I gave this tea a poor review back in November of 2014, but my brother picked up some more for me, in Detroit, and I gave it another try. It still was my least favorite of the Joseph Wesley teas.

My old review:

The first tea from Joseph Wesley to truly disappoint. The disparity in quality from the other teas is striking. Recognizable as an Assam, but uninteresting. Dry leaf is not very aromatic, mostly of dried fruit.

Upon brewing, produces a dark cup that is only weakly aromatic, mostly of malt and dried fruit. Flavor is mostly bitter, and there's a strong, tannic astringency. The cup is rather harsh.

I found that in order to brew strong enough that the aroma was to my liking, the tea was too harsh for me to drink.

The price is pretty astronomical too--$10 for 50 grams? I have had many Assams that were cheaper that I strongly prefer. I prefer Ahmad Tea's two Assams to this, and both are under $8 a pound. This tea is over 10 times as expensive, but to me, doesn't smell or taste as good.

My new review:

I found this tea equally boring and unsatisfying when brewed at regular strength, but, compared to my old memory and notes, I found that when I brewed it stronger, it was considerably smoother.

I used about a teaspoon and a half per cup and steeped for eight minutes, and it was not too bitter or astringent, if anything, it was still a bit too smooth and thin-bodied for my tastes. But the aroma was more complex: fruity and floral.

Still not great for a black tea, still my least favorite tea from Joseph Wesley, still overpriced, but better than my first experience drinking it.

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