115 Tasting Notes
It’s 85 degrees outsides and sunny, great day for another pitcher of iced tea. This one is inspiring in all its sugary sweet goodness. If you like fruity teas, you’ll love this one. The pitcher comes filled with fresh strawberries and balls of watermelon, honeydew and cantaloupe. The honey is star of this show by far, but it works in concert with the combination of fruits and tea flavors. It lingers just long enough to allow you the pleasure of savoring its great taste, but isn’t like normal honey that sticks in your mouth. Its timing is perfect, staying just long enough to make its point but not so long as to overstay its welcome. But once the honey as calmed and receded to the back of your tongue, the cool juices of the watermelon and honeydew massage your taste buds. I just think these “watery” types of fruit work so well with an iced tea like this. Their flavors are given the chance to show their true colors when blending with the rest of the liquid. Very enjoyable! It’s also interesting how the oolong flavor rides in on the tail of these powerful fruit flavors, reminding you that you are still drinking a tea and not a juice mix.
They really make the extra effort to perfect their tea here at the Radiance Tea house in Manhattan, I highly recommend them if you’re in the area (55th near 7th).
Comes in a clear pot and immediately the smooth and deep purple and red liquor is already calming but slightly upbeat. Swirling at the bottom is a cornucopia or fruit pieces and tiny rose buds. The aroma is sweet and slightly floral, very fresh. The tangyness of the pear cascades first, but it is trailed closely by traces of the carrot and rose cleaning and tantalizing your palate simultaneously. The mango is seemingly absent but that’s okay, the rest of the flavors carry the tea nicely. All of this is finished off with a tone of the black tea that is artfully sweet but subtle. Having it chilled with ice is a nice touch. And all the fruit in the pitcher is edible too, that is except for the rose flower buds. Don’t munch on those.
A fairly standard black tea. Nice deep color and decent aroma. I added a good amount of milk and sugar (I don’t usually do that) which helps cut back on the spicy flavor. Right as the spice is about to kick-in in full strength, the sugar and milk come and soften the blow. Even though its a breakfast tea it works well as a mid-afternoon cuppa.
Great smokey flavor. Makes me think of the smoke from a camp fire. I would describe it as camping in your mouth…if you get what I mean. Good if you’re in the mood for an earthy, woodsy tasting tea. Could be a little strong and distinct if you’re looking for something with a little more subtlety.
