So, while looking for a tea to use for the January sipdown prompt “bean flavor notes,” I have discovered that I already sipped down all my Chinese greens last year (which always have a savory “mixed bean” sort of taste to me). So I’m going outside the box on this one and have grabbed this 2018 tea that has vanilla bean in the ingredients!
I love rose black teas and I think this may be my last one in my stash before I’ve sipped all those down, too. The dry leaf has such a lovely sweet floral rose smell… it reminds me of the “Rose Vanilla Chai” by Tea Chai Te that I sipped down a few months ago, but without the cardamom/clove spiciness.
The scent of the steeped tea cooling in my cup is so fragrant and soothing. There is sort of a warm bready/citrusy background aroma from the base, with a really sweet aroma that somehow reminds me of sugar cookies or bubblegum from the scents of the vanilla and floral rose combined.
Lovely! Such a comforting flavor profile. The black tea is medium-bodied and a little citrusy, with goes very nicely with the rose. Those rose is the dominating aroma and flavor. I don’t find it perfumy, but I’m also a big fan of rose; I imagine those that are more sensitive to it would find this too strong/perfumy. For me, it’s just the right balance of a nice, strong rose flavor before it becomes overwhelming. The vanilla doesn’t come out super strongly, but I can certainly taste it… it sort of adds a sweet cream or “sugared rose dessert” vibe to the tea.
Very happy with this afternoon cuppa.
Flavors: Bread, Citrus, Cookie, Cream, Floral, Rose, Sweet, Vanilla