At least three people told me that this tea was going to be “weird” because “all GABAs are,” so I was all ready to expect weird. While this tea certainly wasn’t what I was expecting, I wouldn’t describe it as weird.
The dry leaf has a creamy aroma that made me excited to brew it. 190º for 2 minutes, and I’m getting a sweet cream aroma with some cinnamon. It smells almost exactly like the cinnamon buns at Ikea.
Taking a sip, there is a hint of astringency that reminds me a bit of black tea. There’s an initial shock to the tongue, like a gentle poke that says “tea!” Maybe it’s a little fermenty flavor? I’m not sure. There’s a hint of earthiness at the base of the flavor. But none of these are the dominating flavors.
Dominating flavors are overtones of creamy sweetness and vanilla. Maybe the smell is messing with my brain, but I almost think I can taste the smallest hint of cinnamon. I’m never really able to taste the fruit that sites describe in their teas, so I’m not surprised that I can’t find the pear.
Overall, a very enjoyable experience!
Flavors: Cinnamon, Creamy, Earth, Tangy, Vanilla
