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“I’ve only had one other lychee black tea and I have no idea what lychee tastes like (or lychee blooms smell like). So yeah, slight handicap when rating this tea. On top of that, my brain has yet...” Read full tasting note
“Hrm. This one is very light, but interesting. Yet another takgoti + Samovar = awesome treat! The leaves here are quite tiny, and they smell of rose, almost. Very fruity-floral. I’ve only had lychee...” Read full tasting note
“Second Samovar sample of the day. I’m now out of Samovar black tea samples to try until I come out of lockdown and can order again. It looks like there are only two that I haven’t tasted...” Read full tasting note
“Samovar sampler pack – rather nondescript black loose leaf, with a nice sweet and floral aroma from the lychee. It steeps up to a medium dark clear brown liquor which has a light sweet smell to...” Read full tasting note
Origin: China
Flavor Profile: Light bodied and as sweet as the lychee fruit that sweetens this brew. A lingering rosy fragrance is met with the slightly malty, very smooth, and mild liquor flavor of the black tea.
Tea Story: Drink this tea, feel the fruit.
Lychee fruit blended with black tea is great hot, but even better when served chilled. We don’t have too many hot, hot days in San Francisco, but when we do, we always make a chilled version of our Lychee Black to refresh us. Light bodied, extremely refreshing, and lightly sweetened by the fruit itself. This tea also makes for a great dessert brew. Use it instead of port after a good meal.
Samovarian Poetry: Lychee flowers naturally sweeten this light, salubrious, brew.
Food Pairing: Imagine crispy, buttered toast with apricot preserve. The Lychee Black is the sweet-tooth’s healthy companion. The perfect breakfast tea with milk – no sugar is necessary: this tea is sweet on its own. Pair with mild goat cheeses or brie. Desserts with fruit or scones with cream and jam.
Samovar's is dedicated to preserving the simplicity and integrity of the tea traditions and inspiring people to practice peace through drinking tea.
Got my Samovar order today, trying the lychee before tackling the Four Seasons. Let me just say – the glass oolong pot is adorable. It also seems to hold heat better than I expected, only about a 10°F drop in 3 minutes
Samovar’s description is good: this is light, sweet, and a smooth. It’s also floral. Read the description carefully and you’ll note that lychee flowers, in addition to the fruit, provide the flavor. I don’t mind, I like floral teas, I like the sweetness you can get from flowers of most types, but if you dislike rose teas you won’t like this either. The flavor is quite strong, almost perfume-y. The fruit is more noticeable if you take a big mouthful and swirl it around – there is a bit of a sour/berry taste.
I like the 2nd steep (5 minutes) at least as much, if not better. Less flower-sweet, more fruit-sweet.
The scent: I remember this smell from when I was a young lad and in a room filled of old ladies pinching my cheeks of cuteness. It is simply the smell of old-lady perfumes. I do not like the smell, but as I’ve noticed it doesn’t come out in the taste.
The taste: Nothing like the smell. It has a nice floral finish with a subtle reminder of earl gray. I don’t mind its flavor at all, and will surly try it again and again.
I love to smell this tea.
If this tea were household products, I would be in an elementary school PSA about huffing aerosol cans. [How 1990’s am I?]
Drinking it is certainly nice, too, but I need to play around with the steep times a bit because I think I tend to brew it weak.
Hey, Trish McEvoy! Want to make me a lychee candle? Kthx.
