Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Utopia Tea
Tea Description:
Sweet, grape-like litchi berries combined with red raspberries, and fruity Keemun (“Chinese famous black tea”) produce a brisk and sweet cup that is thoroughly satisfying. Black tea contains a large amount of antioxidant compounds called polyphenols that aid in fighting harmful diseases while protecting the body. Black tea is also known to strengthen the immune system, lower cholesterol, and protect teeth and bones. Small amounts of calcium, manganese, and potassium have also been found in black tea. This is one to enjoy hot or over ice!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I have to admit that if I were shopping on the Utopia Tea website, this is not a tea I would have selected for myself. I like Litchi teas (or Lychee teas … or however one chooses to spell it!) but, I don’t usually get overly excited about them because sometimes they can be just … a bit too much, and because of that, I don’t generally buy them for myself.
Fortunately, this Little Litchi Raspberry Black Tea Blend from Utopia Tea has a nice balance of raspberry and Litchi fruit so the Litchi doesn’t come off as “weird” or off-putting. The raspberry offsets the distinctive flavor of the Litchi … providing a really tasty treat for the taste buds!
There is a distinct tart note to this cup, and if I didn’t read the ingredient list on the package before I tasted it, I would have guessed that there is hibiscus in this one. It doesn’t really taste overtly hibiscus-y, but, it does have that tart note from the hibiscus and that’s what I’m tasting here.
But, the hibiscus works within this blend. The Keemun black tea base is a robust black base, and I like the way it melds with the hibiscus and the other flavors. The Keemun has a slight smoky note to it … it’s faint, but it’s there. There is more of a wine-like character to this Keemun than a smoked note, and I think that the wine-y quality works well with the raspberry and litchi (and the hibiscus!)
Overall, the flavor is sweet and tart and very nicely round. There are nice layers of flavor. It doesn’t come off as too tart, or too sweet. It isn’t bitter or overly astringent. It’s really quite pleasant … and this is one that’s tasty hot or iced!
