fred_mouse

Described on the website as:

"A spectacle of sunshine and tropical optimism, this morning brew is a complex blend of Chinese, Sri Lankan and Indian black teas. This bright happy tea combines the flavours of Assam and Darjeeling, with a subtle and inscrutable tinge of exotic mango. That is not to say this tea should not be taken seriously - it is brisk and sophisticated and can be proudly served beside all the classics in any high tea. A versatile number, the addition of milk makes for a robust and delectable drop, or for a hot summers morning, brew up a jumbo cup of iced tea and bask in the sunshine. Brisbane breakfast - beautiful one day, perfect the next."

Um, really? The tinge of mango is indeed subtle, because I didn't notice it at all. However, I did notice that there was a bit of fruity flavour, so maybe I'm not as hopeless as I think I am. As for the blend of multiple sources - I'm not a single plantation purist, but I don't get the point of mixing and matching like that - it just increases the food k's of the mix. And I don't think I have the faintest idea as to the differences between Chinese, Sri Lankan and Indian black teas.

As for the taste - I liked this one a lot. It felt like tea, without being particularly bitter, and without the horrible over the top essential oil smells that so many flavoured teas have. I liked this one, and would be willing to buy it - which is presumably why the website lists it as 'out of stock'.

now on to the tea appreciation post

I haven't been doing so well on the tea reviewing front, because I took the sample box of teas to work thinking that it was a good idea - most of the black tea I drink is at morning tea time. This has backfired, because I *still* haven't been drinking it, because I want to remember to review. Today, I identified it as a 'stalled project' and decided to move it back to 'current'.

I didn't feel up to black tea today, so I sorted through to find a green tea. 'Gorgeous Geisha' is touted as 'delicious Sencha green tea ... flavours of strawberries and cream'. I hadn't read past 'green tea' so opening the packet was a bit of a surprise - the scent is very strong. While technically there *are* strawberries in the mix (freeze dried, <2%), I'm thinking it is the 'flavour' ingredient that is probably more relevant here.

As to the taste - the fruity aroma took a while to transfer to the tea, by which time the green aspect was a touch more bitter than I prefer. In addition, the overwhelming scent on opening the packet was too much - I very nearly didn't drink it. Note though that I'm scent sensitive, especially on some of the fruity scents (plus rose and vanilla). It may well be that on other days, I would not have noticed the scent nearly as strongly.

This is a pass, do not collect $200, do not buy this one again.

As a gift of the mid-summer season, I received an assorted box of tea from T2. I drank one of them, and quite liked it (forgot to make note of it), and in the interests of being able to remember which ones I did and didn't like, I'm going to make a record of them.

Today's is French Earl Grey. This one fails my basic test of an Earl Grey - there is no bergamot. Instead, it has hibiscus, sunflower petals, rose petals, mallow flowers and 'flavours'. I really don't get the point of calling it 'Earl Grey' without the bergamot, because the flavour is so iconic, at least for me. This one has a hint of the bitter aftertaste that i like so much, but rather than the clarity that I want, it is a blurred fruity aftertaste. While I like fruity tisanes, and I like combinations of rose and hibiscus*, and I like Earl Grey, I don't like this one. The combination utterly fails for me. 1/5

* yes, I know generally I don't like rose in tea, but rose-n-hibiscus is different - as long as I'm getting a hint of rose, rather than it being the primary scent, I'm a lot happier with it.

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tea tasting - 'Brisbane Breakfast'

tea tasting - 'Gorgeous Geisha'

tea tasting - french earl grey

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