Decadence

Being a white tea, Decadence is understated, and just a little sip won’t get you all that far. But a mouthful brings out some very nice flavors. In short, the main flavor that comes out is caramel, but it’s a very specific flavor of caramel.

I tried this one too-expensive “Righteously Raw” cocoa bar one time, and it was all right. The outside was 90% cocoa and bitter, but the inside was really delicious. The ingredients were lucuma fruit, pink salt, agave nectar, dates, and vanilla bean. I’m not sure if it’s the lucuma (never had it alone) or just the combination of everything, but it made a unique caramelish flavor that I loved. Took me a minute to figure it out, but Decadence totally has this flavor going on. It is not harsh or astringent, and I am looking forward to steep #2.

EDIT: Steep 2 was not too different. 160 degrees for 3:30. A little bit of red grape started coming out. While a tiny bit of astringency happened, it was still very smooth and not at all bitter. I bet you could steep this more times and still get nice, subtle cups. When I was done with the leaves, they smelled bright and grassy. This is really not a tea for you if you like ’em with a kick – I let my gf try it, and she thought it was more like water than tea.

I’m not so experienced with white teas – I sort of quit them a few years ago – but I’ll keep drinking them if they’re like this. Now, if only it were cheaper.

I figured I would treat myself to another cup of tea after plowing through my mountain of homework (I could have done more, but I’m not gonna).

So, I am sitting here with a freshly made cup of Decadence while listening to Disturbed’s Ten Thousand Fists album… track three, Decadence. That’ll do.

This brew smells more musty than I remember – like the inside of a barn after it rains… err something like that. I can still smell that familiar mild “spring” aroma. The color is also darker than my previous memory. It is almost the color of a blacker oolong.

The taste is a little bitey, dry, and nothing like I remember. Where is the smooth, gentle grassy taste? Hmm… maybe this sample is too old, or I steeped it too long.

“Decadence isn’t easy, is it?”

I love this tea. It’s delicate and earthy.