A free sample from my B&B order! Thanks so much, you excellent team of tea people! This blend was intriguing. First, I had to look up what mascarpone is. It seems like a fancy cream cheese, but also, how the heck would that translate in a tea?!?! Let’s say since I didn’t know what mascarpone tasted like, I was looking for cream cheese and definitely wasn’t tasting that… if anything there was a hint of salt, but that can sometimes be from oolong leaves itself. So there was a savory element more than not but only if you’re thinking about mascarpone. I’m not sure if I’ve had a B&B oolong before, except for the tasty Brighton Rock, but that might not even be the same base oolong. Another B&B blend where the hibiscus and rosehips are tame enough not to overwhelm. I hope nobody sees those ingredients and gets scared away from trying B&B blends… in most of the blends, the hibiscus and rosehips are subtle. I really wish the blend didn’t have orange peels though? They don’t fit here, but I’m also not tasting them. The first steep has the most flavors of tart cherry and cranberry. But those flavors slowly fade in the second and third steeps. With a slight cream note throughout. Credit for actually using cherries and cranberries in the blend though! The color of the brew was actually lavender which was different. I like this tea, but it just isn’t special enough for me to really crave or call amazing. But this is why I LOVE samples.
Steep #1 // 1 1/2 teaspoons for a full mug // 18 minutes after boiling // 1 1/2 minute steep
Steep #2 // 7 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #3 // just boiled // 3 minute steep
Flavors: Cherry, Cranberry, Cream, Salt
I wanted more cream :( My recollection of mascarpone was that it was kind of like ricotta, but I might be misremembering.
I think of is as a richer less tart cream cheese.
Thanks for your mascarpone experience, Dustin. :D