Berry Mocha Truffle

I’ve dreamed of what this tea tasted like since I heard about it years ago. So I really appreciate the sample, Octavia Tea! THIS TEA TASTES JUST AS A I DREAMED IT. The name of the tea is very accurate: it tastes just like a berry truffle. First, the ingredients seem finely chopped, on the smaller side, which I knew would create a darker flavor: black tea, cocoa shells/husks, strawberries, raspberries and flowers. I used a teaspoon and a half which seems perfect. Can I scream from the rooftops how much I love the use of COCOA HUSKS here? I always appreciate cocoa shells. The dusky cocoa on the black tea base with the flavor of berries is just perfectly balanced all the way through. Close your eyes and it tastes just like a chocolate filled with berry ganache. I could probably do without the various flower petals, just to have room for more of the truffle ingredients, though that is a small complaint for this amazing tea. I haven’t seen this blend anywhere else — it’s one of those flavor combinations that will linger like Octavia’s French Breakfast. I had a ton of berries this morning, so it certainly wasn’t a case of a craving for berries! This tea stands on its own.
Steep #1 // 1 1/2 teaspoons for a full mug // 17 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // 4 minutes after boiling // 4 minute steep
2019 sipdowns: 49 (one of my pouches of Della Terra’s Classic Apple Pie)

Sipdown (136)

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!

Thank you Roswell Strange for sending this to me so long ago. For some reason, I always kept passing it by when it came to picking teas and I honestly have no idea why because this is definitely a flavor that I would pick myself. Today I decided it nicely suited the theme of Valentine’s so why not finally give it a go.

Unfortunately for me, I either waited too long or simply knew deep down that this is one tall cup of nope for me. There is a dark chocolate vibe to it, but one that is musty and old…like a chocolate bar or hot chocolate powder that has been sitting open for a bit too long. As for the berry, while abundant in the smell, I got none in taste. Honestly, I am hoping the leaf has simply gone rancid as this was undrinkable. Still, I am crazy grateful to Roswell Strange because this was one I considered ordering back when I was checking out Octavia’s website and now I know better.

Edit: Just realized this is my 2,500 tasting note!!

Sipdown (112)!

Well, I forgot to message my list of tasting note jot notes this morning, so before I struggle to remember what I drank and what I thought about it I’m going to write about the tea I’m currently drinking at work. Bleck; I hate out of order tasting notes, but I’d rather write accurately.

Dry, this visually has a lot of cocoa shells/husks in it as well as tiny shredded bits of what looks like strawberry, and tiny black tea leaves. It smells very much like powdered hot chocolate and maybe a little bit of fruit. Now that it’s steeped up, it’s definitely got a richer chocolate taste and a lovely fruitiness to it that reminds me of that sugary strawberry waffle topping you can get with your Belgian waffles at any kind of breakfast restaurant. Mmm! The “mocha” part isn’t super obvious to me though: I don’t really taste any sort of coffee flavour. As it’s cooled, the fruit has become more apparent.

Took the bus ride to work, but I finally realized that what this is reminding me of is the Strawberry Cacao from Herbal Infusions, but richer/higher quality. Pretty good; plus, this seems to be a much easier company to deal with than HI.

EDIT: I just looked it up and apparently this is raspberry/chocolate – but I definitely tasted strawberry.