Carävan Resurrected

1.25 tsp for 250mL water@100C, steeped 4 minutes, drunk bare.

Like, omigod, the tea even came with, like, a blood-dripping A&D button I can pin on my jacket!

An excellent smoky China black tea. Not quite the same as I remember — it’s missing that almost savoury /salty note — but still a more nuanced smoky tea than many. The smoke scent is strong but not smothering, while the liquor itself, a light brown with some reddish tones, is mineral and sweet and sparkling — not carbonated, obviously, but giving definite bite. Smoky notes in the finish. A very light body. I may try making this stronger tomorrow.

I have a sample of this thanks to the most generous scribble – Thank you so much!!
This was my tea of choice at work today. First cup was a TOTAL MISS – ewww. I really over leafed, over steeped it. Those leaves for a second steep was really good. Added a bit more fresh leaf and did a third steep – shorter steep time. AWESOME. This tea for me is a bit fussy with steep times. I had to steep this shorter than I normally would with a black. It was just too strong with the longer steep times. Once I found where I liked it, this is really nicely balanced between bold black, astringent, and smokey. I like that the smoky isn’t totally drowning out the black flavors.
I think this is a really good example of this style of tea, but this style will never be my favorite. I would certainly like a cup here or there, but don’t think I need a 4 oz tin. Thanks so much scribbles for letting me try this.

Backlog:

Now, having tried the original Caravan and not being too crazy about it (smoky teas just don’t usually do it for me), I wasn’t going to order this resurrected version however, it came as part of the Damn Fine three-pack which was introduced before the adventure pack. And I figured at 48. it was a pretty good deal and since I’ve learned a better way to brew smoky teas so that I can drink them … I decided I’d go for it.

And I’m glad I did because now with my “new” brewing method (which isn’t all that big a secret, I simply “rinse” the leaves with hot water – brewing them for 15 seconds and then discard the liquid and then steep them as I would normally), I really enjoyed this tea.

Smoky … yes, it still is quite smoky, but I can also enjoy the other flavors tucked within this tea. Sweet and caramel-y. Deep fruity notes. A moderate astringency.

An enjoyable cuppa.

I must hate myself, because this isn’t the best tea to drink first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.

But it’s so good, and I want it now. :P I can always drink puerh and eat breakfast later!

generally i consider andrews and dunham a staple: their tiger assam, their double knit— this is a company that has studied tea and knows what they’re doing.

i completely understand why this one was named ‘caravan’. i can taste the bonfire smoke and hear the nomads dancing about the flames. if you like a smoke heavy blend that is also smooth then i predict you will bond well with this tea. for my part it was a bit too much smoke, even with cream added. it was, however, very smooth.

thank you to scibbles for this tasting experience!

In a moment of weakness I purchased the A&D triple pack, which I’m finally getting around to trying this weekend. I threw a teaspoon in my gaiwan and used near boiling water to steep the tea for 15-20 seconds. The foretaste is a bit strange and is dominated by the smoky flavor of the tea, but then the taste transforms into a smooth and mildly sweet flavor before trailing off into a lightly mineral aftertaste. The problem with this tea is that I find myself comparing it against Zheng Shan Xaio Zhong, which is hardly fair because this tea is above average. That, and nothing smoked is really in the same galaxy as Zheng Shan Xaio Zhong. Oh well, it will still be interesting to see how the tea develops.

Second cup was made with the same parameters as the first, but the taste is much different. The tea isn’t quite as sweet, allowing the smokey flavor to assert itself a bit more.Another change is that the texture of the tea has gone from a bit creamy to a nice solid mineral-ish sensation. Both of these changes actually improve the flavor of the tea, and I can’t wait to see what the next development will be.

I. Love. This. Tea.

I love the smoky flavour of this tea. The smokiness is not overwhelming, just enough to evoke awesome memories of the great outdoors and white water rafting.

TeaTiff TTB #15

I’ve been wanting to try this one for a while, so I was excited to see it in the box! I found it a bit thinner and more astringent than the Russian Caravan I’ve been enjoying from Market Spice, but I did appreciate how balanced and nuanced the smoky flavor was.

So a couple of weeks ago, I somehow found myself on the Andrews & Dunham website. I don’t recall how, maybe I saw something on Steepster that made me curious to see what teas they had in stock. Regardless, I found this tea in stock and promptly ordered a tin. I have four of their other teas and they’re always enjoyable, if slightly neglected in my cupboard. I then promptly forgot about the purchase.

So fast forward to two days ago, this tea showed up at my doorstep and ooh, what a lovely surprise gift from my (slightly) past self! XD

I admit, I was slightly nervous when I smelled the dry leaf, as the smoke dominates the aroma. I don’t dislike smoked teas, in fact I often quite enjoy them, but it’s not something I drink often, and sometimes I do find them a bit too smoky. But I needn’t have worried, this is very well-balanced. The smokiness is obvious, but it’s not the only thing I taste, and it has a lovely savory meaty flavor as opposed to a charred or ashy one. Underneath is a lovely sweetness, an earthy woodiness, and also a satisfyingly chewy bread note. Perhaps a touch of dark dried fruit as well?

Very yummy, and I certainly don’t regret ordering it on a whim. I haven’t been disappointed by A&D yet! :)

This seemed like a good choice for the frigid temperatures we’re experiencing. I know it’s much colder further north, but goodness I’m not used to temperatures in the teens. Currently sitting under my heated blanket with a cup of this tea. I remember when I first tried this one, I was disappointed that it wasn’t smokier than it is. Today, it’s delicious. Th smoke is there, but it doesn’t overpower the tea. I’m going to finish this cup, shut my laptop, and go right to bed for a nap. It’s the perfect weekend for hunkering down. Stay warm, friends!