The dry leaves…
The long wiry slightly reddish -brown hued leaves smelt vaguely of cocoa and molasses- very understated, but pleasant. The aroma of the dry leaves brought back memories of a cookie my grandmother used to make. YUMMY!!!
Brewing…
While brewing, the cocoa notes from the dry leaves was still there but less pronounced than I expected based on the initial aroma. Now there was a very faint note of dark raisins – which I love! Since it was a black tea, my water temperature was 212 degrees and I steeped it for three minutes.
In my cup…
The bright clear copper – colored liquor in my cup offered a strong and spicy, malty aroma. It was balanced with a brisk flavor, coupled with delicious hints of dark honey and malted grain, at the back end. There was a slight mellow sweetness to compliment, the heavier malty-ness. It had just the right depth, pungency and brightness, with a slightly tannic finish.
If you are in the market for a good-value, top-quality loose-leaf Ceylon Orange Pekoe, this is the tea for you. It is not unusual, distinctive, or unique – but just something simple and pure. This is just a very straightforward, refreshing. energizing black tea. It’s clean and crisp with a beautiful color and its warming flavors are delightful with its honey notes, peppery touch and slight astringency. Orange Pekoe Ceylon is a warm, comforting mellowing cup, which is the ideal choice for afternoon tea with friends, or to enjoy at any time of the day! This is a solid, unpretentious, well flavored black tea. This is a five for me!
Rating Scale
All teas will be rated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 for dislike and 5 as love:
- Dislike (I didn’t like the tea and would not repurchase)
- Passable (I didn’t dislike the tea, but I didn’t think it was very good)
- Average (I didn’t find it good or bad and would drink it again)
- Good (I liked it but it and may repurchase)
- Love (I enjoyed it lot and would repurchase
NEXT… Portugal
The ABC's of Tea 