Naivetea begins with high altitude-grown oolong processed into thick dark green twisted nuggets and infuses with tiny osmanthus blossoms, a tiny flower that somewhat similiar to jasmine in both appearance and fragrance. These are visible as tiny brown petals mixed in with the tea itself. The fragrance is light and sweet.

I brewed a generous teaspoonful in a cup of 180F water for a little over three minutes. The resulting liquor was a pale jade with a rich floral fragrance resulting from the mingling of oolong and flowers. The flavor was mouth filling, but just on the edge of bitter, with a touch of astringency, rather than the sweetness I expected, although it did leave a strong fragrance in my mouth.

I infused the second cup for four minutes, with identical results. Nowhere was there a hint of the natural sweetness I was looking for, or the promised sweetness of the osmanthus flowers. The tea left a very nice fragrance in my mouth once again, but the flavor was a let down.

Still hopeful, I infused the leaves one more time for four minutes, but the results were the same. It has staying power, I’ll give it that. I’ve liked other scented/flavored teas from this company, but this one left me wanting.

— To purchase Naivetea Osmanthus Oolong, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular blend, click here to go directly to the manufacturer’s web site.