45 Tasting Notes
My select box came today! I was immediately intrigued by the description, so I’m trying this one first!
Steeped according to package instructions, the aromas are pretty straight-forward. The ginger and the turmeric pretty much dominate the nose, which is a really strange combination. The citrus is there, but it’s definitely the middle child.
On the tongue, it’s a good marriage of flavor. The lemongrass comes out to say hello, while the citrus fades into the background, barely noticeable. It finishes slightly sweetly, owing to the licorice root. I was expecting something really powerful (maybe even overpowering), but the aromas are much stronger than the liquor itself.
It’d be pretty good iced, too.
From the August ’14 select box.
Flavors: Ginger, Lemongrass, Spices, Sweet
Preparation
I took a whiff of the steeped leaves, and was greeted by an aroma reminiscent of genmaicha’s toastiness.
The liquor itself is still too hot to sip, but the caramel and coconut notes are subtly in my nose. I hope these scents come through on the tongue, the notes on the packages are so rarely what I experience.
They didn’t. It’s toasty and nutty and fantastically sweet. The caramel wants to come through, but stayed in my nose in the end. Most of this tea’s character plays out in the nose, and that’s okay. I like it.
Flavors: Sweet, Toasty
It’s got that distinct, Guiness-y Assam scent that I just love. A slight, pleasing bitterness on the back of the tongue after it’s been swallowed is more memorable than the initial taste. It tarries with you a bit, and I really dig that.
I’m so thrilled it’s come available for sale, I’m jumping all over that. From the June 2014 Steepster select boxWhen it’s hot, I don’t think it tastes much like cranberry or blood orange, but it has a wonderful fruitiness reminiscent of gummi bears. It’s got a bitterness that complements the gummi bearness perfectly.
As it begins to cool, the gummibearness fades and the orange comes through. It’s so delicious!
Flavors: Fruity, Orange
As all the text on the pretty green and gold tin are in Chinese, I have no idea if I’m preparing this correctly. It’s tasty, though! I’m tasting some leafy greenness that sort of expands on the tongue. It’s got some body to it, and some astringency, probably due to overbrewing. It’s still pleasing for all that, so hopefully with some tweaking, I can decipher this tea.
