Norbu Tea

For the longest time I had this one filed under ‘herbal’ because I just saw those great big buds and thought ‘this is some kind of flower’. It was sent to me in the days of yore and from whence I cannot recall, but eventually I had a proper look at it and got it put back in its proper place. Actually I think it’s gone back and forth between white and herbal a few times, as I distinctly recall at least one instance of ‘what are you doing here?’

I used most of the sample in a combination with something else, a magnolia scented yellow that I thought I had a lot more of. Nothing more annoying than emptying a sample pouch into a large pot and finding that, GOSH! That’s not even enough for half a small pot! It felt like so much more. So I grabbed a random white that I knew there would be plenty of to boost it up a bit, and ended up with a result that was…

Let’s just say I poured it out and started over. Dill and pickles are also flavours I don’t much care to find in tea. Good time to try the rest of this sample though. Properly mind.

First thing that I notice is that when this is gently steeped, it’s very very pale in colour. Second thing I notice is that my tea strainers need replacing, because pale tea + old strainer = grey tea.

There is a herbal sort of aroma to this, reminding me a bit of licorice root and spearmint. I suspect this is the element that interacted so badly with the yellow as mentioned above. Also quite floral, but primarily licorice root and spearmint-y for me.

Okay, all I can taste is licorice root. Seriously, this doesn’t even taste remotely like tea. It both tastes and feels like chewing licorice root. If I hadn’t actually seen the leaf, I would be dead certain that’s what it was.

So at this point I cheat and look at the company description and other people’s reviews, and I just can’t recognise anything. Anything at all. All I can find here is licorice root, complete with that specific flavour at the back of the tongue that you get when you swallow a licorice root infusion.

I did eat licorice earlier today, but not right now and I haven’t touched a licorice infusion for months. I only drink that when I’m sick!

I will put this mysteriousness down to the age of the sample which as you can see is a bit on the iffy side. I really ought to learn to throw things out before I let it get this old. Or even better, use it up.

I’ll just pretend the rest of this cup is a licorice root infusion, because that makes it easier to deal with.

On the upside I’m now down to 28 teas! O.O

Leaves are huge, and steeped, have kind of a neat multicolor green/black effect. Flavor is lighter, brighter, and fruitier than what you’d expect in a normal black—several previous notes have mentioned raspberry taste and I can see that. Really nice, really pleasant, doesn’t need a single addition.

This one is from my Secret Santa Ross Duff. Thank you, Santa!

This is such a nice change of pace for me! I was expecting it to taste Dragon Ball-ish (pastry, cinnamon) but it doesn’t taste anything like that! It tastes like raspberries with a fresh, vegetal quality somewhere in there. That part is subtle – almost like a leafy green stem of a raspberry got in there. I love it! So sweet and enjoyable. 2 minutes is just about perfect for the first steep. Smooth, no bitterness. I expect at least 3 steeps from these leaves!

…and speaking of the leaves, I have to note how dramatic and gorgeous they are! Long, twisted, and dark before steeping, and once you steep them they are enormous!!!!!

What a fantastic treat! I would purchase this tea on my own in a heartbeat. Thanks again, Ross!

This is the first tea I’m trying from my Secret Santa Ross Duff!!! I am excited to try this one – I love the fact that the leaves are from tea trees from the 1930s, and that it was roasted in a traditional (fascinating!) manner! Read the description if you get a chance :) I decided to brew it in a Western style because I have my brewing mug with me but not my wee oolong pot.

First sip: Interesting! I’ve never had a tea which tastes so fruity yet so roasted at the same time! I also taste a subtle flavor that is almost like a pina colada! That creamy pineappley coconutty flavor – after I swallow. This tea has a lovely, long finish! I am astonished by this tropical note! I finished this cup so quickly!

The second steep is rounder and more put together. A little less roasted, a little sweeter, less dramatic. I really couldn’t tell you which I prefer! I haven’t done a lick of work yet because I’m so entranced by the complexity of this tea! Uh oh!

I expect to be enjoying this one for at least two more steeps! I’ll edit this note to let you all know what I tasted :) I am so glad I got a chance to try such a unique tea, Ross. You’ve inspired me to seek out some medium to dark oolongs for my tea cabinet – I love them and hardly have any. Thank you again!

Drinking this tea iced – and it is fantastic! A great way to unwind after a long and eventful day. The golden tea is malty, slightly fruity, with a touch of astringency that finishes off the cup. Although it smells like a Mi Lan Phoenix Dan Cong when dry, it has very little in common with it. There’s an oily smoothness to the liquor, and no pronounced floral aromas.

Wonderful as usual, just be careful not to overgrew it or overleaf it. My second brewing came out on the bitter side because of that.

Fantastic! This tea is sweet, with no astringency, and a complex and delightful combination of traditional black maltiness with a fruity, delicate finish that takes you by surprise. A different black tea, gentle and deserving of the full gong fu treatment. This most definitely goes on my shopping list when it runs out.
If you are looking for a different black tea – this certainly fits the bill