As part of a great Diwali Gift Pack, I received a packet of different tea blends from TeaBox, each classified for a different day. One of those packets, was a blend of a tea called as Mountain Rose, which was labelled as Rosy and Robust, perfect for a Friday.

So, one Friday afternoon, I set out to make myself a cup of this Mountain Rose tea. It required boiling one cup of water, and the one teaspoon of the tea being steeped for about four minutes.

The dry leaves of the tea are intensely floral, sweet, dessert-like. The leaves are black and long, rolled, with red and blue flowers.

The tea infusion  has green-coppery leaves with deep pink rose petals, and has an aroma reminiscent of a bouquet of flowers, a sweet smell with a hint of cardamom.

The tea liquor has aromatic notes of jasmine, rose and sweet cardamom. It is dark amber in color. This liquor is intensely sweet, silky and round with no astringency, with clear notes of rose, jasmine, cardamom and cream. Ideally, tea is quite an astringent in nature, however, this tea does not feel astringent at all, it is very smooth and gentle. The caffeine content in this tea is also quite low. It is prescribed as best consumes as cold.

It could be drunk plain or with sugar or honey added to it. I wanted to experience the bare notes and flavors, so I chose to do it plain with nothing added in. I had it at a lukewarm temperature, though I liked it hot too. It could be classified as a dessert tea, while at the same time, it could also be good to have at all times of the day. The floral notes of the tea do not overpower the aroma and fragrance of the tea itself. The tea is gentle, a great accompaniment for a ‘sit back and relax’ time. This is also something I could have when I am cooking a nice meal, you need a relaxed cool head and wanted to enjoy what you are doing. It is said that this tea transports you to a summer in an English garden with a table laid out with the finest white China or maybe even a Victorian theater, that is the kind of freshness and delight one experiences while sipping this tea. It is delicate an very refreshing. This tea requires a taste to be cultivated and acquired, for one to open their minds and be open to experimentation.