The regal, royal language on the packaging and website convey an image of heavenly bliss upon being graced with the blessing of having this tea's flavor touch one's tongue. Well, it ain't that spectacular, but this curiously named offering is fairly delicious.

As sometimes is the case, I got an unopened and sealed box of the loose tea really cheap at an estate sale, figuring (as usual) that if it's good I'll keep and sip and cherish, and if not, I'll give it away or launch it unceremoniously into the compost pile.

It's a keeper. As go Ceylon black teas I've tried, this offering is in the upper reaches of the middle quartile. The aroma is richer, both in the box and in the cup, than a lot of Ceylons I've had. Flavor-wise, nothing amazing, no particular notes obvious to me, outside perhaps a hint of cardamom that I might have been just imagining. But it does deliver a consistently smooth, fairly rich brew throughout the cup, start to finish.

The leaves are very finely chopped, almost granular, as if they were intended for bags but not bagged. Given that situation, I almost rated the bagged version of the same tea that the site just put up, but figured to be literally honest and add the loose version just in case there is any difference.

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