Longjing tea leaves are flat.
When I first encountered Longjing with another company I confused it as a Dragonwell. Easy to do but now I see that Longjing is even flatter and has broader leaves, at least of the ones I’ve assessed.
This first pluck is ripe with sweet, grassy flavors. There is a uniqueness in the astringency in that it reminds me of eating a tangerine. The dry leaves are my favorite part of a Longjing.
They smell so wonderful, perhaps it’s that summer grass smell.
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Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Verdant Tea
Description:
Mrs. Li’s first picking of the year is full of all the nutrients and sugars stored by the plant all winter long and offers a more complex, sweet and subtle taste experience. It has a longer aftertaste and thicker texture than later harvests. The soil is full of quartz and white sand while the water comes from natural mountain springs, yielding a flavor that simply can’t be matched outside of Shi Feng itself.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Lychee Jasmine Green / Tealyra
Lychee is one of my favorite flavors. Jasmine is a long time favorite for tea flavoring as well as my first tea I tried. Needless to say this was one I had to try. It has a fairly sweet smell. Nothing overly artificial like some companies and no sugar so my hopes are high. The initial few sips through me for a loop.
The taste reminds me more of artificial flavors at first. Though as the sips progress I find myself enjoying it more. Fruity notes are the core with some hints of jasmine. There is a bit of astringency but nothing too major. This just depends highly on the steep time. This would make an awesome bubble tea.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Tealyra
Description:
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Inspired by enormous Shanghai; China’s most populous city- it is ever changing, ever growing. It is a booming, fast paced modern city, yet has remained true to rich culture and to tradition- our Lychee Jasmine Green is a celebration of tradition among change! One of the more popular teas in the neighborhood is this delightful blend of Lychee and jasmine. Fragrant, floral and fruity notes of lichee fruit complement the exotic tones of night blooming jasmine flowers; two very distinctly Chinese favorites. Our green tea base has a bright flavor with touches of honey, citrus, flowers, and green apple. This inspired blend stands the test of time; it could have been enjoyed in old tea houses 40 years ago as easily as it could today at a trendy milk tea shop!
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Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
2nd Picking 2019 Shi Feng Dragonwell / Verdant
Do you get excited to drink tea?
Though it doesn’t happen everyday, I do get excited for my afternoon steepings. What adventure will we have today?
What flavor will pop out or what will surprise me today?
Our adventure today begins in the Zhejiang Province in China. This huge, one time zone country is known for its tea but it is farmers like Mrs. Li that are keeping the true spirit of tea alive. Sustainable farming practices with no pesticides and years of research into how to make it work properly has helped this family achieve tea that truly takes you to China when you drink it.
The dry leaves smell of grass and hints of veggies. The sweet but astringent grassy flavor carries into the after taste. There is a trifling of minerality but honestly the grass is so strong I can’t quite decipher any mineral specifics. They are definitely there though. The area it is harvested from is known for its rocky, clean soil. Makes one want to visit.
Where does your tea adventure take you?
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Verdant Tea
Description:
Mrs. Li’s fresh 2019 Shi Feng Dragonwell is here! Mrs. Li is one of the few farmers fortunate enough to have several plots of land on the famous mountainside of Shi Feng, where her original cultivar (Longjing Qunti) Dragonwell is fed by sweet mountain spring water, picked by hand, and crafted one leaf at a time by her husband. She cultivates her world-famous tea using entirely organic farming techniques.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Lemongrass Marigold/India’s Tea. . . .
Lemongrass Marigold Green Tea is a traditional Indian tea and is available from several different companies.
Some of the information I found online for this new-to-me blend said the following: The marigold is an esteemed flower and is called “the birth of the sun.” It is regarded as a great detox agent. Lemongrass is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties and is regarded as a headache treatment, while green tea is lauded as a detox agent and a great source of anti-oxidants, as well as possibly assisting with weight loss.
Whether these statements are true or not, what I can tell you is that this is a beautiful blend. It reminds me of a brightly colored sari. The green tea and lemongrass have a vivid green color and the flower petals are bright orange. The smell of the dry leaves is primarily invigorating citrus, bright and sunny.
One teaspoon, low temp, just over two minutes. . . . the perfect steeping parameters! Recommended not going over the two minutes. The green tea and lemongrass are making my tongue puckery and dry. The lemongrass is sparkling and the floral aspect is rather muted to me.
This tea is recommended to pair with things like baklava and rice crackers. Could two things be more different? But I can absolutely see drinking this with rich desserts or with a spicy Indian dinner.
It will definitely stand up to any of it!
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Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: India’s Tea
Description
An indulgent treat for Tea lovers with its startling blend of yellow and soft orange petals of marigold flower along with tangy Lemon grass.
Besides serving as a cuppa, Lemongrass relieves cough and nasal congestion. This brew also captures a hint of marigold- known to be good for your heart and eyes.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Roasted Vanilla/Perkse. . . .
This tea comes in cute little twisty balls that remind me of armadillos curled up. As the tea steeps, they charmingly stretch out. (I’ve probably mentioned this in previous posts, but I’d like to mention for the record that UNFURLING TEA IS A BLESSING UPON THE EARTH. Thanks for the fun, meditative watch, tea!)
This tea has a beautiful vanilla/white chocolate flavor. Tasting it is the equivalent of listening to a harp. It’s delicate. It’s ethereal. It’s pale and sweet and floaty.
The green is a subtle counterpoint, so if you do want the benefits of green tea without that “green” flavor, try hitting this up!
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Perkse Tea
Description
This tea is no longer available but click below for teas that are.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
