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This tea should be better, i feel. it’s good, but not great. the underlying tea is nice, and the apricot flavor is ok. i had super-high hopes for this tea, and while it’s alright, it is definitely not exciting. perhaps that is a result of the oolong-y-ness. after all, i don’t think i’ve met a black tea flavored with apricot that i didn’t adore (RIP Steepster Summer Apricot Ceylon). I’ll use up this tin, but i wouldn’t re-purchase.

well, in my quest to find something to replace the NIna’s Paris Marie Antoinette tea (without ordering online), i discovered this on sale at the local World Market! brought it home and eagerly prepared a cuppa, steeping one sachet in about 9oz of freshly boiled water for 3 minutes. Initial thoughts? Although very slightly artificial tasting, overall quite delicious! I think the Nina’s base tea may have been a little more strong than this tea, but it’s still in there, taste-wise. the rose and apple flavors joust merrily with each other, never one beating the other back, but coming to a pleasing detente in the mouth. the aftertaste has just a touch of apple cider flavor to it, so i suppose apple wins after all.
Since i only had the Marie Antoinette once, in a french cafe in NM, i cannot directly compare. going by memory though, this is not an exact match, but does indeed scratch the itch when i’m craving some lightly perfumed apple tea, an apple tea that is not cinnamon-spice-based. plus, the price is definitely right.
all this said, i really hope my mom, local to that french cafe, gets me a box of Nina’s for Christmas.

did not like. not one bit. made me sad. tasted super fake. Harney & Sons teas are among my favorites, not dissing the brand, just this particular tea. ew.

oh, now, THIS is good! not quite a subtle as some other apricot flavored black teas i’ve tried, but more robust – i think the underlying tea might just be better. haven’t tried it iced, the others might be more for that. this one makes a lovely hot cuppa with a spoonful of sugar.

NOTE: THIS REVIEW IS FOR A PITCHER OF ICED TEA not the hot!

well, i should have noticed everyone talking about how not strong this tea is – 3 tsp steeped overnight in a pitcher of water in the fridge SHOULD have made a lovely strong brown frosty tea for today’s overbearing heat (106 heat index!! UGH). it instead made a lovely light brown flavored water. lots of sugar lovelied it up, but i guess i just learned a lesson about Yunnan Gold and iced tea, that is, NO.

i shall save the remainder of my sample for when i’m in the mood for a nice HOT yunnan gold, and treat it thusly.

SUMMER SIPDOWN! got a packet of this in some long-ago Steepster Select box, intended for iced tea – so that’s how i made it. although i must admit the instructions called for 1 tsp/4g tea to 18 oz of water, i just used ALL the tea (8 grams) to an entire IKEA pitcher (3/4 gal?) of water, let sit overnight, served cold. i must say quite a nice iced tea, very refreshing here in the land of SweetLiptonIcedTea. however, as i’m not the biggest iced tea fan, this was most likely a one-off. i’ll enjoy while it lasts.

i kept forgetting i had this to try – but remember this afternoon whilst watching the most delightful ASMR tea video. unfortunately discovered we’re out of milk AFTER brewing up a small pot, but even just sugar, this was a really nice everyday cuppa. brewed nice and strong without being bitter, has a lovely full taste. not quite as much depth as i like for a strong black tea, but i think will be easier on my tummy if i drink the whole pot than some.

i think i’ve settled into a groove. that groove would be Dancong Aria, basically my own personal favorite afternoon sipper. i’ve had this 8 oz package of the stuff for about 2 years, but only just in the last few months have i gotten serious about it…i must say it has aged (gotten stale?!) well! every afternoon if i don’t have my 3-4 gong fu style cups, i end up craving it and wishing i’d just brought some with me already! love this tea – the wet leaf smells like wet pot, the tea is just so deep and woodsy AND floral AND earthy AND perfection. long, long dry aftertaste that is just a delight. and i just reordered another 8oz – i cannot wait to try this fresh and new!

this is definitely out of the ordinary. will review better after another few steeps. out of time but wanted to make it known that i have imbibed the dark tea!