It’s been a while since I have had a decent Pu’erh or even written a review about one. I guess I’m pretty specific in my personal Pu’erh tastes.
Enter Little Red Cup’s Shou Pu’erh.
I have to say I was a little afraid when I infused 1 teaspoon – maybe a little more – loose Pu’erh in my strainer and cup. It was SO dark in color – near black. Normally I would LOVE that for a straight-up black tea – but this was a Pu’erh – and I was pre-judging it before I tried it. Shame on me! I was ‘assuming’ it was going to be SO hardcore and over the top strong that it would be hard to drink. This couldn’t be farther from the truth!
The flavor was smooth, silky, somewhat – but not overly – earthy, and down right delicious! It wasn’t wormy like some Pu’erhs. And it had hints of cream or vanilla, too!
As it cools – naturally – at room temperature – sweeter notes came into play.
This was a tasty and surprising pu’erh that I would certainly have again!
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Puerh
Where to Buy: Little Red Cup Tea Co
Description
Our Fair Trade Shou Pu’er Tea (熟普洱) is grown and produced by members of the Wa minority in Lincang, Yunnan — about as close to the birthplace of tea as it’s possible to get. This shou pu’er brews smooth and dark, silky and earthy with hints of vanilla. It’s a lovely tea: mellow, moderate, and enormously pleasant.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Lapsang Souchong from Little Red Cup Tea. . . . .
I have been upping my intake of Lapsang Souchong as of late. I’m not sure if it’s because of the cooler weather, change of season, or just because I’m craving it – but what ever the reason I glad I am. Lapsang Souchong from Little Red Cup Tea is the tea of the moment for me and I have been wanting to share it with you for a while now.
Lapsang Souchong from Little Red Cup Tea is a stereotypical yet top-notch Lapsang Souchong! It gives off the ‘camp fire’ smell you would expect it would. It has a rather loud aroma and flavor but I would expect nothing less from this gem of a company! I enjoy this because of its pungency. Because of its quality. And because of its character. It does finish quiet smooth considering how it starts out and I find that fascinating and I welcome it.
If you are looking for something for the change of season or just looking for a potent, smoky, flavored black tea – try Lapsang Souchong from Little Red Cup Tea – I enjoyed every sip!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: Little Red Cup Tea
Description
Our Lapsang Souchong (Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong, 正山小种) is amazing. We know, that’s a bold statement, and some will disagree. But Lapsang Souchong is a love it or hate it proposition, and we’ve given our hearts to this tea. This is one of our strongest teas, think bridge abutments or skyscraper foundations. This is our most pungent tea — we send it to you in a ziplock bag in addition to our regular packaging.
The black tea is redolent three distinct flavors at once — the black tea base, a hint of longyan (Dragon Eye, a Chinese tree fruit similar to lychee) and the pinewood smoke which is the tea’s most defining element.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Jade Oolong from Little Red Cup Tea Co.
I was looking for a greener tasting oolong and I think I have found just that in this Jade Oolong from Little Red Cup Tea Co.
Not only does this Jade Oolong from Little Red Cup Tea Co. taste like a greener oolong it also has beautiful floral flavors on the end sip and a very pretty aroma from start to finish. It has a glowing gold color of tea liquor that sloshes in the cup. This was delightful sipping hot, cool, or cold! The cooler or colder it gets the more I can taste the floral notes.
If you haven’t had a good, solid Jade Oolong in a while try Jade Oolong from Little Red Cup Tea Co. and even if you have it’s a great time to compare it with others because I find this one to be exceptional!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Little Red Cup Tea Co.
Description:
Jade Oolong (Wu Long, 乌龙) is a marvelous mountain-grown tea from western Hunan Province. It has an appealing aroma, a beautiful green color and a forceful presence. It has a taste profile characteristic of greener oolongs, complex and just a little woody.
Our Jade Oolong is pure whole leaf organic Chinese tea, Fair Trade certified, and utterly delicious. This is a tea to be enjoyed on a regular basis, but also a tea to bring out for special occasions. It is at once familiar and yet a cut above ordinary oolongs, a tea we are certain you will love.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
White Monkey Green Tea from Little Red Cup Tea Co.
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Little Red Cup Tea Co.
Tea Description:
Little Red Cup Tea’s organic White Monkey Tea is a terrific mountain-grown tea from western Hunan Province. Despite its name, White Monkey Tea is, in fact, a green tea — a function of processing — but when steeped, the tightly rolled leaves unfurl yielding a lovely golden brew more akin to white tea than anything else. It is made from the earliest leaves, still covered with downy white hairs for which the tea is named.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
A lovely tea, this White Monkey Green Tea from Little Red Cup Tea Co.! The texture is what captures my attention immediately, it’s so soft and silky. It’s like a fine broth, very gentle and soothing as it floats across the palate.
The flavor is a gentle green tea flavor. The “grassy/vegetative” tones here are very subtle, much softer than in a typical green tea. This tea is called “White Monkey” not because it’s a white tea, but because the leaves have the tiny, white fuzz (similar to what you’d find on a Silver Needle tea!) But, even though it is not a white tea, it does share something in common with a white tea – it’s delicate quality.
The flavor is so delicate! And I like that! I suppose a stronger flavor could have been obtained with more leaf, or with a longer steep time (I steeped this for 2 minutes in 175°F water in my Breville One-Touch), but I like it this way – I like the gentle quality of this tea.
The sip starts with the soft texture, which gently introduces the delicate vegetative notes that are influenced by whispers of floral tones. By mid-sip, I notice a buttery flavor which complements the texture of the tea very well. The finish brings hints of a fruit like note, almost citrus-y. The aftertaste has a slightly sweet, slightly tangy note. There is very little astringency to this, and absolutely no bitterness.
This is a really nice green tea offering from Little Red Cup Tea Co., and I’m thinking it’s one of my favorites that I’ve tried thus far from them!
Jasmine Green Tea from Little Red Cup Tea Co.
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Little Red Cup Tea Co.
Tea Description:
Jasmine Green Tea comes in many styles – loose leaf, rolled into small balls, even hand-bound into large balls that open into a sort of tea-flower. We offer a fine, loose-leaf Jasmine Green Tea, one that produces a brew of a lovely yellow hue with a powerful jasmine scent. For us, Jasmine Green Tea is an all-day treat.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve had this tea for a little while now, having tried the other two teas that I acquired from Little Red Cup Tea Co., but hanging on to this one … why? I don’t know. Mostly I think because it was put in a place that I don’t normally go looking for tea, so it was sort of forgotten until I came across it the other day.
I think another reason I held off on trying this Jasmine Green tea is that I’m rather picky when it comes to Jasmine Tea. Yes, I love jasmine tea, and there are many jasmine teas out there that I’ve quite enjoyed. But, there are some jasmine teas that are just … not good. And given my impression of this company’s Bai Mu Dan, which was good, but not great, I was just a wee bit worried that my experience with the Jasmine tea might be equal to … or possibly worse than that experience. Interestingly enough, though, of the three teas that I’ve tried from this company (the other tea was this Keemun), this one has been the best!
The overall cup is actually quite pleasant, with a green tea base that is smooth and even a little bit creamy, with lovely notes of jasmine. The aroma – while soft – is quite intoxicating.
I very much enjoyed this jasmine. It reminds me of the jasmine teas that I’ve had at fine Chinese restaurants. The jasmine is not sharp or bitter, and the mouthfeel is soft and silky. And I love that this is a Fair Trade Certified, Organic tea. Overall, this tea makes for a truly lovely jasmine tea experience.