The other time I had this, Cynthia Carter commented on my tasting note, asking if the frosting/cherry flavor could be almond. Initially, I dismissed the idea because this don’t taste nutty at all…. but then I started thinking. It actually could be a bit like marzipan and that’s very much almond. And with that in mind, I took a sniff of these leaves.
Yep, marzipan. For Christmas the hubby got these neat little fruit shaped marzipan candies and he let me sneak a little bite… it smells just like those little candies.
Brewed up, the tea smells both a little richer and a little lighter than the marzipan-smelling leaf. There is a syrupy base note and a floral top note. I chose to decrease the steep time on this to see if that made the first steep happier for me (last time the second steep was my favorite). Ah yeah, I think that does it for me. The dark taste isn’t as obvious – still there but in what I feel is better balance (but then I like things light and sweet) – and the light taste is still there and sparkly sweet and floral.
I let the husband have a sip (and he stole three more) and he compared it to a cherry flavored gum (which I can see and once he said that, I started thinking about Fruit Stripe gum) and very strongly flavored, perhaps too much for him (an interesting opinion for someone that has been know to eat seasoning straight but okay). For me, on the other hand? I love it. It is definitely not mild but I really enjoy it.
I’m bumping up the rating because I’ve found myself thinking about this tea some in the past week since I’ve had it. It’s really different and no way could I drink it every day, but now that I’m out, I think I might buy some more. Like, right now.
3.5g/7oz
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It’d definitely be cheaper to buy this through Balducci’s than directly from Mariage Freres (which is in France!). So I am giving you a linkie. :) http://www.balduccis.com/coffee_cocoa/tea
I don’t think their The Sakura is the same. :( I can’t find anywhere that sells StB online except MF and their shipping is more than the tea. Boo. Just boo.
It’s not listed on Dean + Deluca’s website either. Boooo. I forget where takgoti picked this up. I thought it was Balducci’s, but she tends to purchase from Williams-Sonoma as well. Hrm.
Sorry I couldn’t help! :\
Yay! I need to try this at a shorter steep time, too. Maybe tomorrow.
I have the “Yipes! Stripes! Fruit Stripes Gum!” thing stuck in my head now.
This tea reminds me of a perfume I have, which is apparently supposed to smell like strawberries and almonds. I always thought it was vanilla/caramel/honey until I read about it on the internet, and since then I haven’t been able to smell anything except almonds/marzipan and berries!
I did get it from Balducci’s, but there was a lot of stuff there that isn’t on their website. There were a few different types of Sakura [including a green, Auggy]. I just sent you a message; perhaps we can work something out…
@takgoti – It was a little zebra that said that, wasn’t it? And thanks so much, it is now in MY head. :P And let the drug trafficking begin!
@Shanti – Pretty much all I’m smelling is marzipan now. But I love it so I’m okay with that! (My empty cup even smells like it. So awesome).
yaaaay marzipan candies and teas that smell like them!!!
It’d definitely be cheaper to buy this through Balducci’s than directly from Mariage Freres (which is in France!). So I am giving you a linkie. :) http://www.balduccis.com/coffee_cocoa/tea
I don’t think their The Sakura is the same. :( I can’t find anywhere that sells StB online except MF and their shipping is more than the tea. Boo. Just boo.
It’s not listed on Dean + Deluca’s website either. Boooo. I forget where takgoti picked this up. I thought it was Balducci’s, but she tends to purchase from Williams-Sonoma as well. Hrm.
Sorry I couldn’t help! :\
Yay! I need to try this at a shorter steep time, too. Maybe tomorrow.
I have the “Yipes! Stripes! Fruit Stripes Gum!” thing stuck in my head now.
This tea reminds me of a perfume I have, which is apparently supposed to smell like strawberries and almonds. I always thought it was vanilla/caramel/honey until I read about it on the internet, and since then I haven’t been able to smell anything except almonds/marzipan and berries!
I did get it from Balducci’s, but there was a lot of stuff there that isn’t on their website. There were a few different types of Sakura [including a green, Auggy]. I just sent you a message; perhaps we can work something out…
@takgoti – It was a little zebra that said that, wasn’t it? And thanks so much, it is now in MY head. :P And let the drug trafficking begin!
@Shanti – Pretty much all I’m smelling is marzipan now. But I love it so I’m okay with that! (My empty cup even smells like it. So awesome).
yaaaay marzipan candies and teas that smell like them!!!