I’m sharing my review of Rose Label Gold from Nepal Tea Collective. I’ve been lucky enough to have had two delightful tea sessions, on different days, with this tea.
This black tea is from a special cultivar (BB157). It was grown in Nepal. Despite not being scented or having any flavors added, this tea has heady notes of rose and other lovely floral, spice, and citrus notes. It’s the alchemy of cultivar, terroir, weather, and processing!
Beautiful Packaging
This tea arrives vacuum sealed in a bag nestled inside a beautiful wooden box with a carved rose on the lid. The real fun starts when you open and steep the tea, of course!
I begin by sharing my steeping notes for the second session I had with this tea because I think it will be most representative of future tea sessions. (I’ll explain more about this in my review of Rose Label Gold below.)
Rose Label Gold Second Session
Both times I steeped this tea I was close to, but not exactly using, the suggested parameters from Nepal Tea Collective. The main differences were that I added more tea and a shorter first steep.
Tasting Notes
FIRST INFUSION
Three-minute steep with 3.2 grams of tea leaves in 8 ounces (230 ml) of water at 180F (82C).
- Color: gorgeous and luminous, burnt amber
- Aroma, while still very hot: rose, with very subtle lemongrass and more florals
- Taste: rose, other florals, tiny bit of lemongrass, apple, honey. As it cooled slightly, I could taste pronounced spiciness at the end—like green cardamom, with a lovely lemon peel twist.
- Mouthfeel: silky, medium-full body
SECOND INFUSION OF ROSE LABEL GOLD
One-minute steep, 6 ounces of water, same temperature as above
- Taste and aroma: rosier and spicier–definitely green cardamom! Tomato vine note added as it cooled.
It was a completely lovely sensory experience drinking this tea–like having tea in a rose garden with a cardamom pastry. Dreamy.
I felt like this tea might have given me a third infusion, but I didn’t try. That’s an experiment for another day.
Review of First Tea Session
I also loved my first session with Rose Label Gold from Nepal Tea Collective. Surprisingly, as I opened the vacuum-sealed bag for the first time, the aroma of lemongrass was powerful and lovely.
The first session had the lemongrass and rose balanced…with spiciness and other florals as it cooled. It was also delicious.
The lemongrass took a back seat the next day. It settled more into the background and the rosy florals predominated.
It was fascinating how the tea evolved. I assume future steeps will be more like steep two. So, I shared those notes first.
Gratitude for this Rose Label Gold
I received this tea for free from Nepal Tea Collective. Per my review policy, I always disclose when I get free or specially reduced tea. I only agree to accept these offers under the condition that I will only write about them if I sincerely enjoy it. I was really delighted with this tea, so it was a pleasure to write about. Thank you for sharing it with me, Nepal Tea Collective!
My next session with this tea will probably try the four-minute steep that they recommend. I can’t wait to try that, too!