Despite the odd name, this was on sale in summer and I had to order it along with the Pina Colada oolong I adore. I LOVE the idea of cocoa shells with black tea and spicy pepper and this is exactly that. The tin is FULL so even if I’m trying to mix it, for now it seems the larger goodies will remain in the top of the tin. HUGE cocoa shells and whole tiny peppers. The flavor is a lovely balance of spicy and chocolate — just what I was hoping. The black tea is light now, but I’m sure it will get deeper the further down the tin I go, as the black tea is smaller than the cocoa shells or peppers. The second steep was much lighter, sadly, but MUCH more spice was apparent. I’m very glad I was able to nab this one. This will not just be a Christmas tea.
Steep #1 // 1 heaping teaspoon (plus one whole pepper) for a full mug // 16 minutes after boiling // 3 minute steep
Steep #2 // just boiled // 4-5 minute steep
2019 Sipdowns: 90 ( Fusion’s Roasted Pumpkin Mate & Kim’s Homemade chai)
Profile
Bio
Hi! I love tea and trying new ones – it adds a bit of variety to my day! Books, music, TV & movies are my thing… and tea, of course.
Some of my favorite tea shops (still operating):
birdandblendtea.com
teavivre.com
52teas.com
svtea.com
teakruthi.com
harney.com
angrytearoom.com
Dammann Freres
Yunnan Sourcing
fusionteas.com
AprTea.com
Javateaco.com
Lupicia
Plumdeluxe.com
Octaviatea.com
Davidstea
eco-cha.com
what-cha.com
justea.com
singleoriginteas.com
teasenz.com
tealyra.com
whisperingpinestea.com
Mandala
verdanttea.com
thenecessiteas.com
Favorite tea shops (RIP):
butikiteas.com
steapshoppe.com
steepcityteas.com
aquartertotea.com
dellaterrateas.com
zentealife.com
theteamerchant.net
joysteaspoon.com
tealiciousllc.com
Rivertea
Specialteas
My icon photo is Richard Mayhew from the graphic novel ‘Neverwhere’ by Neil Gaiman, Mike Carey & Glenn Fabry.
Most of the teas listed in my cupboard are actually sample sizes. I don’t really have 2,000 ounces of tea around here! Many of my teas have only one teaspoon left… maybe two. But I like keeping them in my cupboard list for reference to what I could be sipping. Usually, I write tasting notes once for each tea. I’m still drinking them, just not writing tasting notes each time!
My dislikes: hibiscus, ginger (unless in chai), turmeric, bee pollen, charcoal type flavors
My ratings:
95-100 – Super awesome deliciousness favorites – cupboard essential
80-95 – Also pretty delicious
65-80 – Pretty good
50-65 – Okay
1-50 – Probably won’t want to sip it again
I’m planning on being a Steepsterer as long as there IS a Steepster, so if you’re not hearing from me, that means something happened to my health… if you know what I mean. (Or as evidenced by the great computer hiatus of 2019, something happened to my computer.) :D
Happy sipping!
Location
USA
Trying to make sense of the name :) It does sound good though :D
I see it more as something like a Mexican hot chocolate, for sure.