Very green character, even more than typical for a first-flush, both in the appearance of the leaves and the aroma. The cup is a deep amber color. The aroma is light and mostly floral, almost reminiscent of queen Anne's lace blossoms. On my second brewing I did detect a faint suggestion of spearmint in the aroma, and spicy undertones, suggestive of coriander. Very light aroma- and flavor-wise, possibly bordering on bland, but relatively full-bodied.

Upton recommends a single infusion of 1 to 1.5 minutes. Brewing for 1 min., I was able to get a second infusion out of the leaves by brewing for 3 min., and the result was actually more flavorful than the first, which was unusual for a broken leaf tea. This tea is so smooth and gentle, I think it is better to make a single, longer infusion. I also recommend using a fair amount of leaf. The greener, more oolong-like character tempted me to try slightly cooler (~195F) water--don't! This tea is better with boiling water as Upton recommends.

When brewed the 3 min. way, this tea is, in my opinion, outstanding, especially for a broken-leaf tea of this price.

This doesn't even resemble TD22, another broken-leaf first flush from Upton. That tea, although more flavorful than this one, has a heaviness completely lacking here. This tea is very light.

People who want a mild black tea might really enjoy this one.

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