Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Pu-erh
Where to Buy: Teavivre
Tea Description:
This Golden Buds Puerh Cake made in 2005 is the high-end products from Fengqing Sanning Tea Company. There’re plenty of highest quality tender buds with white tips. The buds which turned to be golden color after fermentation were combined with other levels Puerh maocha which contain much flavor content so that this Puerh cake has the characteristics of pure aroma, mellow taste and quick sweet aftertaste. This puerh cake is produced in Fengqing, Yunan. Fengqing is the original place of the world-wide famous Dian Hong Tea. And it is also a classic place of Yunnan Pu-erh. It is a place in Lingcang which is one of the four famous Pu-erh production areas. It can be said that this Puerh cake is the most representative and highest quality one. It is quite good for the Puerh enthusiast who has much experience of drinking Puerh tea.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I was a little hesitant with this Pu-erh, because the aroma of the dry leaf is very earthy. And the fragrance doesn’t soften all that much once it’s brewed either … so I was a little scared, to tell the truth. It’s that strong earthy flavor that I am usually puts me off when it comes to Pu-erh, but I remained hopeful and decided to give it a shot! And I’m glad that I did. This Fengqing Golden Buds Ripened Pu-erh Cake Tea 2005 from Teavivre is really quite nice!
The flavor is not nearly as earthy as the aroma suggests. Yes, there are earthy tones, but they’re really quite mild, and evocative of a mushroom-y kind of taste rather than of peat or other less-than-appealing earthy tastes. It also has a really delightful sweetness to it, that reminds me of a cross between molasses and caramel. Nice!
I also taste notes of flower in the background, and these flavors seem to develop as I continue to sip. It never becomes a really strong, pronounced flavor, but, I like how this note sort of teases the palate.
I brewed this Pu-erh the way I usually would, with a quick 15 second rinse, and brewing the first infusion at just 30 seconds, and 45 seconds for the second. The first two infusions were then combined into one cup, and it created a surprisingly dark brew! Darker than most black teas that would be brewed for 3 minutes or more! And like most other Pu-erh, this one is good for many more infusions, I spent all afternoon with this tea and it was a delightful experience.
The flavor is rich and complex yet delightfully mellow, and I appreciated that the earthy tones were much more subdued than the aroma suggested to me. While it does possess some of the flavors that I would expect from a Pu-erh, I found myself happily surprised by this one. If you are one who appreciates a really lovely, lightly earthy Pu-erh – one that’s sweet and pleasantly floral! – this is one you should put on your MUST TRY list!
Royal Golden Safari Black Tea from Butiki Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Butiki Teas
Tea Description:
Our truly exceptional Royal Golden Safari originates from a small scale farm in Kenya and has long golden leaves that mingle with milk chocolate and cacao colored leaves. Toasted walnut and oaky notes are prominent with a light pear undertone. Cocoa notes are also present. This orthodox tea does not contain any pesticides. Our Royal Golden Safari is part of the “Teas 4 Trees” line of teas that pays tribute to Professor Wangari Muta Maathai by donating a portion of profits to environmental initiatives of small-scale tea farmers.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
OH… this Royal Golden Safari black tea from Butiki Teas is absolutely divine!
There is a prominent note of cocoa with a delightful undertone of caramel that dances on the tongue. And yes, the description does not lie: I also taste warm, toasty walnut and a delicious fruity undertone. I also taste notes of spice and oak.
The cup is sweet and so wonderfully complex. I love that with each sip I notice something different. The spiced notes I mentioned before are not what I’d call “spicy” but instead, it’s sort of a gentle warmth that you might liken to the flavor of a sweet potato that has been lightly seasoned with cinnamon. It doesn’t taste of a distinct spice, just that warm sort of flavor that is comforting and cozy.
It comes as no surprise that this would be a really delicious tea – after all, Butiki Teas continually impresses me with their outstanding quality and exceptional tasting tea. This tea is no different – the flavor is amazing and the quality is second to none. They are definitely one of my favorite tea companies for this reason. I highly recommend this one if you’ve not tried it yet!
Basic Black Tea from Fashionista Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Fashionista Tea
Tea Description:
Bright, brisk, high grown estate whole leaf Nilgeri tea hand blended with smooth rich Yunnan golden buds. This organic classic blend can be enjoyed at any time of the day; excellent as an iced tea.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Nice!
My first sip of this Basic Black Tea from Fashionista Tea … my impression was very much like the first sentence in the above description … before I even read the description. This is indeed bright and brisk! It has a really smooth character, and a pleasant richness without a heavy mouthfeel.
The flavor is really smooth. No bitterness to this, it has a clean, invigorating taste that is slightly earthy with notes of fruit in the background. It has a nice sweetness to it, slightly honey-esque … reminiscent of a thinned honey: sweet but not cloying.
There is some astringency to this, I’d categorize it as a medium amount of astringency … it’s a clean-feeling astringency. My mouth feels clean and refreshed after I sip this tea.
It’s a very enjoyable cuppa. It has an agreeable strength to it, I’d call it robust but not in-your-face bold. Because of its smooth character, I’d probably grab this one on those mornings when I wasn’t looking for something to give me that jumpstart … but something to help ease me into my morning. It’s one of those teas that would work well as an afternoon pick-me-up or a mid-morning energy boost … but it has a mellow enough quality to it that it would make a nice tea to just sit and enjoy while reading a good book too.
Another lovely tea experience from Fashionista Tea … I’m really liking this company!
Golden Monkey from Adagio Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Adagio Teas
Tea Description:
Black tea from the Fujian province of China. Golden Monkey tea is hand-processed each spring with careful plucking of only one leaf and one bud. The name comes from its unique appearance: the leaves resemble monkey paws. Sweet and very ‘nosy’: savory roasted apples, cocoa and spice notes that linger as you sip. Rich, coating texture and very smooth, soft mouthfeel. Delicate, almost indistinguishable astringency.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
A beautiful golden tea, the dry leaf has colors that range from a pale gold to a warm chocolate tone. And … if I were to describe the flavor, I might offer the same description: golden notes of apple, warm notes of spice and a lovely, lingering cocoa note. And it is those chocolate-y notes that makes golden teas like this Golden Monkey from Adagio Teas a treasure.
This is deliciously sweet. When I read the description, I wondered about the apple note … I don’t think I’ve ever had a golden monkey that I tasted a distinguished apple note … or perhaps I just didn’t identify it as such, instead I labeled it as a fruit note. But as I sip this, yes, indeed, it does have an apple note, and it’s quite a clear apple-y flavor. Quite nice.
The spice tones are subdued but warm … it doesn’t really taste “peppery” or “vibrant” or any of those other grandiloquent words I often use to describe teas. It is really quite a mellow spice note, but, it adds an interesting dimension to the overall cup.
But it is the chocolate note that I love … and it is the chocolate note that will make this Golden Monkey memorable. It lingers sweetly on the palate, and as I allow myself to enjoy the cocoa flavor, I also notice a hint of caramel hiding just beneath the bittersweet chocolate. Lovely!
I am not always overly excited about Adagio Teas, but this one is definitely worth trying. One of the best teas I’ve tried from this company.
Yunnan Gold Rush from BigTeaHouse
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: BigTeaHouse
Tea Description:
This beautiful gold-tipped organic black loose leaf tea from the Yunnan Province of China is full-bodied with hints of spice and a delicious flowery undertone.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This tea is indeed beautiful – lots of golden tips!
The flavor is also beautiful! It tastes rich and has a full, satisfying flavor that is warm and inviting. The kind of tea you want in your teacup in the morning. Something that will embrace you and invigorate you at the same time.
The flavor is complex, with sweetness that starts out as a heavy caramel undertone, and then lightens as the sip progresses to a honey-esque tone. The spice note is a gentle peppery taste, and it contrasts with the floral tones of this tea quite nicely – sort of sweet and exotic melding with warm peppery heat. There is an earthy/leathery kind of taste, as well as a malty tone that emphasizes a freshly baked bread note in the distance. The astringency is what I’d categorize as medium, and it leaves the palate feeling energized and ready for more! Yeah, as I said … complex. So much flavor!
A very lovely cup, indeed; a thoughtful cup, one that you’ll with which you’ll enjoy spending the morning.