drank Black Pearl by Mandala Tea
513 tasting notes

The fact that this tea is made up of little pearls alone makes it fascinating. I just found them adorable, and it just seems like such a clean, low-fuss way to make tea.

I smelled the tea as it steeped, and immediately thought it was interesting. I could immediately detect an earthy smell, combined with a smell similar to raisins, or maybe even Henna.

The taste actually reflects the scent quite accurately. It definitely has an earthy quality, but also retains a distinct sweetness that was not provided by the rock sugar that I added. Something about drinking this tea reminded me of a farm, and I imagined enjoying it after a long day of doing…farm related chores (I say this as a girl who grew up in a bustling city, and who’s probably never done a farm chore in her life). The farmy aspect of it isn’t entirely unlike that in the Keemun that I had from art of Tea. Not necessarily unpleasant, but definitely distinct. I’m really happy I have enough for another sample, and may even consider ordering more of this when I place my first Mandala order!

again, thank you so very much, JustJames! Mr. Keychange always asks if I’m “going to have another sample from your lovely tea friend in BC.” now!

JustJames

most welcome my friend!

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JustJames

most welcome my friend!

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Well, it’s been slightly over six months since I’ve joined steepster, and I can’t say enough wonderful things about this community. Like many of you, I began my foray into the world of loose-leaf tea by discovering David’s Tea, and although I’ve ventured out and have discovered many other companies that I’m extremely fond of, there are still many of David’s teas that I hold close to my heart and I will always appreciate it as a starting point for my journey.

As for my preferences, I tend to prefer bold black tea, flavoured and unflavoured alike, and I almost always take my blacks with cream and sugar. This isn’t to say that I don’t enjoy a good, flavoured white though, and I’m slowly making my way through the incredibly confusing world of oolongs and greens. I am also not a fan of rooibos, although I am starting to suspect green rooibos may be ok, but you know how it is: when you’ve decided you detest a certain ingredient, you’ll notice it everywhere—perhaps even where it doesn’t exist!

Things other than tea: I’m engaged to be married to my best friend, and feel like the richest woman on the planet because of it. I am also a veracious reader, and I also happen to have an obsession with fragrances, and have amassed quite a collection, although it pales in comparison to some collections out there! As a result of this obsession, I also follow several fragrance blogs, and am always up for a chat about scent. I’m also almost completely blind, and this does indeed mean that I come complete with a guide dog, who unlike me, hales from the sunny California campus of Guide dogs for the Blind. I think I’ve rambled on long enough, but if there’s anything you’d like to know or if you just feel like chatting to someone, please don’t hesitate to send me a message.

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Ontario, Canada

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