This is a sample sent by Teavivre for tasting. Many, many thanks!
I made this to share with my youngest daughter during our homeschooling this morning. We have already had a very light breakfast so it isn’t our breakfast tea, more of an early elevenses tea.
I used their recommended steeping time and temp even though I know that usually the instructions are for a lighter cup than westerners typically drink. I enjoy having these teas several ways to see which I prefer, and sometimes I change it up based on time of day and pairings.
At 194F for three minutes this tea was fairly light in color for a black tea. It reminded me of the first time I made Ruby #18! But even though the color is light, the flavor is not weak.
I was surprised by the malty cocoa flavor. It is not as deep as it is in their Fengqing Black Dragon Pearls. There is a nice honey aroma and then the tea, though light, has that scrape-y tongue feel I get from dry cocoa powder. Again, it is gentle.
I am eager to try it with western steeping – 212F and four or five minutes, and see how it changes!
