New Tasting Notes
Brewed a cup this morning with a splash of milk and a two teaspoons of sugar. I really should be more generous with tea leaves, I’m always too stingy with them.
It’s loose leaf tea (of questionable quality) that I bought a while ago from a grocery store, and I’m pretty sure it’s ancient. Always a gold bag, and always masala chai, it’s kind of funny.
The first time I bought Gunpowder from The Tea Place, it tasted so smoky that I had to let the dry leaf sit for a couple of months before it wasn’t overwhelming. I’m told that Gunpowder isn’t supposed to be smoky, and when I tried Acquired Taste’s version, it wasn’t. This time, the Tea Place Gunpowder has only a mild smokiness. Not sure if that’s because it had been hanging around at the shop for a while. In any case, it’s good!
Has a very earthy and floral aroma that takes me straight to the garden. Having trouble tasting the passionfruit though (not necessarily the fault of the tea, probably just my untrained palate). The tart bitterness is present, but I am still missing fruitiness from the passion fruit.
I’m a little confused by Fortnum & Mason’s categorization of this tea as black, as I put pouchong generally in between green and oolong.
The aroma is subtle – and to me, the best part. Like with all floral teas (rose petal, etc.), it’s a complex tea. The flavor isn’t for everyone. I like it, but it’s a tea I would not drink every day. Rather, I’d save it for violet season or other celebratory occasions.
