Description
| Appearance: Ambrato, luminoso | Aroma: Floreale, cacao, citronella, miele di erica | Taste: Dolce |
| Altitude: 200 - 300 m s.l.m. | Origin: Villaggio di Qaleh Rudkhan, prov. Guilan, Iran | Harvest: Aprile 2024 |
Infusion parameters: Western | ||
 90°C |  2 min 30 sec |  3 gr / 200 ml |
Tasting Notes
The name we have chosen for this tea is not accidental: in music, the word “symphony” defines a piece for orchestra that consists of several movements and is articulated according to precise dynamics. Similarly, Persian Black Symphony amazes us with its aromatic complexity and reveals its facets of aromas and flavors as the tasting proceeds, note by note, movement by movement. Like a beautiful symphony.
The leaves warmed in the teapot immediately captivate with warm hints of chocolate mixed with coffee beans, hazelnut crumbs, chocolate cookie and black bread. It would seem clear the direction this tea has taken, but instead there is a twist.
Once steeped, its leaves allow very intense floral notes to emerge , followed by firm hints of cocoa and a fresh finish that is reminiscent of lemongrass and pricks our senses.
On the palate, the music changes again: sweet and vaguely wild notes of heather honey now arrive, along with cocoa , mixed with floral hints. The panorama of flavors is further enriched as the tasting proceeds: memories of cooked fruit (caramelized apple, fig) now also emerge , and – as if to recall theoverture with which this symphony opened – here comes back milk chocolate, driven by a very slight tonka bean spice that we perceive especially in the aftertaste.
The body is medium, definitely enveloping and round. The taste is sweet and makes us fall in love.
It is curious how a recently produced Iranian tea recalls the “old school” style of the original Darjeeling First Flush productions. Thanks to a very pronounced withering (as much as 60 percent, so much so that one could call it a “hard-withered” tea), it indeed retains that same kind of pronounced florality, but with more oxidation and warmer, vaguely roasted tones.
This is certainly a very interesting ensemble that will win over and amaze both younger and more experienced palates.
Perfect for you if…
- You love teas with elegant floral notes
- You want to explore little-known production areas
- You like to be surprised sip after sip by aromatically complex teas
Additional information
- Picking: Manual, 1 bud + 2 leaves
- Cultivar / variety: Camellia Sinensis Sinensis (from seeds)
- Withering: 60%
Sara Bertoncini
