I believe I bought this tea in 2015, possibly because it was on sale and I wanted to try something from Africa. I couldn’t have known what I was in for. I steeped 5 g of leaf in a 120 ml teapot at 195F for 10, 12, 16, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 90, 120, and 240 seconds.
Whoa! These leaves are massive and twisty. “Handmade” is right! Dry, they smell like alcohol, veggies, and dark rye bread. The first steep has notes of pumpkin, carrot, malt, earth, wood, and tannin. The second steep adds citrus and herbs and is strangely creamy. Something like cabbage emerges in the next couple steeps, and the liquor becomes even more astringent. By steep five, it’s a mix of pumpkin, carrot, cabbage, and other veggies over an earthy, woody base. These flavours persist into the eighth steep before fading into generic black tea notes.
This is one of the strangest teas I’ve reviewed so far. I struggled to pinpoint the flavours, and judging from the two previous reviews on Steepster, others have found it quirky and complex as well. A daily drinker this is not, but I enjoyed the experience.
Flavors: Carrot, Citrus, Creamy, Earth, Herbaceous, Kale, Malt, Pumpkin, Tannin, Vegetal, Wood
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Now I want to try this out of sheer curiosity.
It’s definitely interesting! It’s been out of stock for a while, though their White Peony is available. I’d send you my remaining 5 g or so, but the shipping would cost more than I paid for the tea. :)
Ha thanks for the offer. I understand.
2 years later…
Now I want to try this out of sheer curiosity.
It’s definitely interesting! It’s been out of stock for a while, though their White Peony is available. I’d send you my remaining 5 g or so, but the shipping would cost more than I paid for the tea. :)
Ha thanks for the offer. I understand.
2 years later…