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My morning tea. Bottoms up. :D

For some reason this tea is tasting particularly gross to me tonight. Urgh, I guess that’s a sign that, healthy for me or not, it’s time for me to get rid of this. >:(

Why does this tea taste so sweet to me? Looking at the ingredient list I have no clue what might be causing it, but it’s almost like there’s a spoonful of sugar in the bag. Maybe the plum flavouring? Although I’d expect that to be a bit more tart.

Hm.

Steeps 2 and 3. It says on the package that the third infusion is supposed to be the best, and I think I agree with them. Number two (3 min) was a touch on the astringent side and left a bit of coated feeling on my tongue. But number three (4 min 20 seconds) was exactly what I hoped this tea would be – delicately flavoured with a light, vegetal quality to it and a hint of sweet nuttiness on the tail end.

This is obviously a different batch than the little sample I had before. There’s a smokey sort of scent to the leaves and the tea – almost like a very light lapsang scent. I get some of the smokey/roasted/whatever flavour at the start of each sip – it’s not so much a taste as a combination of taste and smell working togther, if that makes any sense to you guys. I’m relieved that I can still taste the delicate, nutty flavour in the rest of the sip. :)

I just realized that I passed 500 tasting notes without realizing it. Go me. :D

I’m drinking this tea with milk and it takes the edge off of the earl grey, but I still can’t taste any raspberry. I’m seriously wondering whether I got a defective batch that didn’t have anything added to it. :(

I’m reading up (ie. Googling) on the historical uses and health benefits of honeybush tea. Interesting stuff – aparently it’s thought by the San people of South Africa to be good for helping minor stomach and skin aliments, as well as aiding sleep, and acting as an expectorant for respiratory infections. :)

Another tea I’m almost out of – a good thing I suppose, because my tea cupboard is full to overflowing. I’m trying drink up the older stuff first before I start on some of my newer teas like the order I got from SpecialTeas or my Andrew & Durnham Series 1 set.

Backlogging from earlier today.

I’m curious; for those of you who have tried this tea before, does it remind you of any particular type of oolong?

You know, with a bit less steeping some of the fruit flavour does come out a bit more, and if I concentrate it actually is sort of mango-y. Still a pretty ‘Meh’ tea with too much hibiscus in it.