So apparently this blend never made it into my cupboard, so I’m back up a blend. It’s kind of a disappointing feeling because it negates the only sipdown I managed to get in all day.
Anyway, this sample comes from aisling of tea – I took advantage of the fact she has a whole bunch of RiverTea blends and I requested this one because it’s something I never would have ordered for myself, and Spring Tea because I wanted to do a comparison between it and Tea Desire’s version (which I still have to do).
This is a really interesting blend. Aesthetically speaking, it’s really beautiful – the colours of the very shapely orange swirls, blue cornflower, and the bright raspberry bits all really pop and make this something fun to look at. It’s something I’d be tempted to serve to guests/company purely because of the presentation of it.
I’m still not really that experienced with Pu’Erh blends, so I don’t know how much my word should be taken on this, but I found that the Pu’Erh really stood out – much in the way I experienced DT’s Chocolate Orange. It was really thick, and the word that springs to mind is “oily”. I also felt like there was a kind of earthy musk to it. The fruit flavours were a little lost under all that ‘weighty’ Pu’Erh, but I could still get a feel of the orange (in a sort of rind like way) and the raspberry in a really subtle, nuanced way.
My overall impression is that as a first cup this was really weird but in an intriguing way where I wanted to keep drinking just to experience all the layers of it. I think it’s the kind of blend that would really grow on you the more you have it; an “acquired taste” type of tea.
Flavors: Berries, Earth, Loam, Orange Zest
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Loam? Fancy!
Basically like clay… First tea I’ve been able to apply it to :P
Haha yes that’s neat. Also, I love that loam is a flavour but pumpkin or raspberry aren’t. :P
I’ve come to the conclusion that the flavours list is more accurate when trying to describe straight blends than flavoured ones. Think about it; how often do you see Apricot, Citrus or Raisin as flavour descriptors for straight teas (Stacy’s tea descriptions for her straight blacks spring to mind) in contrast to flavours like Pumpkin, Raspberry or Apple. The former aren’t really “natural” flavours in straight blends. Loam, baked bread, tobacco or grass in a straight blend? Not as much of a stretch.
Very true! Brilliant. Although, I wish I could add flavours to all my teas.
Loam? Fancy!
Basically like clay… First tea I’ve been able to apply it to :P
Haha yes that’s neat. Also, I love that loam is a flavour but pumpkin or raspberry aren’t. :P
I’ve come to the conclusion that the flavours list is more accurate when trying to describe straight blends than flavoured ones. Think about it; how often do you see Apricot, Citrus or Raisin as flavour descriptors for straight teas (Stacy’s tea descriptions for her straight blacks spring to mind) in contrast to flavours like Pumpkin, Raspberry or Apple. The former aren’t really “natural” flavours in straight blends. Loam, baked bread, tobacco or grass in a straight blend? Not as much of a stretch.
Very true! Brilliant. Although, I wish I could add flavours to all my teas.