92
drank 2020 Astro Red by white2tea
1006 tasting notes

One of the last samples I still had left from a swap with Roswell Strsange is this special black tea. As I expected when it came out, it is very much in line with my preferences. The thick, oily texture and the strong yet well-integrated bitterness are often attributes I look for in sheng, but they are rarely to be found in black tea as well. What is more, they are accompanied by a dizzying and clarifying cha qi, a kind of energy that’s not common at all. Tha main reservation I have about the tea is its price, which is unfortunately quite steep.

The aroma is sweet and mineral with notes of leather, dates and gingerbread. Taste is at once bitter, but the woody sweetness is present throughout the experience too. Apart from the strong woody notes such as tree bark, I also found the tea to showcase several medicinal, sour and honey-like notes with a touch of smoke. The aftertaste is once again bitter and woody. It induces a lon-lasting cooling and almost acidic sensation.

Flavors: Bark, Bitter, Cucumber, Dates, Honey, Leather, Medicinal, Mineral, Sour, Sweet, Thick, Vinegar, Wood

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 0 min, 15 sec 5 g 4 OZ / 120 ML

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Profile

Bio

Hi, I am a researcher in math, physics and computer science. Apart from teas and mathematics, I enjoy sports and traveling, as well as music of all kinds. Connect at https://rateyourmusic.com/~Togo

I had been drinking Japanese green tea for a while before discovering the world of tea in 2017. I rarely drink blends and generally avoid artificially scented teas. Other than that I try to keep it varied.

My rating description:
100 _ Unforgettable tea, an experience that changes your life.
90 – 100 _ Excellent tea.
80 – 90 _ Very enjoyable, I will buy again.
70 – 80 _ I enjoyed it, but I most likely won’t be buying it again.
60 – 70 _ Decent.
50 – 60 _ Average, forgettable.
40 – 50 _ I didn’t really like the tea, but it is drinkable.
0 – 40 _ I would prefer to avoid the tea.

Location

Innsbruck, Austria

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