80

I finished the last of a 50 gram pouch of this tea a couple days ago, but unfortunately failed to take detailed notes. For this review, I worked from a combination of memory and the few rough notes I took. Overall, I found this to be a solid, appealing black tea.

I tried preparing this tea a couple different ways. For the most part, I stuck with a single 5 minute infusion of approximately 3 grams of loose leaf material in 8 ounces of 205 F water. At one point, I also tried a three step infusion process in which I steeped 3 grams of loose leaf material in 8 ounces of 205 F water for 2, 3, and then 5 minutes. Of these two preparations, I preferred the single extended infusion.

I noted that the dry tea leaves emitted mildly grassy, floral aromas prior to infusion. With the extended infusion, the tea liquor emitted aromas of herbs, grass, hay, grapes, flowers, and malt. In the mouth, I picked up notes of lemon balm, hay, grass, malt, almond, nutmeg, rose, chrysanthemum, dandelion, and grapes. There was also a touch of minerality. Unlike many Darjeelings, the grape note didn’t recall Muscat grapes. It reminded me more of table grapes. The multi-step infusion yielded a liquor that was grassy and mildly bitter on the first infusion, though the second infusion was somewhat fruitier, maltier, and more floral. The final infusion was dominated by grass, hay, and mineral notes.

This was a mild, accessible tea that was somewhat reminiscent of a Darjeeling. I rather enjoyed its pleasant mix of fruity and floral flavors, though I did find it a little too restrained compared to some other teas from this region. Still, I think fans of Nepalese teas would enjoy this one. I also think that anyone just looking for a mild, pleasant tea could do far worse than giving this one a shot.

Flavors: Almond, Dandelion, Floral, Grass, Herbs, Malt, Mineral, Nutmeg, Rose, Straw

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 5 min, 0 sec 3 g 8 OZ / 236 ML

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Bio

My grading criteria for tea is as follows:

90-100: Exceptional. I love this stuff. If I can get it, I will drink it pretty much every day.

80-89: Very good. I really like this stuff and wouldn’t mind keeping it around for regular consumption.

70-79: Good. I like this stuff, but may or may not reach for it regularly.

60-69: Solid. I rather like this stuff and think it’s a little bit better-than-average. I’ll drink it with no complaints, but am more likely to reach for something I find more enjoyable than revisit it with regularity.

50-59: Average. I find this stuff to be more or less okay, but it is highly doubtful that I will revisit it in the near future if at all.

40-49: A little below average. I don’t really care for this tea and likely won’t have it again.

39 and lower: Varying degrees of yucky.

Don’t be surprised if my average scores are a bit on the high side because I tend to know what I like and what I dislike and will steer clear of teas I am likely to find unappealing.

Location

KY

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