So, having ascertained last night that I’m capable of operating the gaiwan without spilling hot tea all over myself, I decided to try one of Verdant’s black teas in it this morning. 3g of tea, 4oz of water. Verdant’s standard instructions suggest to steep for 2-5 seconds, and add a few seconds with each infusion. I think I started with 20 seconds, and immediately started going for longer and longer infusions trying to get the richness of flavour I was craving, until finally I had to just admit to myself that what I really wanted was to be steeping this western style. :) Oh well, live and learn. It was a perfectly pleasant tea to drink, I just found it… light… gong fu style. After the first infusion the wet leaves smelled way more interesting than the tea did. I only got the cocoa notes for the first 2-3 infusions, and then after that it was all roasty flavours, like a roasted oolong. Not bad, but I think just not what I was looking for first thing in the morning.
Flavors: Chocolate, Grain, Roasted
