I’m not one to be stopped in their tracks by flowery or fruity aromas, but there’s something about this blend that I’m really drawn to. It’s entirely possible that there was a drugstore perfume that a cute girl in the ’90s wore, and my subconscious is trying to pull me back in time. Or, maybe I just like the berries and citrus.
Either way, the strong and pleasant steam wafting from my cup is a bit of a betrayal, because the flavor is nowhere near as intense. On a normal steep, the black tea is light, the berry flavor is on the tart side, although it sweetens a bit on the finish. I want to say the flavor is “delicate” but that’s not the right word at all — it’s just light. Weak, even.
I gave it another go on my second cup, letting it steep for nearly ten minutes as an experiment. This time, there was an uncanny alcohol-like nuance, almost like I was drinking grocery store Lipton or Tetley tea that had a shot or two of liqueur.
Experiments aside, this needs a longer than usual steep (maybe upwards of 6 minutes) to really deliver. It’s different, not in a bad way, but not in a way that I can see anyone having this as their daily cup.
UPDATE: I took @ashmanra’s suggestion and backed down the temperature, and let it steep for five minutes, and the results were fabulous. Exactly what this blend needed to tease out the flavor of the black tea, without diminishing the other flavors.
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PdT teas require a lot of adjustment for me. I wonder if lowering the temp a little help along with that longer steep time and more leaf?
@ashmanra You’re absolutely right. I backed down the temperature and let it go for 5 minutes, and Courtyard is near the top of my list for PdT now.
Wonderful!
PdT teas require a lot of adjustment for me. I wonder if lowering the temp a little help along with that longer steep time and more leaf?
@ashmanra You’re absolutely right. I backed down the temperature and let it go for 5 minutes, and Courtyard is near the top of my list for PdT now.
Wonderful!