Adagio is one of those unique companies that you can easily forget about and then rediscover later.
While I had originally passed off Adagio as just another run of the mill tea stores like Teavana but with this most recent sample I searched around their website to discover I was wrong.
Adagio is a unique beast of a store. This tea comes from a special section of their website called Masters by Adagio Teas.
They feature the tea, no tisanes, from Master tea farmers from China, India, Taiwan, and Japan.
This unique tea comes from farmer Yang Ai Fang in China. Though Tieguanyin is traditionally processed as an oolong tea, Yang Ai Fang decided to try something different.
It resulted in a unique brew with a golden honey liquor color. The wet leaves have a musty, stone fruit aroma.
This no astringency tea has flavors of slight chocolate undertones with somewhat floral and fruity overtones.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Master Teas by Adagio Teas
Description
Tie Guan Yin, often translated as Iron Goddess of Mercy or Iron Buddha, is a variety of Chinese oolong tea. However, this version takes the classic Tie Kuan Yin leaves and processes them in a black tea style. This unique combination culminates in the velvet savory texture of black tea with the unique floral charm of traditional Tie Guan Yin tea. When brewed, this intriguing handcrafted tea has a reddish-brown liquor that hints towards dark chocolate and a whispery licorice finish. A Masters Teas favorite!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Jin Kong Que/Masters by Adagio Teas
Lately I’ve found myself skipping over the flavored teas and going straight to my straight teas. Flavored teas just haven’t been hitting it for me and so this am while I was setting up my tea tray with my tea for the day, I grabbed this delight- Jin Kong Que from Masters by Adagio Teas. Reading the description the mention of roasted sweet potato caught my eye and my tastebuds.
Brewed with freshly boild water and allowed to steep just for about 30 seconds or so, this tea delivers spot on flavors that keep you reaching for your cuppa. Lovely soft roasted notes with a sweetness that does remind you of a sweet potato are definetly coming through strong. In the background you are getting this beautiful malty touch that levels each sip out along with a roasted/toasted finish. Smooth, simple, yet so on point and so delicoiusly addictive. I did under steep the tea and the parameters on the site indicate 2-3 minutes but since I used a bit more leaf, I wanted to be conservative without overbrewing.
Next steeping, I did allow the tea to properly steep and I think I preferred doing a shorter steep. The light delicate flavors I was really enjoying before are still enjoyable but there is a harsher after taste of astrigency that I’m not 100% loving. I could have also over steeped by a moment or two so that harshness could be my bumbling of steeping.
Regardless, this tea shows how simply smooth, rich, and beautiful a black tea really can be. I’m quite in love with this tea and sad that I no longer have this tea to enjoy but happy the tea is still available on the site so I have a feeling this tea will be a future buy quite soon.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Masters by Adagio Teas
Description
Jin Kong Que is a remarkable tea handmade in the Yunnan Province of China. It has a rare ability to balance bold flavor without giving off bitterness. Its name, which translates to Golden Peacock, is as flashy as its namesake with fairly large, very golden leaves and leaf buds. The liquor does not disappoint as it boasts intricate notes of honey, toastiness, cocoa, and roasted sweet potato.