Russian Samovar

I went in to the tea shop with no real plan. Just that I wanted a plain black tea. No clicks and no whistles. I was suggested the Russian Samovar Black Tea. This tea has a very traditional black tea scent and a nice dark coloration once steeped. The taste is a very straight up black tea as I hoped for. Though there is just a little something extra I keep noticing with each swallow. What it is I can’t figure out….and I am in no way complaining. It is just a nice extra bite with each sip. I will have to make a batch tomorrow and see if I can figure it out then.

This is a very straightforward black tea. Nothing to write home about. However, it smells wonderful before steeping - very rich and fruity (like raspberries). After the steep, the scent is much milder. It reminds me a lot of sweet oranges, which is nice. This fruitiness subtly carries over into the undertones and aftertaste of this tea…and I do mean subtly. Overall, this tea is ok as a light compliment to breakfast. I wouldn’t reach for it any other time though.

So I figured I would try a Russian blend, and this one’s alright. Maybe it’s just not my thing. It smells great before steeping, but maybe my process is messing it up somehow. Overall, it’s average-ish, and alright for a cold day. Nothing special, though..