Daylon R Thomas Send Message

Thank you Nichole for this one!

This is the highest rated tea on steepster as of now, but I’m not quite sure about it. I see why people enjoy this one: it tastes like Mackinac Island fudge with a thick malt, smothering over chocolate and vanilla. First time, I used half a tablespoon in about seven to eight ounces. I do get the chocolate and vanilla notes, but they are overwhelmed by the malt for me western after three minutes. I did it again after five, then eight minutes and I got a full vanilla fudge feeling at around 175 to 180 degrees in the second steep. Unfortunately, that disappeared into the malt. I tried to steep it for less time and less leaves, at about a teaspoon in four ounces. I tried it after a minute and twenty seconds, and I taste the vanilla more with a little bit of the breadish base, but the other natural notes of the tea being jumbled. I added about another minute, and again, fudge. Second steep, a changing flux of the vanilla and the malt and the chocolate, one overwhelming the other. Third, still a little too light, but less vanilla, and more of a light malt, perhaps white grape.

I had fairly high expectations for this one and I didn’t because this is a slightly older sample. I’ve also had North Winds which is a really complex black tea, one that really had to grow on me before I absolutely enjoyed it. I also had to use more leaves to get the full profile on it, and though I said in the review of that one that it needs something else like vanilla, I’m not sure if the vanilla fits because it kept on getting confused in the cup. Maybe the inconsistency is because the vanilla weakens with age, but the black tea should still be fine.

I tried it again today on the 25th with a teaspoon, and let it steep for about four minutes in five ounces. I made it significantly lighter than before and I was then able to taste more of the flavor. It was now a balanced fudge. I liked it more this time, but again, the same flavors but more evenly paced-still too drying.

I do like this tea, but it’s not the best I’ve had. Oddly enough, I preferred the North Winds in Gongfu because I got more flavors that were balanced-this was confused under malt. Hopefully this review isn’t obstructed by age (I think it’s from this year). I also think that it’s an issue of preference…I’m not a huge of a fan of vanilla chocolate fudge. I’m the one that opts out for fudges like chocolate walnut, orange, white chocolate, pistachio, amaretto, chocolate cherry. More than likely, I would probably like the Cocoa Amore more because it has an Ailaoshan base, giving cherry to compliment the vanilla and cocoa….darn it being more expensive.