I’ll be honest: when I’m not active on Steepster, my tasting “notes” are: yum, meh, and nope. I don’t really consider the bouquet or astringency or mouthfeel. But when I’m active here, y’all make me feel like a slacker. So here’s me trying to be a bit more mindful about things. =P
On paper, this blend from my favourite arteasan should be the best thing ever—cookie dough, chai, and black tea: three things I love dearly. But I wouldn’t have guessed either cookie dough or chai if it weren’t printed on the label. What I got from the dry leaf was notes of caramel, mocha, and maybe like a warm, flaky pastry of some sort. It was a really nice fragrance, and I admit to letting my nose linger in the packet.
The flavour reinforced my initial impression: I could maybe be sold on warm chocolate chip cookies, but not cookie dough. More caramel, slightly less of that hint of coffee in the mocha. I didn’t get any chai spices at all.
Now, just because it wasn’t what I thought it was going to be, and just because I don’t think it matched what it said it was, doesn’t mean it wasn’t good. I love the well-rounded heartiness a black-tea base gives flavoured blends. There’s a density and depth here that’s perfect. It’s the kind of tea that makes you sip and nyum-nyum-nyum, sip and nyum-nyum-nyum to really figure out what you’re tasting.
And really, at the end of the day, I’m in it for the nyum. =)
Flavors: Caramel, Mocha, Pastries
Sometimes yum, meh, and nope convey exactly what needs to be said. A lot of my adjectives are pretty barbaric, too!
Thanks for that! =)