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I knew that I wanted to give this one a go at home, so I waited until the weekend to try it with rhinkle. As recommended, I steeped this in a larger pot that I have—a porcelain kyusu—and more or less went at it western style.

It doesn’t take long to tell that it’ll be an interesting experience. This tea smells like maple syrup with a hint of citrus. The first steep tastes a bit like an aged oolong with a medicinal twist. Quite interesting considering this is really not old at all. The texture starts out a bit syrupy, as well, with a slight sweetness at the end that I assume is probably licorice.

I only get to steep this out once before I have to head out, but I steep it again in the evening and then brought the leaves in to work today, where I’ve steeped it a few more times. The leaves still seem to be nowhere close to fully opening up, and I’m still getting a very nice aroma off of the liquor.

I’m not sure of the exact blend of herbs in this, but they remain pretty consistently apparent across steeps. I decide to take a whiff of the leaves and they smell super roasty! Almost like char. Funny enough, this doesn’t carry over into the flavor at all.

I like this one, and could definitely see it being a nice go to for when feeling under the weather, or even when I just want to drink something in a larger quantity to warm up. No one flavor in this is too overwhelming for me and it’s just soothing and comforting to drink. I think it’s at least worth a try for anyone interested!

Decided to start the morning off with some Poundcake while working on a midterm. Starts off floral and fruity. Nice thickness and smooth to start, with some astringency kicking in later. I steep this one out over two days and I really get more floral, herbaceous notes out of it than anything. The bitterness and astringency are not at all off-putting or unpleasant for me, personally. All in all, this was a nice, easy drinking experience, but I felt like I was left wanting more out of it. I’ll be giving it another chance, for sure!

Wanted something unique for the second tea of the day. 8 grams, quick rinse, flash steep. Not too much of an aroma comes off this to start with, and once I do start getting something, it’s hard for me to place.

Liquor in steep one is gold in color and marshmallowy thick in the mouth. First sips are like cranberry, with the aftertaste being quite like that of cranberry sauce. There is some definite tobacco that becomes quite apparent in steep two. Got another good one out of this and then I oversteeped it and got all the bitterness in the throat.

Followed that up with a flash steep and it became drinkable again, but I’m going to have to give this one another go in a new session sometime to better evaluate the experience.

Day full of homework, so decided to start off with some Head. 7g into the gaiwan, quick rinse, quick steep to start with.

The smell that came off these dry leaves wasn’t super strong, and I would say, when wet, oddly enough, the aroma is not unlike fresh, unsweetened sun tea. The liquor is a color similar to apple juice. Seems a bit cloudy. Texture is definitely thick, and the bitterness is there, but isn’t particularly strong in the beginning. I love the aroma that lingers in my nostrils after each sip.

Second steep is the same color and free of any cloudiness. The flavor remains consistent, and an appreciable huigan becomes apparent. Texture becomes even thicker and fluffier in steep three, the huigan strengthens, and there is even a bit of up front sweetness. Contrary to the description, I don’t find this particularly bitter or astringent. The flavor is opening up more, as well. Vegetal undertones, very light florals, some hay and a hint of a buttery aftertaste.

The texture thickens again around steep four, and I start to experience some qi. Body buzz carried me through hours of homework, even after the flavor and color lightened up.

My schedule was weird yesterday due to an appointment, so I skipped having green tea and drank the rest of this sample. Seriously, it’s just like drinking very dark, liquid chocolate. So good.

Now that my manager said this tea smells really strong (I had some during a meeting the other day), I am wary about drinking it outside of my office. That shocks me, as it’s pretty mellow compared to some of the things I smell throughout the department, and compared to a very smokey lapsang souchong I used to have during some meetings. Guess that just gives me more justification to hide in my office and enjoy the deliciousness that is this houjicha!

Second of the samples that I got that I’m getting around to trying.

The dry leaves smell quite chocolatey, and I proceed with this session without doing a wash since the leaves aren’t tightly rolled or anything. The darkness of the liquor from the very first steep is shocking. I’ve never had an oolong that steeps out so dark!

The texture is extremely smooth, and the flavor is a blend of dark chocolate and roast, though it lacks any harshness whatsoever. One steep has a very sweet finish, the next a slight sourness, the next simply clean and smooth.

Overall, I’ve enjoyed this one, and I’m pretty sure I can get some more out of it, so I’ll come back to it tomorrow.

I threw a couple of bags of this into a mug to drink during a meeting today and it ended up being really sweet! Just like sweetened toasted rice. First time having that experience with this tea.

This is my first time trying something from TeaLife HK, and I’ve really been looking forward to it. Since I ordered a bunch of samples I’m doing smaller sessions with these, so I put about 5 grams in the gaiwan. There’s not a very strong aroma off the dry leaves, but I do get a faint whiff of roast and minerals.

The aroma of the roast really emerges with a quick wash to wake the leaves up, and the liquor is a lightish brown in steep one.

The flavor starts out as sweet roasted nuts, light in flavor—clearly the tea is still waking up—and there is a hint of butter in the aftertaste.

The brown darkens in steep two, with notes of chocolate emerging. rhinkle is getting mint, which I also get a hint of at the bottom of the cup, but not with any cooling sensation, just the actual raw flavor of chocolate mint leaves.

These flavors strengthen and sweeten in steep three and last pretty much throughout the rest of the session. Definitely enjoyed this!

Sweet umami goodness this morning. Sometimes I wish I could drink this stuff warmer, though, and in larger quantities.