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The last La Via Del Té tea for today.

After opening the outer wrapping, I have been struck by a Tutti Frutti aroma; a very candy like. I had no idea what expected flavour profile is, but it was quite unpleasant. Sadly, as it is a green tea, it was some funky medley of candy fruit notes and marine saltiness.
Sadly, not a fan of this.

This was such a good cup! Interesting to choose black tea for a tea that is called White Christmas, but oh my… this was definitely the tea that resmebles buttery, vanilla biscuits so well. While it is quite sweet in flavour, as there are sugar crystals (well, that’s the white from name, I guess!); it was indeed full of baked goodies in a cup.

It has been wonderful!

I took out the teas I couldn’t enjoy in correct day and… whoops I don’t know which day was what tea. And the bags doesn’t say it, nor the website.

So, I took this one as I wanted a plain tea and boy this one is good! Strong, robust falvour, with a nice malty flavour profile. Enjoyed plain, however a milk could be nice addition. As I have steeped it for maybe too long, there were hints of astringency and it was a little drying. But I guess that was just an user error.

Exactly after a year later I do have this tea here again.

And well, I think that my impressions are fairly similar to last year — strong rose aroma, but not that much in the flavours; however, the balance of tasty Yunnan tea and rose works just perfectly.
Also, again, I would love to see a few petals in this.

I don’t recall seeing Bhakanje either. But the leaves are very nice!

I prepared this tea also gongfu, using all 5 grams in 100 ml. Steeps were 20/30/40/50 and a few longer ones.

In a first steep I got old-well-known Nepalese terroir aromas, those being woody, but also very aromatic herbals, malts (a little like dark, roasted malts) and tannins. Considering that I haven’t made any rinse, this looks good!

Second steep was very malty and adds baked bread notes, which are extremely pleasing to me. There is a little dryness, but nothing too much. I haven’t noticed that much of herbals and florals as Leafhopper, but in the major flavours we noticed the same.

Following steeps were pretty much similar as others, always with some note being more dominant and others were weaker. I would not consider it very drying, but I was drinking it rather fast, that’s true.

I really like this one. But I am a little biased towards Nepalese teas, so that’s why. But it is also just a delicious tea. I will definitely keep this one in my wishlist.

Note: As I go tomorrow for 3 days long business trip, I won’t post any new notes. It will be hard to catch up, but hopefully I can make it!

Today I learned a lot about Jardin Majorelle that this tea relates to! How interestign and inspriring. Also the outer wrapping of this tea is wonderful cobalt blue with… why to describe it when you can see it on the bag pictured! Just it is smaller for a single sachet.

Anyway, the tea was a lovely green tea base and there was also a mint… pretty much Moroccan style in my opinion, though I never had a proper Moroccan tea and I never been to Morocco. But I hope for the latter one day, but as I don’t speak French I am a little afraid.

I am digressing greatly today, sorry guys!

The tea as I said, was a decent green tea with strong peppermint notes. However, to my adness I haven’t noticed much of citruses, or tangerine to be exact, which should be in. Maybe, it was just covered by the mint, maybe my sachet had more mint and a little of peels, I don’t know. Also, the peppermint was very fresh and enjoyable, refreshing and cooling. Not musty as some! I just would like to feel the citruses a little more, but I am considering ordering a pouch of this.

For first time it seems I got a fruit tea blend! Translation of name should mean “Dream about the Love” or “Love Dream” or such. That still little hurts me, as my first nad last love… well we broke up earlier this year.

But as of tea… yep, it is a fruit tea, definitely, and that to hibiscus a deep red coloured tea. It is quite hard to me to point out the flavours as there are lots of fruits in and make some kind of fruit mish-mash; however two notes that stand out in my mouth are: caramel covered grapes.

That’s something I never had or tried. And I am not even sure it is a thing. But It is indeed quite sweet tea, with hints of grapes. Interesting, considering that by the ingredients there are no grapes or raisins, while the second is mentioned in the description by the vendor. And there is no caramel either.

It seems that this tea puzzles me.
Once it was fine; once it was bad. And today, in advent calendar it tastes like something different and fine.

I have steeped all 5 grams western today morning and steeped those in 80°C water (a little colder, actually) for 2 minutes.

I have received a tasty cup with lots of fruity, tropical notes, which were pleasing to drink. As of now, writing this note much later, I can’t recall exact fruits. The base was a little rough though. While not exactly bad, it was a bit astringent and maybe a little bitter for me. But it was strongly prepared, that could be the cause.

Anyway, it was fine… though agian not a tea to keep in the cupboard.

Not long time ago I had my first sticky rice tea from Curious Tea and now a little other one, though named in very similar way.

I used 85°C water for all 4 steeps, starting with two minutes and doing minute incements but last steep was for longer time. And I have used only 2 grams in my 100 ml gaiwan.

First of all, it is strongly aromatic in pouch, so I know exactly what to expect.
First steep was a little bland, though. Definitely some sticky rice notes, maybe a little of milky and floral notes are there too.
But then it started! Second one was very, but very strong and thick tasting. Amazingly long mouthfeel, with sticky rice notes and that floral bomb in my mouth! A little astringent, though. I guess a little shorter steep would be better.
Third steep was milky, rice, and florals were much lower. And last one was… just a little too “oolongy” with a little of sticky rice.

So, I need to find a way, how to make first steep so good as a second. Maybe I just need to be patient enough?

In conclusion: I like this one more than Curious Tea version. By a tiny bit.

A pretty much standard Gunpowder and I find nothing Special in this particular one. This was day 4 tea; but I have made a mistake. Happens! I am glad nobody else have this tea advent calendar.

Mineral, slightly smoky… and none of the vendor’s lemon flavour.

Easy to drink, considering it was in the sachet. But nothing I need to have in my cupboard.