I ordered some samples from single origin and made sure to include this one. I’ve always sort of loved the idea of roasting chestnuts despite never having seen actual chestnuts until I was an adult. Thanks for nothing American chestnut blight! Im glad now I did get it because it has a lot more to offer than fictional nostalgia.
Opening the bag of this and smelling it was strange. It reminds me of like a dark chocolate I once had. Maybe a smoked one? Or one with toasted breadcrumbs? I can’t quite put my finger on it. There is also that toasty sweet smell I recognize from my one (unfortunate) attempt at roasting my own chestnuts.
After brewing it has more of a tea smell and is a dark amber color. I noticed the brewed leaves are different colors some being dark like most black teas while others are milk chocolate colored or even greenish. I looked back at the description and apparently this is a black tea produced like an oolong. It certainly lacks much astringency. It tastes much like it smells with the chocolate and toasty nutty chestnut flavor. I’m also getting burnt sugar flavors. Not bad burnt just the sort you get when you carmalize sugar to a dark amber.All in all a fantastic, unique, and doesn’t require milk or sugar to taste right flavored tea.
Comments
Thanks for your review! The sugar you are probably tasting comes from the the chestnuts that are used. A marron glace are candied chestnuts from France. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marron_glac%C3%A9>
I share your same concern over the chestnut blight! There is actually a project to bring back the trees to American forests. <http://www.acf.org/index.php>. Chestnut trees used to be the dominant species in the Eastern American forests, its so shocking to think about how we as people can so carelessly destroy entire ecosystems (just by bringing one infected tree to a new ecosystem).
Please send me an e-mail (or a private message on here) with your order number/address and I’ll send you some more teas that I think you would enjoy! :)
Thanks for your review! The sugar you are probably tasting comes from the the chestnuts that are used. A marron glace are candied chestnuts from France. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marron_glac%C3%A9>
I share your same concern over the chestnut blight! There is actually a project to bring back the trees to American forests. <http://www.acf.org/index.php>. Chestnut trees used to be the dominant species in the Eastern American forests, its so shocking to think about how we as people can so carelessly destroy entire ecosystems (just by bringing one infected tree to a new ecosystem).
Please send me an e-mail (or a private message on here) with your order number/address and I’ll send you some more teas that I think you would enjoy! :)
I’ve heard they actually found what may be one of the last adult trees in an undisclosed location in the northeast. Hopefully it’s got good genetics they can use to further their breeding program.
Now we just have to worry about the walnut/butternut blight coming in from the west.