Dark Tickle

Dec 2025 TTB, 2nd round.
Iceberg Tea; by Dark Tickle
I am not sure how this tea got its name because, to me, “iceberg” evokes a cooling sensation, such as from mint or wintogreen or camphor, and there is none of that here. Loose leaf black tea in a sturdy plasticized kraft paper zip bag. 2.5 g / 8 oz. / 212°F / 3 min. in a stainless micropore infusion basket. Soft blueberry fragrance on the dry leaf, which intensified nicely whilst steeping and returned as the infusion cooled. I have never tasted bilberries, but will assume they taste the same as their sister-species, blueberries — and this blend contains both. Steeped flavor was somehow “dusty” and slightly sweet, with a gentle vegetal taste (probably from all the flower petals) and some unremarkable black tea base, but devoid of berry flavor while sipping and slurping. The berry flavor appeared in the long, soft finish, and was fairly natural tasting (there were scattered whole dry berries in the dry blend, which floated about as the infusion proceeded). There was a quarter cup of cold liquid remaining in my teacup, to which I added a half teaspoon of sugar, but finding no improvement, I discarded the rest. I’m happy that other sippers really enjoyed this tea, which I can only attribute to their superior palate and experience, and I’m sad that I cannot share their enthusiasm and recommend it. I was disappointed that I found no strong flavor to enjoy in the hot liquor, and that influenced my rating, which I’ll set at 60. If you seek a hot tea having a satisfying berry flavor, perhaps you should look elsewhere.

TTB! The berry flavor was fun! With milk and sugar, this was all right cold. I surprisingly preferred it warm! The berry and black base go well together.

2024 sipdown no. 6

This tea is so wonderful. The blueberry comes through clearly along with the maple. It’s giving blueberry waffles with maple. It’s truly delicious and I shall get more ASAP.