I think this might be the last of the teas from a swap with Mastress Alita.
I had been brewing this one grandpa, both in a 10oz mug and a typical paper coffee cup, using 3-4 pearls and 200 to 212F. When brewed in a mug, I could get one good top-off and a second if I was jonesing. The resulting liquor was thick and oily but light in taste with dominant notes of cocoa and leather with faint vanilla, no hint of bitterness and only a slight astringency, perfect for a warming cup before my night classes. The fog at night has been brutal lately. I love it.
This morning, I finished off the sample by brewing western and paying a little more attention. 4 pearls, 8oz, 212F, 3 steeps at 3/5/? min. The dry leaf had scents of cocoa, sweet potato, leather, spice and orange. The brewed liquor was fragrant with cedar, leather, smoke, oak, faint malt and orange. Surprisingly, the cocoa I tasted when brewed grandpa didn’t show up for me brewed western. It tasted mostly of leather, orange, cedar, mineral and a complementary smokiness. The astringency was a little more pronounced, the mouthfeel was thinner but the tea still produced a long-lasting oily slickness on the tongue.
I love the convenience and versatility of this tea and the change in palate when brewed grandpa vs western. For me, though, it’s missing a bit of depth. Still a good tea regardless and definitely a great tea for no fuss, on the go brewing.
Thanks again, Mastress Alita :)
