Shamrock Tea (52teas)

Frank over at 52teas keeps rolling out the flavors. He doesn’t seem to be slowing down a bit, even after more than 75 specialty flavors since the start of the project. The addition of the Permanent Collection has also been a bit boost. This wonderfully refreshing and invigorating Shamrock Tea from 52teas is good enough to make the list.

Visually the dry leaves are clearly a Sencha. The deep green color and the rolling style indicate this before anything else. The peppermint and spearmint leaves almost make it look like there are little Tencha flakes mixed in or that the Sencha leaves have been seriously mangled.

The dry aroma is sweet but minty, almost like a stick of mint chewing gum. It’s fresh and piquant. The sweetness I would guess comes only partly from the vanilla, and somewhat from the spearmint.

The brewed concoction presents a golden liquor where the aroma is mostly of spearmint though a hit of vegetal freshness also emerges.

Once on the palate the brew is excitingly fresh. Its mint mixture produces just the right amount of palate activity to draw a long tailing finish without overwhelming your tastebuds. The vanilla does seem to soften the brisk excitement caused by the mint as well.

There’s no drying of the palate or real astringency here. There is however a twinge of vegetal bite while the brew swirls in the mouth. However, it lasts just long enough to be replaced by the minty infusion.

I would recommend this to to fans of Senchas, flavored teas and mint teas. Fans of fresh Muscatel Darjeelings may also find this brew enjoyable.