A Decent but Unremarkable Tea

Hey there!

As a total tea enthusiast, I'm always on the lookout for new flavors and brands to try with my husband. We've developed a system - some teas become regulars, while others just don't make the cut. When I spotted Richard's Tea with a strawberry and golden apple flavor, I just had to give it a shot. Where I bought it and how much it cost:

I picked it up at Metro for 100 rubles (99.9r). First impressions:

The packaging is sleek and stylish, with a rich dark blue color that looks super premium. There's even a logo at the top and a little tea infuser with strawberry slices and a chunk of apple at the bottom. Richard's Tea packaging

The packaging also features some eye-catching ads for other flavors from the same brand. Other flavors from Richard's Tea

At the bottom of the packaging, there are some helpful tips on how to brew the perfect cup. Brewing instructions

How the manufacturer describes the tea:

Exquisite black tea with blackcurrant and succulent golden apple Manufacturer's description of the flavor

Ingredients:

The tea itself, a flavoring agent, and some fruit pieces Black tea, golden apple flavoring, blackcurrant, and apple Ingredients and manufacturer information

What's inside the packaging:

You get 25 individually wrapped tea bags, each containing 1.7g of tea. Tea packaging contents Tea Bag Contents

Tea Bag Contents I had to tear open one of the tea bags just to see what's inside. And let me tell you, it's a mix of tea leaves, dried apple bits, and cranberries. Tea Bag Contents Upon closer inspection, you can see the tea leaves, apple bits, and cranberries. It's a nice combination, but I'm not sure if it's the best pairing. Tea with Fruit Bits Brewing the Tea The tea starts to reveal its color immediately. Pouring Boiling Water Brewing the Tea I let the tea bag steep in the cup for a few minutes. Steeping Time: 2-4 Minutes After a few minutes, the tea had developed a nice color, but the flavor was surprisingly weak. I've had other teas, like Ahmad's Tea, that were more robust. Brewed Tea Tea Color The tea itself is a standard black tea, but it looks appetizing. Tea Color Tea Aroma The aroma is surprisingly weak, and I was expecting it to be stronger. It smells pleasant, with a hint of cranberry. I'd even say it smells like cranberry leaves. The apple is almost undetectable, with very subtle notes. Taste The tea tastes good, but the flavor is also surprisingly weak. It's mostly cranberry, with the apple being almost imperceptible. And the cranberry itself is quite subtle, not very intense. Verdict My husband didn't enjoy the tea at all, but I found it to be a pleasant, if unremarkable, experience.I have to say, my daughter liked it too. I ended up drinking almost the whole pack by myself.We're unlikely to buy it again, though. Nothing's wrong with the tea itself - it's just not our cup of tea, I guess.