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Alright, it’s time for the final review of the day. This one comes from like March or April of 2020. I actually thought I had already posted a review for this tea, but apparently, I did not. At this point, everyone here knows that I am a huge Jun Chiyabari cheerleader. I think they produce great tea. Well, this was another one.

I prepared this tea in the Western style. I measured out 3 grams of loose tea leaves and then rinsed them for 10 seconds in 194 F water. I normally do not rinse teas of this type, and honestly, I have no clue why I decided to do that with this tea. I then steeped the rinsed tea leaves in approximately 8 fluid ounces of 194 F water for 5 minutes. As usual, I did not attempt any additional steeps.

Prior to the rinse, the dry tea leaves emitted aromas of hay, straw, cedar, and roasted almond. After the rinse, aromas of butter, rose, orange zest, cream, and chocolate appeared. Once the leaves were steeped, I picked up new aromas of malt, black cherry, and muscatel. In the mouth, the tea liquor offered notes of rose, malt, cream, roasted almond, baked bread, butter, violet, orange zest, chocolate, black cherry, muscatel, pear, plum, blackberry, honey, blueberry, grass, hay, black raspberry, and lemon rind that were supported by hints of cedar, straw, and pine. Each sip finished fruity and slightly astringent with particularly notable impressions of wood, chocolate, cream, and roasted almond lingering after each swallow.

This was an extremely pleasant, playful Nepalese black tea that maintained approachability and drinkability despite its complexity. The liquor was also very nicely textured and displayed just enough weight in the mouth to give it some strength and significance. I cannot really add much more at this point. I’ll wrap up by plainly stating that this tea was yet another winner from a producer that cranks them out like clockwork. If you are familiar with Jun Chiyabari, you know what you will get from a tea like this one.