Meh. This tea is not for me. This is the second time I’ve had it and been unimpressed. There’s a strong soapy flavour to it that’s off putting, and dominates the malt. I thought maybe it was soap residue, but I think this happened last time, and I know that this time the tea ware was rinsed before using.
Ah well. It’s not terrible. I’ll still finish it, I just wouldn’t reach for it, and I wouldn’t buy it. Without the soap flavour it’d be fine.
Edit: This improves as it cools. The malt and a fruit note become more prominent and the soap fades out a bit.
Flavors: Malt, Soap
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What kind of teaware are you washing with soap? Some kinds must be washed without it because they absorb flavors. Most unglazed pots must be washed without soap.
I agree with Allen. It sounds like something has picked up soap on you.
It is possible that some soap residue got into the mix, but I’m doubtful. It was brewed with a finium filter which was only rinsed in water between cups, in a glazed earthenwear mug, so no porous ceramics to hold on to soap.
Maybe I’ll give it one more try, just in case it is actual soap and not the flavour of the tea.
I have had cases also where my taste buds were just off and brewed the same tea a week later and it was good. It is not impossible that it could be that. Anything from what you ate that day to dental problems can cause your taste buds to react wrong.
I’ve tried a lot of kenya teas I just don’t care for, they can be very strong! Never noticed soap though :)
It’s definitely a possibility that my tastebuds are just off. I scraped my throat the other day with some sharp food or something, so it’s been sore and leaving a weird taste in my mouth on occasion. I haven’t noticed this affecting other teas or foods in a negative way, but senses can be funny.
I wonder if there’s something up periodically with the water in the city. I drank this cup at a partner’s house, but my other partner was complaining about soapy taste in a bottle of water I refilled from the tap at home the other day, and he’d drank out of the same bottle earlier in the day with no complaints.
What kind of teaware are you washing with soap? Some kinds must be washed without it because they absorb flavors. Most unglazed pots must be washed without soap.
I agree with Allen. It sounds like something has picked up soap on you.
It is possible that some soap residue got into the mix, but I’m doubtful. It was brewed with a finium filter which was only rinsed in water between cups, in a glazed earthenwear mug, so no porous ceramics to hold on to soap.
Maybe I’ll give it one more try, just in case it is actual soap and not the flavour of the tea.
I have had cases also where my taste buds were just off and brewed the same tea a week later and it was good. It is not impossible that it could be that. Anything from what you ate that day to dental problems can cause your taste buds to react wrong.
I’ve tried a lot of kenya teas I just don’t care for, they can be very strong! Never noticed soap though :)
It’s definitely a possibility that my tastebuds are just off. I scraped my throat the other day with some sharp food or something, so it’s been sore and leaving a weird taste in my mouth on occasion. I haven’t noticed this affecting other teas or foods in a negative way, but senses can be funny.
I wonder if there’s something up periodically with the water in the city. I drank this cup at a partner’s house, but my other partner was complaining about soapy taste in a bottle of water I refilled from the tap at home the other day, and he’d drank out of the same bottle earlier in the day with no complaints.