White Licorice

Just a quick note to say I drank this. It still seemed fresh, though ancient, in this packaging that could probably preserve a single teaspoon until the end of time. Haha. It is certainly licorice with all the anise. You probably don’t even need to include white tea because the anise drowns any white tea flavor. It probably also contaminated my new infuser. Ah well.

I was never a big fan of licorice – in fact I downright loathed it as a kid. Time (and good tea) has eased my dislike considerably but it’s still not my favourite flavouring. As it turns out, this tea has it in spades. In the blend’s defense there aren’t any artificial licorice flavours used, instead the licorice was achieved with star anise. Star anise, while very licorice-y, has a unique flavour all of its own and none of the (sometimes overwhelming) sweetness that usually comes along with adding licorice root to teas. It complements the white tea base well and it isn’t horribly strong or anything. I personally wouldn’t buy it, but if you enjoy licorice flavours then this may well be the tea for you.

I LOVE THIS. I don’t have much else to say about it. But with the combination of white tea and aniseed, I was biased from the start. I’ll eat/drink pretty much anything containing anise.
I love the smell of licorice (I seem to be the minority here), so I was inhaling this from the moment I opened the sampler packet. And it’s a heavy scent. Drinking this is like liquid licorice. But that’s why I plan to invest in a proper supply of it, now that my sample is nearly gone. You can’t keep an Italian away from her anise.

So, I just got my sample order from Golden Moon. I love the box and seeing all the tea varieties made me so excited. Here is my first. Brewed at below boiling (unsure of temp- how do you all tell the temp?) and for about 3 minutes.
Ok, I love anise but the sent of it mixing with the sweetish component of the white tea reminds me too much of my herbal tea for sore throat which then reminds me of being sick…
Ok, the taste is much better then I expected. It doesn’t have that sickening sweet taste the herbal one had. It’s actually quite soothing. I actually never had white tea before but I imagine what I’m tasting is the white tea with the smallest hint of anise (although if I hadn’t known what it was I wouldn’t have been able to tell it was anise). It’s a really gentle tea. I’m surprised. I kind of like it. I’m not sure if I like it enough to order it. The scent bothers me too. I would drink it if I ordered another sample or if it was offered but I think I can find a gentle relaxing tea that I like better.
Interesting though, when I picked out this sample to try today, I was expecting something more filling/energizing- more anise. Not bad though.
Second steep: Sent still bothers me. This one is more of a licorice flavor and while I love eating anise/licorice, this really reminds me too much of being sick. I’m ending here.

Smells and tastes like licorice, with a creamy mouth-feel. Interesting—but not a repeat candidate.

Not a licorice fan, but I liked it. My husband thought it was really good

Brewed just below boiling for 2 min. No additives.
Light Sweet brew. If you like finoccio/fennel you’ll recognize the flavor.
This was my first time seeing star anise and they are ugly ugly little plants but, the flavor is delicious.
The white tea and anise are blended with care to make sure that both are present. This tea is kind of like a three course meal. First you get the initial sweetness from the anise followed by the clean white tea and then an after taste of fennel.
Nothing is overpowering. Very Pleasant.
Re-steeped 3 times and retained good flavor in the brew.