The first few steeps of this reminds me of a good smoked lapsang with the smoke present but not overpowering mixed with tart fruit and caramelized sugar. Later steeps become thicker, with the introduction of cocoa and a silkier chocolate like texture.
The owners daughter drinks this as a milk tea with salt. I tried it just with salt and it helps cut the smokiness and emphasizes the fruitiness and brings out the sugar notes. There is a lingering spicy aftertaste mixed with a tart fruit which reminds me of a cross between tart apples and quince. I quite like it.
I used approximately 4g in 75ml of boiling water. The first steep was 10s and was increased in 5-10s intervals.
Spring Tea house used to be known as golden coast tea club. The tea can be found here :
http://www.gc-tea.com/dark-teas/dark-buds
↧