I bought this a while ago now, but the flavor seems like it’s staying consistently vague since I bought it. I’ve been trying it with different steeping parameters and I think I’ve found the right way to brew it now. Two teaspoons for a full mug with a very short steep and cooler water makes the flavors pop better than if I just try to oversteep the tea on the first cup. I’ve found one minute steeps work best on teas with subtle flavoring, especially if there are not really any additional ingredients other than flavoring. Honestly, it would be difficult to make a tea taste like Salty Caramel Pumpkin with flavoring alone and that is what this is. Black tea and flavoring. Like possibly the flavoring was added to a tea, it was taste tested, and someone were asked to think up a name for it… it MIGHT be “salty caramel pumpkin”? It’s tough to tell what this tastes like otherwise. There is a hint of salt, sweetness, and maybe the savoriness of a pumpkin, but only if you’re really trying to reach. Raisins in the second cup when it’s cooled. I like the depth of the black tea – it’s comforting with these flavors in autumn. But I will definitely be steeping this tea like this in the future. Both steeps had equal amounts of flavor. Otherwise, any longer than one minute and it starts tasting like plain black tea.
Steep #1 // 2 teaspoons for full mug // 22 minutes after boiling // 1 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 3 minute steep
Also, how did I forget to mention? It’s The Morning News Tournament of Books Super Rooster time! Already in the thick of it. For any bookish fans… I’ve been following this for years and now the WINNERS are competing against each other. This is a highlight of a dismal year, for sure: https://themorningnews.org/tob/superrooster/welcome-to-the-super-rooster.php Yes, I have read all sixteen winners.
Love the book-off concept!
Yes, it’s one of my favorite things to read the books and follow along with the judgements.