2024 Astro Kittens Mini

8.13 grams for this mini on my kitchen scale.

1st steep – 1.5 minutes in 16 oz water at 200°
Beautiful. A lot of these tea minis I’ve tried have had a relatively weak first steep, even after 1.5 minutes at 200°. Not this one. First steep has elderflower florals, apricot and green grape fruitiness, and a nice citrus rind type of bitterness. But all in balance. Not overly bitter, not overly sweet, and the florals pop out most. I like the way this is going so far. The tea is incredibly smooth and there is a lot of complexity – I can tell there are all kinds of other flavors beneath the surface. For some reason it gives me a “jungly” vibe.

2nd steep – 2 minutes @ 195°
Hello. Almost a totally different tea here. That citrus bitterness has been dialed up quite a bit, and now it is very much in the foreground. Reminds me of the “Gas” mini I tried last week, but instead of aspirin more like chewing on a grapefruit rind. Unlike Gas, I can still feel the presence of the charming tea from the first steep in the background, and I feel still more of the “jungly” effect. The tea leaves are beautiful and quite large.

3rd steep – 3 minutes @195°
That citrus rind is retreating a bit, but still very strong. Feels like I’m swinging on vines in a jungle, and tasting the vines, too. Jungle-forest notes of trees and vines and moss, etc. Not just forest, but clearly evocative of a hot, humid, jungle-like environment. I get “tea high” pretty frequently, but not so much that I write about it. This tea is making me feel a strong tea high.

4th steep – 195° for not sure how long – tea timer mishap, and I guess it was at least a few minutes
Going back to “normal” bitterness territory for a more balanced raw pu-erh experience, I think. Still jungly, still some fruit. I haven’t really noticed much in the way of florals after the first steep, but plenty of other things going on to make me happy. This tea takes you on a good adventure! Definitely shines in the areas in which my first Gas experience failed me. Comparing to Gas because perhaps it is a similar tea experience, as both Gas and Astro Kittens are advertised as ultra-bitter teas.

At $5.10 per mini, this is pretty far out of my budget for a daily tea. Wouldn’t drink it daily, though, even if I could afford to do so. I’ve got a wifey and three boys to take care of, so need to keep my tea budget in check. This is more like a once in a while type of tea, and a good one to pick when you are ready for a little adventure.