it tastes anything like Ice-wine. It’s drinkable… nothing wrong with it. but it reminds me of so many other boring teas that I likely wouldn’t know the difference if someone swapped out my mug.
SO, the rating for this is so low, because it has such potential! but fails on so many levels!!!! and now I’m tempted to go back and find every “bubblegum” review I’ve written and change those scores to.
Ugh, I am not in the best mood. Don’t you mess with me tea. Not today :/
Oh wow I just noticed. This review is #555. I don’t know why but that strikes me as odd! in a good way, I think?

Of the three in the Wine Collection this is my favourite…

But that’s not saying much considering that it’s still not that great. Just better than the other two. A agree with Eisenherz, the smell is lovely both dry and brewed, but once you take a sip it falls rather flat. To me it comes off as rather soapy and slightly bitter, which is unfortunate because from the smell it had potential. I’m not sure where they went wrong… it’s quite bland for a black tea, with nothing to really give it oomph. So sad, not what I was expecting at all.

Aperitif, a drama in 2 acts.

Act 1, where life is good:
- Dry smell: Oh, yum!
- Steeped smell: Oh YUM!!!! Tart! Apple-y! Grape-y! Almost candy-y!

Interlude, where Aperitif is already celebrated as a massive success:
- How can they only put this in the wine collection?! How cruel! How I wish I could go and buy a 100g tin of it, it’s one of the best smelling teas EVER!

Act 2, where the true nature of Aperitif is revealed:
- First sip: uh…
- Second sip: uhhhhhh….
- Third sip: ew.

Final scene, where disappointment is almost as bitter as the tea:
- How could they do this to me?! How can this tea not live up to its smell? Why does it have to be bitter, and taste of an actual aperitif, including the taste of alcohol which I dislike very much? Why is it not tart at all? So many questions, not a single answer! Farewell, Aperitif, we shall never meet again!

END.

This tea smells AMAZING. The apple and safflours create an absolutely stunning aroma.
Admitedly, it does not taste as good as it smells. It gives a sweet aftertaste, with just a hint of bitterness (though not overpowering) at 4:30 (the suggested steeped time was 4-6 minutes).

I found that the tea tasted best clear, but when given a while to cool. The flavours just seem more comfortable when the tea is no longer piping hot. Milk muddies it too much.

Didn’t like it as much as Bubbly, but I’ll probably enjoy using this to eccentricly replace wine on wine and cheese nights. (I’m a non-drinker, and these teas amuse me in that potential usage….)