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“Both with assam and darjeeling there seems to be a small twist in my cup. They both can turn very bitter when they choose to, and very rapidly. Good that I never back off from a challenge. This...” Read full tasting note
Long and delicate leaves with golden buds. Copper-colored drink is tasting both strong and rich with spices, accompanied by light, malty scent.
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Both with assam and darjeeling there seems to be a small twist in my cup. They both can turn very bitter when they choose to, and very rapidly. Good that I never back off from a challenge.
This assam calls for some patience. The scent of the leaves is quite sophisticated and it gives an impression that this one likes to be drank in the mornings. Even a hint of sweetness pushes through after breathing it in a few times. Othervise very obvious scent of strong black tea.
After brewing the scent transforms into more sharp and tangy form. The sweet aroma is there but somehow more narrow and thin. Very pointy.
Sip…
It seems to awaken something at least.
The ‘fight-or-flight’ response, that is.
The flavor is indeed strong, but in a slightly disturbing way. Having troubles to put my finger on it when it harasses my tongue severely at the same time. Feeling almost molested. Even the aftertaste disappoints, very thin, short, fast and bitter. Something one wants off from the tongue and then opting not to swallow the second time. Not the best position in the -
Uh.
…
But.
As surprising as it is, the whole situation takes 180 after adding whole milk as an attempt to salvage the situation for all the teas holy. Suddenly all the bitterness is gone, the promised spices dare to announce themselves as small trace of something sugar-y and cardemum-y linger around and – where did that nutty flavor appear all of a sudden? It gets thick and full and long and swallowable and I really need to stop writing innuendos now.
Sliver of bitterness bites through the milk though.
It bit the wrong tea drinker.
I love the style of your reviews! It makes me feel like I’m sipping the cup along with you
hehe, thanks Daisy! It’s always a challenge to write something both personal and ‘neutral’ at the same time since it’s about taste and all that. And of course the tea itself. I’m glad you enjoy them.
I am like you in that I find Assam and Darjeeling complicated (well, all India teas) except I have not the knack of really making them work for me. There are a few Assams, usually flavored I like, but India tea and me it usually does not work. Though I got a fondness for Ceylons, not sure I can explain that!
Yeah, those two tea types are something I’m still trying to wrap my head around, without any successful outcome. Yet. Time will tell, I may need to get one type more to compare it with this case, just to see what will happen. Same with Darjeeling, having difficulties with that at the moment as well..
I have come to terms that India tea is probably not for me. Even Darjeeling! A while ago I reread an old Enid Blyton book and there is this obnoxious mother figure complaining of being served indian tea rather than black – of course the lady was extremely obnoxious of complaining and meant to be a really bad bad parent, but I got some sympathy for the problem!
Hehe, one can relate to that, as for when it comes to unpleasant discoveries with tea it can be considered as happening on very personal level. Like an intimate insult. For me it’s usually occurring when ordering green tea in a restaurant. I don’t know if it’s just plain ignorance here in Finland but there’s still hardly a restaurant which doesn’t serve bitter and yellow green tea. Which is a shame since sometimes the food just begs for a good cup of green after it.
It might be temperature, if green tea is brewed too hot – and surprisingly how few people know about not brewing green tea with boiling water!
But in Lisbon you can only order tea with the meal at chinese and japanese restaurants, the ones I go to handle tea well. And the expensive so-good cantonese restaurant has some pretty good tea.