The Leaf: all black, twisted and curled, with a mix of loose stems. The scent is very strong and, of course, smokey. The smell is too concentrated and overpowering; it smells like a forest fire.
The Brew: The liquor is surprisingly light-pale golden brown. The aroma is definitively smokey, but the harsh edge from the leaf has been cut and is at a good level of intensity. Still, the smell is a bit off in that it has almost a burnt rubber character to it. The taste is not bad but flat, with just a basic smokiness to it. The mouthfeel is dry and the aftertaste is light and fleeting.
I drink all of my teas cold.
sometimes I get that same burned rubber smell off of black tea with vanilla flavoring in it…. puts me off straight away. Same with smoke like a “forest fire”….I live in a fire zone and teas like that give my tongue PTSD!