Let me start out by saying that I am writing about the LOOSE LEAF version of this tea. I am making this qualification because I noticed that a lot of the reviews done previously were about the TEA BAG version.
Since Yunnan black tea is my favorite category, I purchased a pound of this tea on-line, sight unseen and flavor untasted. I also have had good experiences with Numi products in the past so I didn’t consider it to be much of a risk.
When I opened the big one pound shiny black bag and stuck my nose inside, the familiar leathery smell of Yunnan was there. However, there was another element to the aroma that was stronger and more like British breakfast tea.
I steeped the long brown leaves for five minutes at 212 degrees, my standard modus operandi for most black teas. The brewed color was dark gold. The aroma had the leathery Yunnan attribute in the distant background but the dominant smell was slightly acerbic, again reminding me of some of the “Briteas” (my answer to “Brexit”) I’ve tried.
The flavor of this cup had a harsh and biting characteristic to it. Unfortunately, that factor smothered the usual richness, sweetness, and smoothness that put Yunnan at the top of my most beloved tea list. I hesitate to call the taste astringent but it is definitely borderline. It conjured up my bitter memories of over-steeped black tea. There also was a tobacco aspect to the flavor of which I am not a fan. The aftertaste wasn’t acrid, but calling it abrasive wouldn’t be a huge stretch.
All right, so where does this leave me with my one pound bag of the stuff? Will I split up the bag into smaller increments and try to sell them on the street corner? No. Will I gift wrap the bag and try to pawn it off on someone at the next White Elephant Gift Party? No. It is not so horrible that I won’t drink it. But, it won’t be near the top of my morning tea rotation either. I am just a little more than disgruntled that I can’t get excited about this selection.
Flavors: Biting, Tea, Tobacco