I started steeping these leaves a few days ago, got through the rinse and one steep and then realized I was too distracted. I let these leaves dry and I’m trying again with them now.

Second steep, 10 seconds. The leaves are very roasty and umami smelling, but the liquor is all lilac on the nose. Lilac on the palette too, though this steep tastes a bit weak.

Third steep, 10 seconds. Again, intensely lilac, but with roasty, almost burnt notes on the tongue now. Fades out to a more rose like floral on the finish, with a bit of toasted rice and umami.

4th, 6 sec. Lilac, sandalwood, a bit astringent, roasty.

5th, 5 seconds. Sweet & perfumey.

I’m not going to rate this yet. I know I like it but it deserves more focus.

Flavors: Floral, Perfume, Roasted, Rose, Sweet, Toasted Rice, Toasty, Umami

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 OZ / 88 ML

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Bio

I grew up drinking jasmine green tea with meals, but really fell in love with tea on a trip to Britain in elementary school. My first great love was Earl Grey, and I still adore it and all its variants.

I discovered the beauty of loose leaf tea much later, when, on impulse, I picked up a few teas that were on clearance at a home store. My introduction to loose leaf teas were Masala Chai and Provence Rooibos by the Metropolitan Tea Co and an unknown brand of kukicha and gyokuro (little did I know what a precious treasure I’d stumbled onto with that.)

At the time I was lucky to live in a place with multiple tea shops and several places to have afternoon tea, which is a delight I still miss.

Tea is part of my daily ritual and a nice, affordable way to appease the collector in me.

I enjoy distinctive whites, greens and oolongs, flavoured blacks, and herbals that are heavy on the citrus, lavender or mint.

Rating rubric, to give myself some consistency:
0-15 Yuck, not even drinkable.
16-30 Disappointing, not really inclined to give it a second try.
31-45 Disappointing, but maybe there’s potential? Worth one more try, prepped differently.
46-60 Mediocre, not terrible but not memorable.
61-75 Not bad. I’ll definitely finish what I have and might buy again.
76-90 Very enjoyable. Tasty, complex, it’ll keep me coming back.
91-100 BEST! I love everything about it and I will drink it forever.

Beyond tea, I’m a sex educator, polyamory activist, and radical queer. I love backwoods camping, abstract painting, baking & cooking, nail polish, cats, ceramic sculpture, and home nesting.

Location

Winnipeg, MB, Canada

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