Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Chinese Tea-Shop
Product Description:
Tan Yang is named after the village in south Fujian province during the Qing dynasty. Boasting well over 100 years of production, Tan Yang Kung Fu tea was the number one export through the docks in Guangzhou. Exports were mainly to The United Kingdom where it was served as a specialty tea for royalty. In 1915 Tan Yang Kung Fu tea won a gold medal in the Panama International Exposition.
Taster’s Review:
I want to start out by saying I was relieved when I went to the Chinese Tea-Shop website and it was back up and functional. When I write the review for the Golden Ring Jasmine Tea, the website was down (maintenance, perhaps?) I am glad to see that the website is back up and running.
This tea is very much what I’d expect from a good quality Fujian black tea. The Fujian Black teas are some of my favorite black teas because they boast an incredibly smooth quality.
This is very rich and full-bodied. Wonderful notes of cocoa throughout the sip, like a bittersweet, powdery cocoa. Delicious! There are some malty undertones and a black currant-like flavor in the distance. It has a mild astringency that doesn’t disrupt from the smooth delivery. It finishes sweet and that sweetness lingers in the aftertaste.
An absolute delight to sip. It is a nice tea to start the day with, however, it doesn’t have that same “kick-in-the-pants” as an Assam might offer – so it would be a better tea for the weekend when you can start slowly and really enjoy a cup of tea. It is also mellow enough for an afternoon tea.
Two thumbs up on this one!
Golden Ring Jasmine Tea from Chinese Tea-Shop
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Chinese Tea-Shop
Product Description:
Golden Ring Jasmine Tea leaves are hand rolled into ring-shaped pieces. Small, round and circular in shape, they are generally made from a single bud and contain white hairs on them. After steeping the rings unravel to reveal the full green bud.
Taster’s Review:
This is a nice jasmine tea. The young leaves are rolled into ringlets, and they unfurl slowly to expose a very tender, small green leaf and a bud.
The jasmine flavor is strong with this tea. It is much stronger than I’ve experienced in a jasmine pearl. It has a sharp floral taste to it that is sweet and slightly bitter. The bitter tone hits just before mid-sip.
While I do enjoy the strong jasmine taste of this tea, I am finding this a little disappointing because I am having a difficult time tasting the tea here. I can taste slight vegetative tones in the distance, and a fresh sweetness that definitely tastes like tea, but these flavors are very slight and sometimes hard to discern.
Once the cup cools a little (still warm, but not hot), I notice that the flavors become smoother. The floral notes are more sweet and less bitter, with a creamy background note. The flavor of the tea starts to emerge with the cooler temperature.
Overall, I still enjoyed this tea despite the difficulty in distinguishing the tea flavors while hot. The jasmine is very lovely here. This would be an excellent tea for those who are really fond of strong jasmine flavors.
Editor’s Note: At the time of this writing, I was unable to connect to the Chinese Tea-Shop website. I hope that this is only a maintenance issue and not a sign that this tea shop has closed… because it’s a great company!
Golden Junmee Black Tea From Chinese Tea-Shop
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Chinese Tea-Shop
Product Description:
Black Tea- Golden Junmee
Other Names: Jin Jun Mei, 金骏眉
Origin: Fujian
Description: Golden Junmee is one of the rarest teas we have for sale here. This is a must try for all black tea lovers. Golden Junmee is made only with the young tea buds and is very low yield, about 5000 buds per 50g of tea. This tea was very recently created when some young tea buds were discovered in the Wuyi National Nature Reserve. These buds were taken to Tong Mu were they were processed in conjunction with ancient methods as to produce the best possible tea.
Taster’s Review:
I know I say this a lot, but this tea is amazing! What can I say, I love tea, and with so many great teas out there, it is so easy for me to find a tea over which to get excited! And this tea is definitely exciting.
This rare tea is so incredibly flavorful. The sweetness is the most pronounced of the flavors here, and it is a sweetness that is quite like caramel. I can almost taste the burnt-sugar in this cup! There is also a very pleasant, savory bitterness that hits the palate just after the start of the sip and stays until about mid-sip, which is when the sweetness washes over it. Just before the end of the sip, an interesting sour note arrives. It’s such a lovely play of contrasts right upon the palate.
In addition, I can taste notes of flowers and fruit, which, if I close my eyes, transports me to my childhood: my gramma’s backyard in early summer, just as the plums and apricots from her tree, as well as the berries on the vines are ripening from that warm California sunshine. The honeysuckles and flowers from the white ginger plants are emitting their lovely fragrance. It’s such a delicious memory that is brought to life simply by sipping on this tea.
This is a tea that I would recommend to any tea connoisseur. It’s a MUST try! And while this tea may seem a bit pricey, it produces multiple infusions that are every bit as flavorful as the first cup. I love the way each subsequent infusion reveals different aspects of this tea’s “personality.” A truly exquisite experience.