Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Choice Organic Teas
Tea Description:
Brighten your outlook with this lush tea hailing from Jeju Island, South Korea’s “Island of the Gods.” From fertile volcanic soil to subtropical forests, this pristine isle offers rich tea-growing terroir. The leaves are steamed, rolled and dried in the Sencha tradition, for a fresh and savory cup.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
The first time I drank this, I brewed it, walked away from it for about 45 minutes, and by that time it was completely cold. But even cold, this is really a tasty tea.
Cold, I find the flavor to be vegetative, leaning more toward the savory side than the sweet, but with enough sweetness to keep it interesting. I note a fruit-like note that is juicy and a little sweet, this hits just after mid-sip and carries through to the finish, leaving an aftertaste that is slightly sweet with fruit tones, and pleasantly savory. It is smooth without bitterness, and an astringency that seems to build as I continue to sip.
But, I didn’t want to leave it with just a cold cup review, so I decided to brew another cup at a later date and complete this review at that time.
Revisiting this tea a few days later, I find that I prefer this tea served hot. It was delicious cold too, and would have been even nicer with a thin slice of citrus or perhaps a sprig of mint. But, I digress…
When served hot, this tea has a really lovely flavor that is slightly on the kelp-y side – not a strong kelp flavor because I doubt I would like it if it did, I’m not particularly fond of seaweed – and a warm buttery undertone. Sweet yet savory, which is what I noticed with the cold tea. The creaminess of the butter notes is more pronounced when it is hot, and less astringency now too.
Both were very enjoyable cups of tea, but, I do think I prefer this one hot. This would be a nice tea to have on hand when you want the convenience of a bagged tea but still want that delicious, refreshing flavor. This one offers both!
