An intriguing blend that I liked a lot. I had no idea what to expect, but I was pleased. Without a doubt, my favorite flavored or blended white tea yet.

The dry leaf has a very strong smell, suggestive of baked goods, like a pie or tart, perhaps with raspberry, strawberry, or lemon, and then fading into an aroma suggestive of potpourri.

Brewed as recommended, produces a thin-looking cup with a surprisingly bold flavor. Flavor is slightly tangy, and the aroma is fruity, giving the effect of fruit juice. I notice the chamomile a lot in the finish, there is an aroma of straw and apples that I associate with chamomile, as well as a muted bitterness, which is nicely complemented by the sharp flavor and pungent aroma of the rose. The silver needle base seems to impart a background, a full-bodied character, but the aroma of the base tea is almost unnoticeable, backgrounded by the floral ingredients.

TeaVivre recommends a short steeping, 1-3 minutes, and I was surprised to find I agree with this, actually preferring to go on the short side, starting with 1 minute, then following with 2 for the second steeping and a little longer after that. Brewing this way, this tea produces at least three flavorful cups. If using a longer first steep, I found this tea tasted too strong for me.

I also tried making this tea iced, as I had an intuition that it would taste good iced, but I didn't like the results as much. I think it tastes much better hot.

This is my favorite flavored / blended white tea ever...but...it's awful expensive for a flavored tea. I don't understand why they wouldn't use a lower-grade tea as base...at around $18 for 50 grams, this is competing with some of the best artisan pure teas out there, and I can't see buying this on my own.

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