Seeing the praise, I made sure to add this tea in one of my recent What-Cha orders. I had no doubt it would be a winner, as What-Cha’s black teas most often are. One of the nice things about this one is that it is bold and complex at the same time. Overall, I seem to get a more woody rather than fruity flavour, as well as more bitter and astringent profile then some of the other reviews would indicate. It could be because it is one year old now, but I doubt it.
The tea has complex aromatics too, including blackberry, menthol, malt, and honey notes emerging from dry leaves; while the wet leaves have a sweet smell reminiscent of roasted pumpkin, unsmoked bacon, and brown sugar.
Taste is dominated by a woody bitterness and cocoa beans flavour. Other notes include those of cumin, eucalyptus, black cherry, and later also plum and cloves in the aftertaste, which has a very good balance of sweet, floral, spicy, and fruity flavours.
The most interesting aspect of the mouthfeel is the combination of brisk astringency Assam varietals are known for with a soft and thick liquor texture.
Flavors: Astringent, Bitter, Blackberry, Brown Sugar, Cherry, Cloves, Cocoa, Eucalyptus, Floral, Honey, Malt, Meat, Menthol, Plum, Pumpkin, Roasted, Spices, Spicy, Sweet, Thick, Wood
