The flavour wheel
A map of everything we pour
Six families and eighteen notes. Use the wheel to find a tea that tastes of the things you already love, then ask for a spoon at the counter.
Where would you like to start?
Every tea we pour sits somewhere on this wheel. The inner ring holds six flavour families; the outer ring holds the notes you will actually taste.
- Tap a family to see every tea that belongs to it.
- Tap a note, like ginger or honey, to narrow it down.
- The wheel turns so your choice sits under the marker.
Fourteen teas, eighteen notes. Ask at the counter for a tasting spoon of anything here.
Where would you like to start?
Every tea we pour sits somewhere on this wheel. The inner ring holds six flavour families; the outer ring holds the notes you will actually taste.
- Tap a family to see every tea that belongs to it.
- Tap a note, like ginger or honey, to narrow it down.
- The wheel turns so your choice sits under the marker.
Fourteen teas, eighteen notes. Ask at the counter for a tasting spoon of anything here.
Reading the wheel
The six families, in a sentence each
01 · Floral
Perfumed and bright. Floral teas smell of the garden after rain and suit the late afternoon.
Notes: Hibiscus, Rose, Jasmine.
02 · Fruity
Juicy and lively. Fruity cups are lovely iced and are the easiest way in for people new to loose tea.
Notes: Citrus, Berry, Mango.
03 · Spiced
Warming and a little bold. Spiced teas carry the flavours of a Calabar kitchen into the cup.
Notes: Ginger, Clove, Uziza pepper.
04 · Earthy
Deep and grounding. Earthy teas reward a slow second cup and stand up to rich food.
Notes: Smoke, Wood, Mineral.
05 · Fresh
Clean and green. Fresh teas wake you up gently and are best brewed cooler and shorter.
Notes: Grassy, Mint, Lemongrass.
06 · Sweet
Round and comforting. Sweet notes come from the leaf itself, so many guests find they need no sugar.
Notes: Honey, Malt, Cocoa.
Tasting like a blender
How to taste a cup properly
- Look. Hold the cup to the window. Colour tells you a lot: pale gold for white tea, copper for oolong, deep ruby for zobo.
- Smell. Breathe in over the cup before you drink. Most of what we call flavour is really aroma.
- Slurp. Yes, loudly. Pulling air in with the tea spreads it across your tongue.
- Wait. Notice what stays after you swallow. Ginger builds, mineral notes linger, honey fades sweetly.
- Compare. Two teas side by side teach you more than ten tasted alone.
The tasting flight
Three small pots, one family, ₦8,500
Pick a family from the wheel and we bring three teas from it in small pots, with tasting notes on a card and a glass of water to reset between them.
Questions
About the wheel
Who made the wheel?
Our tea master and the team tasted every tea together over many afternoons and agreed the main notes. It is our map, not a scientific chart.
Why is uziza pepper on it?
Because it is in our lemongrass blend, and because it is one of the flavours of Calabar we wanted on the table.
Can a tea have notes from two families?
Often. Our cocoa chai is both sweet and spiced, which is why it appears when you tap either family.
Do you have a printed copy?
Yes, every table has a small card version of the wheel, and you are welcome to take one home.
Marian Road, Calabar
Found a flavour you like?
Come and taste it. Walk in from Tuesday to Sunday, or book afternoon tea and choose your pot from the wheel.