104 Tasting Notes
Oops! I over-steeped. But it turned out OK for all that anyway, so…shrugs
The liquor was a bright amber with a very lively, brisk flavor. Strongly lemon with a bit of a floral note and a slight astringency. It reminded me of Earl Grey but tasted a lot better, in my opinion anyway (my first, and only, pot of Earl Grey got poured down the drain and the package swiftly disposed of to a more…interested party). Although I usually take my black teas with sugar and milk I decided to forgo the milk with this one because of the strong lemon flavor.
It is a pleasant afternoon tea. It didn’t wow me but I would consider drinking it again.
Preparation
This fruit melange steeps to a gorgeous purplish-red. Very lively flavor, full-bodied, pleasantly astringent and tart. I like this one more with every sip I take. And yes, there is a touch of creaminess. Glad I bought a full tin of this one!
Preparation
1st infusion:
After a 5 minute steep time the liquor was nowhere near the “intense purple” touted in the description, more like a dingy peach-gold. I did try drinking it without sugar but my taste buds are too trained towards the sweetness for me to be able to taste anything complimentary without it. So, after adding sugar I had another go. It was not at all what I had been hoping for. The only term I could think of to describe it is “dishwater”. Perhaps it was just my disappointment speaking.
2nd infusion:
I used cooler water this time and steeped for 8 minutes. The liquor was a dull gold color, a bit brighter than the previous infusion. The flavor had definitely improved. Fuller, sweeter, and smooth.
3rd infusion:
The water was about the same temperature as the previous infusion, steeping time was 10 minutes. The liquor was more of an antique gold this time, a bit lighter and brighter than the last. The flavor also was lighter, slightly vegetal. I think I could also taste a bit of the amber note this time.
The leaves could probably stand up to a fourth infusion but I didn’t have the time.
Next time I try this tea I’m going to try using a bit more leaf, cooler water, and a longer initial steep time. I really want to like this tea, the description of it was so lovely, so I’ll hold off my rating until the next time.
This herbal infusion was a lovely pink color in the cup. I tried it first without sweeteners and it was slightly astringent and rough but with a spoonful of honey the flavor smoothed out and the tartness of the hibiscus was brought to the fore.
