Grand Yunnan Imperial Black Tea from Le Palais de Thés

grand-yunnan-imperialTea Information:

Leaf Type:  Black

Where to Buy:  Le Palais de Thés

Tea Description:

The subtle flavor of this flowery, mild tea is known as the “Mocha of teas” or “Surgeon’s tea”, as it has the power to revive without over-stimulating the nerves. A splendid leaf with plenty of golden buds.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

The description above suggests that this Grand Yunnan Imperial Black Tea from Le Palais de Thés is “subtle” and “mild,” but I disagree!  I would replace the word “subtle” with “smooth” … and then replace the word “mild” with the word rich!  Because those are the words that first came to my mind when I took the first couple of sips of this tea.  It’s remarkably smooth and rich.  Not at all something I’d classify as subtle or mild.

This is very much what I’d expect from a good quality Yunnan tea:  a rich flavor with notes of malt and that freshly baked bread sort of flavor, with notes of fruit and flower in the distance.  Middle notes of spice, like a gentle pepper.  Nothing over the top or something that I’d call “spicy” by any stretch of the imagination, this has pleasant, mellow peppery notes that enliven the palate.

It is a medium to full bodied tea.  It is robust without being overly aggressive.  It offers a more “well-mannered” way of invigorating the drinker … this doesn’t give me a kick in the butt to get me going, but I can still feel it at work to offer me a sense of alertness without the over-stimulation.

A really good Yunnan tea.  A nice tea to enjoy in the later morning or early afternoon.  Nice as a latte, but, I prefer it served straight.  The mellow spice tones are very much appreciated on this cold, autumn day!

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