5 Tasting Notes
Got this muslin tea bag as part of a T2 sample box, and as I try to have at least one cup of green tea a day, this was a good choice for today. In the cup, this smells extremely vegetal, and weirdly enough, at times like… rotisserie chicken? (Weird, I know, but there were hints of it!) There’s a dirty earthiness to it, and while I’ve tasted a lot of weak senchas, this isn’t one of them.
The taste is very similar to the smell: vegetal, thick-feeling but not in a bad way. It reminds me a lot of parsley tea because of the strong grassiness. This is a sencha for real green tea lovers and not for the novice sipper. It’s good, but something I’ll definitely have to be in the mood for.
This came as a “sachet mystere” (or mystery sachet) in my Theodor order which arrived fresh from France just this morning. Yes, despite having just been in Paris again a little over a week ago, I didn’t bring any back and therefore shelled out the exorbitant shipping prices for here in the EU. In any case, they were generous with the samples they included and Une Autre Idee was the first one I’ve made this morning.
In the mug, it’s a gorgeous red-tinged rooibos with a pleasant, sweet smell of tropical fruits that are rather natural instead of cloying/too artificial. The smell alone is delicious, but the taste delivers as well. The pineapple and coconut are at the forefront but not so overpowering that they seem too perfumey. The floral flavor, which I can only attribute to the marigold, comes in softly after, giving it an herbaciousness that really suits it. This is another one I can imagine being lovely iced, but hot is just as pleasant and I may include a larger serving in my next order!
Preparation
Bought a variety pack of T2 teas as an intro to the brand and decided Gorgeous Geisha was first up. I love a cup of green tea in the morning and we’re getting our kitchen refitted which means getting to the fridge for milk (as I’d add to most black teas) was a no-go. In any case, good choice! I was worried that the fruit might be too strong and override the gentle grassiness that is green tea, but that was in vain because the two flavors mingle perfectly together. It’s slightly sweet without being anywhere near cloying. I’m having it hot but have no doubt this would be wonderful iced, so I’ll try it that way next time!
I’d heard such good things about Mariage Freres as a brand and about this blend in particular and while I was literally just in Paris less than a week ago, I failed to pick any up before I left. I had to order it when back in the UK and pay the exorbitant shipping prices… but it was all worth it! My order arrived this morning and a cup of French Breakfast was at the top of my agenda.
This is a gorgeous black blend, nice and strong but with some lovely chocolate subtleties without the bitterness that can sometimes come with black tea blends (particularly when oversteeped, which I tend to be guilty of on occasion). This is a great way to get the day started and will definitely be part of my regular tea repertoire.
