Ceylon Silver Striped, Ratnapura, Sri Lanka

This is a tea I recenly purchased because of all the teas I do have, I didn’t have a Ceylon, and this one looked nice and delicious! Plus, my first experience with the Tao of Tea was a memorable one indeed.

You can definitely see the silver (white), tippy leaves in the tin, but the leaves are much smaller than in the picture, and a pretty tea regardless of the fact. I couldn’t detect much aroma from the leaves.

Upon steeping my first cup, the cup color was a deep brown, and at times it looked to have a dark red hue to it. The sweet aroma is one of dark brown sugar. Then I read the description, which states aromas of molasses, and black cherry. It has been quite a while since I’ve had molasses, but the aroma really may be more like molasses. Come to think of it, the darkly hued cup is akin to molasses. As far as the black cherry aroma, I wasn’t getting that at all, but there are woody and somewhat fruity aromas in the cup.

This really is a full flavored cup, but not stout. A definite woody flavor coats my tongue-oak comes to mind. The fruity aspects are secondary. I can’t really describe them except to say they are dark, like the brew itself. I detect no black cherry per se, but upon swallowing, there is a definite tang on my palate. There is also a light, unoffensive astringency as part of the flavor profile.

I had another cup on St. Pat’s Day, with much the same result. I was questioning myself as to this black cherry aspect, as far as aroma and flavor. I decided it wasn’t there (at least for me), with the possible exception of the tang on my palate I mentioned earlier. Also, I had plans to drink only green tea the rest of the day, & peppermint tea later at night, but that didn’t happen. ://

As Lotis and I were finishing dinner (he really does eat with me when I eat), he started acting peculiar raising his leg. I thought he was about to have an accident. The Monday before Thanksgiving he got out and chased the neighborhood cats-yes, he does like to chase cats! He ended up tearing his left hind ACL, and it was about 85-90% healed, when he slightly reinjured it about a month ago. Well, he got up from the floor raising his leg, and I got upset, because I knew he had stressed his ACL again! So, long story a little shorter, I sat on the couch by him and fell asleep early Saturday night. No green teas for me on St. Pat’s Day, and no tea for the rest of the night. [SIGH!] Lotis does seem to be doing better, but will have to take it easy-as much as possible anyway.

I had a couple more cups of this Ceylon today. Sweet, dark brown sugar/molasses, somewhat fruity aroma, with woody (oak), tangy flavors, and slight astringency on the palate.

Overall, I found this to be a worthy Ceylon tea to have in my cupboard. It is not my favorite, but it is unique. I’m used to Ceylons that are predominantly oaky (this tea wasn’t), lemony, or even minty. Honestly, I wanted this tea, EXPECTED this tea to have one (or a combination) of these qualities. I’ll say it again-I appreciate this tea for what it is! As a matter of fact, I’m glad it is different. It is a sweet, solid, delicious Ceylon, and a new tea experience! That’s what makes tea drinking so much fun. :))

Cupped: Friday, Saturday, & Monday, March 16, 17, & 19, 2012.

Reviewed: Monday, March 19, 2012.