After getting some, I can see why people were disappointed by this one. A lot of people were expecting a heavily chocolate black tea with a oolong smoothing out the texture followed by the spiciness. It really is a strong oolong with a smooth black compliment intensified by a candy spiciness then followed by a dark chocolate aftertaste. The tea on its own actually tastes closer to an organic Mexican hot chocolate mix using coconut sugar instead of regular sugar.
As with tea, people have different preferences with their hot chocolate. I don’t like super sweet chocolate. I rarely go below 60% cocoa and usually opt out for the 80%. In short, I like darker chocolate that is more subtle and less sweet. A part of me wants to do a poll on Steepster of the people who rated this tea to see the type of chocolate they eat and how sweet do they like their hot chocolate.
For this tea, you’re really expected to get the chocolate tones from the oolong then from the chocolate itself. I personally like Qilan Yan Cha oolongs and am very glad that it is the dominant tea. I would then recommend people who like toned down, dark chocolate of the organic variety to try this. Don’t expect a creamy hot chocolate, but instead think of a nutty, smooth oolong that turns into a spicy chocolate tonic. In short, flavorful, but watery. And I enjoy it.
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" I rarely go below 60% cocoa and usually opt out for the 80%. In short, I like darker chocolate that is more subtle and less sweet. "
^This. I am one of those people and yet this tea did not do it for me. No chocolate. Little, if any, spice in my cup. I will keep trying with the rest. But so far, your theory is not holding water.
I love dark chocolate, as well. For me, the problem with this tea was that I was picking up a weird undertone from the chocolate. It was just off to me in some way.
Okay, chocolate preference theory wrong and question answered. ANd another crazy dark chocolate person, cool. How much of it do you have Evol Ving Ness? That really sucks getting no flavor, especially if you have a whole ounce. Was it from the same batch that might have gotten botched? If not, do you want me to send you some in a swap to see if its any better? I have an overactive imagination after all and could just be telling myself that the Qilan after taste is chocolaty.
The chocolate undertone is weird. It’s also kinda weird with the Spumoni Green Tea I had today. It’s still good, but I mostly got the sencha, coconut, cherry, and pistachio with a weird kinda chocolate aftertaste.
Thank you for your very kind offer. I do very much appreciate it, and perhaps will indeed take you up on it in a bit.
Yes, it is from that batch. After a couple of disappointments, I shyed away from it for a time, but really, I need to dive back in to see if something can be done to spruce things up because sad.
" I rarely go below 60% cocoa and usually opt out for the 80%. In short, I like darker chocolate that is more subtle and less sweet. "
^This. I am one of those people and yet this tea did not do it for me. No chocolate. Little, if any, spice in my cup. I will keep trying with the rest. But so far, your theory is not holding water.
I love dark chocolate, as well. For me, the problem with this tea was that I was picking up a weird undertone from the chocolate. It was just off to me in some way.
Okay, chocolate preference theory wrong and question answered. ANd another crazy dark chocolate person, cool. How much of it do you have Evol Ving Ness? That really sucks getting no flavor, especially if you have a whole ounce. Was it from the same batch that might have gotten botched? If not, do you want me to send you some in a swap to see if its any better? I have an overactive imagination after all and could just be telling myself that the Qilan after taste is chocolaty.
The chocolate undertone is weird. It’s also kinda weird with the Spumoni Green Tea I had today. It’s still good, but I mostly got the sencha, coconut, cherry, and pistachio with a weird kinda chocolate aftertaste.
Thank you for your very kind offer. I do very much appreciate it, and perhaps will indeed take you up on it in a bit.
Yes, it is from that batch. After a couple of disappointments, I shyed away from it for a time, but really, I need to dive back in to see if something can be done to spruce things up because sad.