Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: dark green, curled with lots of nut pieces
Ingredients: Organic Green Tea, Pistachios (roasted, unsalted), Lotus Stamens, Natural Flavoring (vegan)
Steep time: 3 minutes
Water Temperature: 180 degrees
Preparation Method: ceramic teapot and mesh infuser
Liquor: very pale
I received a sample of this blend as part of an Amoda Tea Monthly Tea Tasting Box. Although I’m not a huge fan of pistachios, the idea of an ice cream flavored tea certainly was intriguing. The taste was sweet, creamy and nutty all at once. The green tea was vegetal and mellow. I appreciate that they used Mao Jian, a higher quality tea than you would find in most flavored blends. It provided the perfect base for the other ingredients to shine. There was just a hint of astringency but it did not come off as bitter at all. I don’t really like pistachios all that much but this tea was very enjoyable. Lotus stamens are an unusual ingredient choice and I don’t think I’ve seen them before in a tea. They had a sticky sweetness that lingered in the back of my throat. A touch of sugar would make the flavoring really pop but since this is a green tea I definitely wouldn’t suggest adding milk or any kind of creamer.
You can find out more about this tea here.