Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: McNulty’s Tea and Coffee
About McNulty’s:
Since 1895, McNulty’s has been this country’s leading purveyor of choice coffees and rare teas. Our tradition of careful selection of only the finest is still true today.
A visit to our store is like a journey into another age. Located in the heart of New York’s Greenwich Village, the aura of a century long gone is timelessly preserved. Immediately upon entering the shop, one’s senses are delighted by the many aromas of coffees and teas from around the world. Sacks of coffee and chests of tea with obscure markings from far away lands are visible everywhere. Even the bins, chests, and scales, with which these products are stored and handled, date back to the previous century.
Taster’s Review:
This is a surprising Ceylon. Normally, when I think of a Ceylon, I think of a fairly even-tempered, moderate kind of black tea. This tea is a bit more finicky than what I expected, and not what I would call “moderate” in any way.
But that isn’t a bad thing … just different. Surprising. It has that “briskness” that I look for in a Ceylon, and it possesses a bit more complexity than I usually notice in a Ceylon. There is a background of fruit (citrus-y) and flowery (evoking thoughts of wildflowers). It has a smooth, honey-like sweetness and a hint of bitterness that hits about mid-sip. That bitterness was definitely unexpected. It has a savory quality to the bitterness, but it also seems to say “if you over-steep me, I will get harsh on you.” Fortunately, I did not over-steep!
There is a fair amount of astringency at the tail of the sip, it plays to the tangy flavor of the aforementioned citrus tones, but it also has a palate cleansing effect.
Overall, a very pleasant cup of Ceylon. I enjoyed it.
