Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Rishi Tea
Product Description:
Our best black tea is composed of pure buds that are hand harvested from Yunnan’s antique tea trees. Delicate processing and even fermentation present a lovely leaf style that yields a smooth, sugary flavor with nuances of baked sweet yams and raisins.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Looking back at the last few reviews that I’ve composed of teas from Rishi Tea, several of them have been “Golden” type black teas. And I must say that Rishi has a really good selection of golden tea leaves to choose from. But of all of those that I’ve tried thus far, this one has to be the most golden … that is … every leaf in this pouch appears to be gold in color. Beautiful!
And what a lovely flavor these Golden Needles produce. The body is lighter and crisper than a typical Yunnan tea, with a sweet flavor that is quite like raw sugar in flavor. I also do taste the sweet potato and raisin flavor as mentioned in the description from the Rishi Tea website (as provided above).
It also possesses flavor characteristics that I’ve come to expect from a Yunnan tea: a spiced undertone that is somewhat peppery and a hint of malt. It has a very warming quality to the flavor as well, making it a very welcome tea to enjoy on this chilly, late-autumn afternoon.
I prefer this served hot as the flavor profile seems more fit for a hot tea than an iced tea. That’s not to say it wouldn’t make a nice iced tea, but I find that some of the nuances become lost in this tea as it cools, so for best enjoyment of all this tea has to offer, I suggest sipping it whilst it is hot. It needs no sweetener of any kind, as it has a very satisfying sweetness to it without additions.
A very pleasing cup!
