Legend

I’ve not had great success with this RTD company, but this was the first one I tried that I didn’t really have any issues with. I can think of no better words to describe it other than classic. It’s just a very smooth and very direct Hojicha flavour with all the expected notes of toasted grains/nuts with a crisp, clean mineral finish. Nothing exceptional, but nothing unpleasant either. Also, zero sweetness which I definitely appreciate.

Picked this RTD up from T&T a while back – it had a huge end cap display which caught my attention. End caps are usually reserved for either new products or best selling products, and both of those things intrigue me when it comes to these imported bottled teas…

The grape flavour of this one is A LOT. Very dark, sweet purple grape notes in a way that is practically like a Jolly Rancher candy but without any acidity and with a subtle floral undertone. Not really natural, though. And very intense. I actually liked it a lot, and if that was the only flavour I think this would be a pretty positive review. We’ve gotta talk about the oolong, though. Honestly, kudos to being able to taste it at all given how much the grape smacks you in the palate. Unfortunately, when it rears its head at the end of the sip the flavour isn’t exactly a welcome one. It’s very, very earthy in a way that kind of tastes like straight up dirt. Not pleasant, but like… the “mud pie” a toddler would make for you that’s sludgy and gross and probably had a bunch of stuff in it that’s ever more questionable that the dirt itself. I just found myself dreading taking my next sip because I knew it was going to finish on such an awful, lingering flavour…

I had a really bad success rate with this company so far. Yikes.

I picked up a bunch of these bottled teas from T&T last time I went shopping there, and this is just the first one I’m getting around to trying. It was… interesting. Initially it tasted like someone had mixed a very roast heavy and mineral oolong with fresh, sweet apple juice. Kind of weird just with the sharp contrast of flavours and different sweetness types, but also kind of good!? The finish was rough though. One part soapy florals and one part dirt. How can something taste like soap and dirt at the same time!?

Not a smashing success, so keeping my fingers tightly crossed for the others.