314 Tasting Notes
Savoring Jackee’s sweetness again, this morning. I wonder if this is a blend of Keemun teas or just a single estate or varietal? Something about this is special. I never knew I could appreciate a seemingly simple black tea as much as this! My eyes have been opened to the possibilities! I am currently in frantic acquisition mode ordering more Keemun teas to compare against this gold standard.
Very light green liquid. Aroma is reminiscent of freshly steamed spinach, overlaid with a mist of white flowers—like gardenias? Tastes like its scent—but more buttery? Hints of cream, even. As the liquid cools, the taste seems “thicker” — almost starchier — and richer flavors seem to appear — like newly boiled garbanzo beans and peas!
Interesting tea! I detected more flavors than I thought I would. A creamy medley of savory greens. I’m kind of hungry for some veggies now!
Edited to add: The white floral component really shines through, on the second steeping. It seems like the “veggie-ness” fades and becomes infused with gardenia petals!
On my second steeping (and as it cools), this takes on more and more of an orange-y taste. Not so much of a bergamot-citrus, but just indistinctly citrus. I wish I can distinguish the subtleties of the different black teas that were blended in here, but I can’t right now. My mind has decided to zone in on just the citrus!
I’m obsessed with Jackee.
I’m not particularly sensitive to caffeine, so I can safely enjoy Jackee in the evenings. It’s perfect, because evenings—the best evenings— are an introspective, contemplative time for me and Jackee serves as a good companion. Tonight, he mainly evokes antique pine bookcases, rows and rows of them. They are filled with with Old World books and scrolls (of course).
And I am in their midst, overwhelmed…..eating a sugared biscuit.
Just lovely, Stephanie. I like Jackee so much. He does seem to evoke old libraries in British country houses for me.
Thank you Doulton!! :) I’ll be crushed when this tin is done!
Stephanie -I know how that strong love goes! I have it with Thomas but not with Jackee. If you would like to trade – I’ll send Jackee for some generally equivalent samples from your tea cupboard – PM me :)
Appearance: Deep orange amber liquor. The leaves are long, dark and whole, when they’ve unfurled. A few are still attached to their twigs!
Scent: Nuts and brown maple leaves. Roasted chestnuts? A slight sprinkling of sugar.
Taste: Yum!! Definitely like roasted chestnuts! Simultaneously woodsy, leafy and sweet—like steamed sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves. A scattering of golden raisins?
Last Thoughts: I love it! I really enjoy the roasted, toasted quality intermingling with the sweet leafy-ness. I’m intrigued by the oolongs I’ve tried so far. I want to try more!
I just realized that I’m picking up nearly the same tastes as the Sugar Caramel Oolong! But this seems more “brown” than “green”—more cooked than fresh. They are both different yet similar. It’s an oolong thing, I guess. :)
Yummy blueberries!
I felt like having something fresh and fruity and this was perfect.
The unbrewed leaves are predominantly scented of gorgeous fresh blueberries. When brewed, the freshness turns stewed and baked—like warm blueberry muffins. The green tea is subtle and adds a slight grassiness. I’m envisioning a picnic of blueberry muffins under a tree on a grassy knoll in the springtime. There is a floral note—but it’s not strong and somehow enhances the fruitiness.
Oh I see a couple round blueberries bobbing about in the water! I forgot there was actual real fruit in here. It’s almost like I dropped fresh berries in myself—they’ve definitely plumped up from their original dessicated state.
I’ve kept the leaves steeping in my travel mug—so the overall taste is strong and astringent. But I still like it!
Edited to add: On the second steeping (or, in this case, topping off my mug with more hot water), the jasmine really comes out to play! The aroma is of lovely, creamy jasmine petals floating in a blueberry compote.
Preparation
Have a bit of insomnia so I’m trying out this tea.
It’s what you’d expect from chamomile and lavender. The chamomile is apple-y and the lavender is herbally pungent—I’m reminded very strongly of rosemary chicken!
The two flavors are very distinct and very potent. I feel like I’m drinking a fresh bowl of potpourri! Like a lavender sachet. But I mean this in a good way—it’s not a stale, icky, dusty bowl of potpourri. It’s potpourri that’s been freshly picked and a bit sundried.
I may have brewed this too strong—2 heaping teaspoons in 12oz. with boiling water. My mug is practically filled with the tea/herbs.
(would you like some water with your herbs?)
I think I’m babbling now—must’ve kicked in!
Preparation
Rosemary chicken is yum! Interesting association with lavendar.
Yeah, I know. Must be the herbal-ness of it. Lavender can remind me of rosemary, a lot of times
Now I’m thinking about rosemary chicken. Now I want rosemary chicken. Just a little piece, cold, picked from the container in the refrigerator. Except there is no rosemary chicken in the refrigerator. =(
Some quick impressions (typed up between stolen moments at work):
Scent: Faintly like fresh hay and green leaves. Some sweetness.
Taste: Sweet and refreshing!! Very root-like with some fresh green earth. This has been steeping for awhile in my travel mug, so the taste is a bit toasty too.
I really like this tea—I like its sweet earthy green-ness. And it looks strangely cool also—like little dusty green pebbles of tea. They stay predominantly pebble-y while brewing too, with just a couple here and there gaining the courage to unfurl.
On the second steeping, this smells like a snickerdoodle cookie—a very cinnamony snickerdoodle.
The good thing is is that this can be steeped for a very long time without bitterness! But I would say that the flavor only lasts up to three steeps. And beyond that, it tastes only like warm sugar water.
Been wanting to explore keemuns more as a result of this tea, myself. Adagio’s were okay, but this is definitely a whole other experience. I’ll be interested to see what you find!