TN05: Korakundah Estate BOP Organic

An Ode to Tea challenge – K

Had this a few days ago!  Another old tea – no note yet.  Thanks very much Meowster!   I don’t think I’ve ever had this type of tea before, from Korakundah Estate?  At least not knowingly. This is a BOP leaf (broken orange pekoe) so not the best quality of tea leaf.  But I’m not picky!  I agree entirely with Mastress Alita’s recent note (and only note for this tea from anyone so far.)  It’s funny we are both just NOW trying this tea from Meowster, but honestly, without the push of M A’s note, I probably wouldn’t have tried this yet.  It fits for ‘K’ though!  The flavor most reminds me of a Ceylon type of flavor if it was just slightly more complex.    The leaves are very tiny and choppy.  Not too dark, not too weak.  Malty, bready.  But I’m finding it hard to think of descriptors for these flavors!    But that’s a Ceylon type for me anyway. It’s a solid daily drinker.  I thought I let it steep too long on the second cup, but the flavor was fine. 
Steep #1 // 1 teaspoon for full mug // 21 minutes after boiling // 2 1/2 minute steep
Steep #2 // 3 minutes after boiling // 3-4 minute steep

Pulled this to replace a recent sipdown and serve as my Ode to Tea K entry! This tea was provided to me way back in 2018 from Meowster during a cupboard clearout, thank you!

Brewed 2.8g in 350ml 195F water with a 3 minute steep. Didn’t have any time to drink before work so I had to throw the tea in a thermos and jet off, and it is hard to smell much that far down the container (I didn’t even have time to brew a full thermos…) The only thing I can say for certain is “bready” until I’m able to make this tea at home, in a cup, with the proper time to drink it…

An hour later of my thermos sitting on my desk with the cap off and this is finally cool enough to drink (these Contigos don’t mess around). I’m getting a bit of malt, a wheat/rye baked bread, spices, a hint of smoke, and an indistant citrus note that leaves the tiniest tang at the end of the sip. Some sips are slightly grapey, others aren’t.

I have no idea how old this tea could possibly be by now (it could’ve already been quite old by the time Meowster de-stashed it, and I’ve added another three years onto that…) but this is perfectly servicable as a first-of-the-morning-hot-caffeine-infusion, despite the age.