For the first time trying this, I had it hot. The dry leaf smells very strongly of strawberry but there is a certain warmth from the pepper as well. I love pepper in tea! There is tons of strawberry pieces and peppercorns in the leaf. While this was steeping, my sister came in to the kitchen and asked where the jelly was – this smells exactly like strawberry jelly cubes!
I can taste soft strawberries – not tart, but not too sweet either. The pepper adds a good kick at the end of the sip. I didn’t think these two flavours would mesh well, but the bite of the pepper really compliments the strawberry. The flavours don’t overpower the tea base either – it is slightly earthy and very robust. Very good!