Thanks to Indigobloom for this sample as well! I’m glad I finally started tackling some more of my samples from her because they’re super tasty!
So yes, I’ve already sipped at this one, and although I was concerned about a lack of aroma initially, there’s enough flavour here to make me happy. I did the same thing as with the Chocolate Orange Pu’erh, and used about 2.5 tsp leaf for 10-12oz., and although it could be stronger, I’m getting tasty, light strawberry on a nice black base, with zero bitterness. I can’t really say I’m tasting shortcake here at all, just a nice strawberry black, but that’s fine by me, as I’m not fond of shortcake anyhow. The DavidsTea version of SS was much truer to actual shortcake, if that’s what someone is looking for!
Planning on doing the same thing for the re-steep as well, and call this a sipdown by using up the remaining 1/2-1 tsp.
ETA: Re-steep was a bit bitter. I think I should have just brewed a really tiny cup with the remaining small amount of leaves instead of mixing the two, because I’m pretty sure there was little to no flavour left in the used leaves. Ah well.