Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Stone Leaf Teahouse
Tea Description:
The most delicate combined with the robust; a skilled harvest of just the tips of the tea plant, exposed to the outside world for one day, then processed as black tea. Features characteristic earthy tones of Dian Hong, yet yields an incredibly soft, sweet cup. Notes of grape, slight pepper, and olive.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Impressive!
I do love a good Yunnan, and when its a golden Yunnan, I love it even more. This is really very good – surprisingly sweet! Yes, other Yunnan teas have been sweet, but, I don’t think I’ve found one that is quite like this. It has notes of caramel, sweet cocoa and grape that seem to intertwine to create a sweet taste that is very palate pleasing.
And of course, there are the hints of spice, but, here, the peppery notes are quite subtle, lying beneath all that yummy sweetness. There is just enough peppery taste (and aroma!) to put a little vigor into the sip, and it offers a nice transition from the initial sweetness to the more savory tone that the sip takes as it moves toward the tail.
This savory note reminds me a bit of artisan bread. You know the specialty bread that you can find in bakeries with olives baked right into the bread? That’s what this tea seems to evoke. It has a deep, bread-y, bake-y kind of taste to it, like freshly baked bread, and then there is a smooth, rich flavor that is quite similar to the taste of olives! These flavors offer a really delicious contrast to the sweetness at the start of the sip.
What I’m liking most about this cup is that through it all, from the start of the sip where it is sweet and sumptuous, to mid-sip where I notice a slight prickle of pepper, on to the savory qualities of the tea, I notice absolutely no bitterness, and very, very little astringency. This is a black tea for those who sometimes avoid black teas for the bitterness and astringency. It is so smooth and yes, even decadent, that you may just change your mind about black tea!
I love Yunnan, so I’m not surprised that I love this one too, but, what does surprise me is just how good this Yunnan is. It’s a standout, because it’s better than most Yunnan teas that I’ve tried!
Zhen Qu from Butiki Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Butiki Teas
Tea Description:
Our Zhen Qu originates from Yunnan, China and has downy black and gold curly leaves. This lightly malty tea has wonderful honey notes that linger and mingle with floral, chocolate, and pecan notes. Our recommended steep time produces a well-balanced tea and is less dry but we also recommend trying this tea at longer steep times for a more intense flavor.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I have to start off by mentioning that I don’t believe that the photo for this picture does this tea justice. The first thing I noticed when I opened this pouch of tea was all the gorgeous golden curls amongst the dark chocolate brown leaves (also curled!) So many golden leaves! And I don’t know how well this photo captured all those pretty gold leaves.
Then again, it also does not capture the amazing aroma that is wafting from my favorite tea mug (my favorite painting – Starry Night – has been printed on it). It smells chocolate-y and nutty and sweet … and malty and caramel-y too. This fragrance is so decadent that my taste buds can hardly wait for a sip!
And the sip does not disappoint. This is deliciously full-flavored, with a strong honey-esque tone to it. So much so that it tastes as though I added a dollop of honey to my mug. But I didn’t! This tea doesn’t need it either … it is so fantastically sweet all on its own.
The chocolate notes are there too and they lend a rich and creamy taste to the cup, as does the notes of malt and caramel. All the aromas that I could smell before taking a sip I can now taste as I sip. The nutty tones add depth to the flavor and there is also a hint of flower to the cup that kind of took me by surprise, but in a very good way. I just didn’t expect that light, flowery taste in this rich cup of tea … but I like it.
Such a rich and impressive cup of tea. The kind you want to have on hand for the mornings when you aren’t rushing out the door, this would be a delightful way to start the day. I say this because you DO NOT want to rush with this tea, take your time and savor every drop! It’s absolutely lovely!
Golden Stars from Butiki Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Butiki Teas
Tea Description:
Our Golden Stars are handcrafted and tied into the shape of a star. This tea originates from China and is a smooth full-bodied tea that is juicy, buttery, and vegetal. Notes of sweet fresh spinach and artichokes can be detected as well as light lingering lemon notes. This delicate tea is delightful and refreshing.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
These clusters – these stars – are interesting. They appear to be hand-sewn, I can even see the thread. They form a little star shape, and as they infuse they do not “open up” really, they just sort of plump up, still retaining a vague, now swollen, star shape.
They don’t possess a strong aroma. The fragrance of the brewed tea is equally as faint. And… even the first couple of sips are very faint. But don’t let that stop you from sipping on this tea. The flavors develop. Trust me!
The tea never really becomes a strong tasting tea. But I like the gentleness of this tea. The liquor has a thin, brothy texture. The flavor is slightly buttery and there is a hint of citrus-like flavor that hits the palate toward the tail and lingers well into the aftertaste. After the flavors have developed (I’d say, at about the mid-cup point), it really tastes lemony. It is a sharp, bright lemony taste that is especially apparent in the aftertaste.
The tea tastes primarily vegetative – not grassy though. It isn’t a sharp or even a sweet grass taste. Instead, it is more like a mild, sweet vegetable taste that falls somewhere between steamed spinach and artichoke, leaning more toward the artichoke than the spinach … especially with the lemon notes, because I like to steam my artichokes with lemon slices in the steam water.
It’s a lighter tea, nice for a weekend afternoon when you want to just relax and kick up your feet a bit. Really nice!
Golden Oolong from Peony Tea S
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Peony Tea S
Tea Description:
Looking for a soothing, comforting ‘everyday’ tea? Why not try the Golden Oolong which is an uplifting experience, from the moment it touches your lips to its sweet and mild aftertaste. Worth it’s weight in gold.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This tea really took me by surprise. Usually, before brewing, I manage to develop in my head what I’ll be experiencing with a tea … before I even taste it. I get an idea of what the tea will taste like based on the name of the tea or the appearance of the dry leaf. Because the leaves here very much resembled a Ti Kuan Yin, well, that’s what I thought I’d experience here.
And while this Golden Oolong from Taiwan does have the appearance of a Ti Kuan Yin, it doesn’t really taste like one. The floral notes – which taste a bit like Lily to me – here are more distinct, more fine-tuned … more focused. They are sharp and clear. They aren’t softened by a buttery tone although there are some buttery notes to be discovered in the background, along with a hint of vegetation.
But the surprises don’t stop there. Despite its rather forward floral notes, the aftertaste is surprisingly mellow. It is sweet and after a few sips, begins to resemble wildflower honey in taste. The tea offers a very smooth delivery from start to finish.
A truly unique Oolong that I’ve found very enjoyable … the subsequent infusions are just as enjoyable, as the flowery notes soften somewhat, the flavors become sweeter, with the honey notes emerging not just in the aftertaste but throughout the sip.
A very enchanting tea!
Mengku Palace Ripened Golden Buds Pu-erh (2007) from Teavivre
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Pu-erh
Where to Buy: Teavivre
Tea Description:
This Palace Pu’er Tea (Gong Ting 宫廷普洱) carefully selected by Teavivre is produced in Mengku, Lincang, which is a representative producing area of Yunnan pu’er tea and one of the famous five tea-producing areas in Yunnan.
The pure flavor, the mellow taste, the exposed gold coins make this kind of high-quality tea deserve to be appreciated carefully.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
As I’ve said before (more than once), I’ve not always been so fond of Pu-erh. I think my taste buds have not only matured, but, also that I’ve learned more about the best way to brew teas including Pu-erh and this really has made a huge difference in how I’ve come to enjoy it.
But even so, Pu-erh still sometimes scare me, especially when they come off smelling very earthy. And that is just what this tea did. When I opened the pouch, I didn’t notice it quite as much as just after I brewed it. When I poured it from my gaiwan, I really noticed a strong, earthy smell – it smelled of earth, reminiscent of peat, and also slightly of leather and wood.
I took a very apprehensive sip, but was so pleased to discover that this tastes less of earth than the aroma had lead me to believe. Instead, this tastes sweet and remarkably smooth. No bitterness or astringency at all. It has a buttery sweetness – not so much like a buttery note that you might experience with a green tea or an Oolong, but more of the buttery taste in butter toffee or browned butter that’s been poured over the crust of a freshly baked loaf of bread.
It has an earthy flavor too, of course, but, it isn’t as prominent as I expected it to be. It is very mellow tasting, and the flavor seems to improve with each subsequent infusion, so do take the time to explore this tea thoroughly!
A really amazing Pu-erh. And after a visit to Teavivre’s website, I noticed that this particular tea is 10% off through July 15! Time to stock up on this, you’ll be glad you did.