This is the first pure Java tea I've had, so I had little in the way of expectations. All I know about this tea is that it is grown on an estate in the hills west of Jakarta, and that the estate does produce higher grades than this one.
The medium-to-long twisted dry leaf is quite dark and gives off a mild fruity and spicy scent. The wet leaf shows a variety of oxidation levels, with much of it a very deep red. The liquor is a coppery red, with a fairly full aroma that, for me, immediately calls to mind Tiger Hill Nilgiri or a zesty mid-altitude Ceylon. The aroma also makes me think this tea is from an Assam and not a Chinese tea clone. In the mouth the tea is quite flavorful, smooth, and balanced, with some fruitiness and spiciness, and a medium-full body. Here too, it's a lot like the Tiger Hill tea, only with a bit more spine and a somewhat deeper flavor. The finish has a bit of a tannic grip, with a fairly lingering berry and spice flavor.
This is a flavorful, lively, and fairly direct self-drinker that's well worth the $4.40 for 100g. Some might consider it to be a bit too generic, but I liked it and could drink it on a regular basis. It's not a malty or chocolaty tea, so, even though it will easily stand up to milk, it may not work for those who like Assam. I suspect it could make an excellent iced tea.
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