I didn’t log this one last time I had it (but I did post an empty place holder and mentioned it in a review for the Caramel Vanilla Assam).
I steeped this longer than I did the first time. It must have been around 4min, but I don’t know exactly because I let it over-steep as I was tending to some chores. The first time I brewed this, I thought it was somewhat fruity and I didn’t make an obvious association between it and the caramel flavored one. This time I could definitely recognize it as the base tea for the other. The longer steep time made it sweeter, smoother, and with a creamier texture. In my review of the Caramel Vanilla Assam, I said that I might need time for it (the caramel one) to grow on me, and I think the base tea might be the bridge to this end. I appreciated today’s cup of Taiwanese Assam much more than I have previous black teas that have similar smooth/creamy attributes.
There are a select few teas that I know I will never like but, as for the rest, my tea palate is in flux for the time being.