Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: What-Cha Tea
Tea Description:
A unique tightly rolled green tea with a citrus nose and well defined lemon blossom taste, a rare and unusual tea which is not to be missed.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
These leaves look very unusual, looking like the pellets of a Tie Guan Yin Oolong, but the leaves are not quite as large. The pellets are not uniform in size, some are quite small, while others are rather large. They have a vegetal aroma to them.
Since they looked to me like they’d be fun to watch unfurl, I decided to brew them in my glass teacup (the same one I use to watch a flowering tea bulb brew). The first infusion proved to be rather … lacking in show, to be quite honest. The leaves didn’t unfurl very much at all. But they did produce a very flavorful liquid after steeping for 2 minutes in 180°F water.
Nice! The tea is sweet, with a nice, buttery texture and a light flavor. Notes of citrus, flower and hints of vegetation. The citrus is especially noticeable toward the finish and this bright flavor lingers into the aftertaste. By the time I made it to mid-cup, I started to notice more buttery flavors than citrus and flower, the flavor becomes smoother as it cools.
Since the leaves hadn’t really opened up much with that first infusion, I decided to have another infusion and see if I would get more of a tea leaf dance from the leaves that were still looking more like tightly wound pellets.
During the second infusion, the leaves didn’t do much. Oh, they’ve unfurled quite a bit more, but they don’t really do much of a dance that I had hoped for. But that’s alright, the flavor is well worth the lack of showmanship. (Showteaship? Showleafship?) When they infused this time, it looked a lot like a seaweed garden at the bottom of the sea – not a lot of activity, just the motion of the water just barely causing the leaves to sway a little.
But as I said, the flavor is well worth what little show the leaves provide. After steeping for 2 1/2 minutes, the flavor is sweet with notes of tangy citrus and whispers of flower. I don’t taste as much buttery taste or texture this time, and the vegetal notes have emerged, offering a savory quality to the cup which contrasts with the aforementioned sweetness. As the cup cools a little, the buttery flavors are more discernible, but they are still considerably lighter than with the first cup.
This cup is a little more astringent than the first too. I didn’t notice a lot of astringency with the first cup, only the slight tangy note toward the finish that melded with the citrus-y notes that it barely seemed astringent at all. Now, there is a distinct separation between the citrus flavors and the astringency. This is still what I’d consider a mild to moderate astringency.
I decided to try a third infusion. With this third infusion, the leaves are now completely unfurled. I steeped the leaves for 3 minutes. The flavor is amazing. I think that this third cup is my favorite of the three! It is soft and buttery. The astringency I noted in the second cup has smoothed out. The citrus tones have also become softer and sweeter, reminiscent now of a citrus curd rather than a bright splash of fruit. The floral notes are not as sharp and the vegetative tones less focused, creating instead a very unified flavor that is very palatable.
While this Nepal 2nd Flush 2014 Cannon Ball Green Tea from What-Cha Tea shares many common characteristics with other green teas, I find it to be a truly unique green tea in ways that should be experienced by the tea connoisseur to be fully appreciated. It’s a remarkable tea, one I really enjoyed and am thrilled that I had the opportunity to try.
Kalo Chia Black Tea from Nepali Tea Traders
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Nepali Tea Traders
Tea Description:
The strength and vigor of Jasbirey Village, in the foothills of Sandkaphu Peak, inspire our traditional Black Tea (Kalo Chia means black tea in Nepali). Partially rolled by hand, this traditional method produces a distinctive, nuanced cup. Kalo tea is characterized by a rich caramel flavor and a lasting gentle finish (because of its high altitude cultivation and extended oxidation process.) Many thanks to our Kickstarter supporter, Aaron Williams, who named this tea – the name means “black tea” in Nepalese.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Oh wow … I’m loving this tea! It’s rich and sweet with caramel-y notes, and it has a full-body and robust character. This is the kind of tea that I LOVE to turn to for that little “pick-me-up” in the early afternoon when I need to recharge. This tea has some vigor to it and a really delicious flavor.
This is a strong, bold tasting tea, but there is a gentle smoothness to it too. It doesn’t have a harsh astringency. There is some astringency toward the tail, a mild drying sensation. But there is no bitterness. There is no harshness. This is the strong, suave kind of bold tea. As I near the bottom of the cup, I start to pick up on a little more astringency. It’s a little more dry but again … not a harsh dryness.
There are notes of cocoa and caramel, with a sweet fruit note – sweet plum. There are woodsy, earthy notes to this as well. It doesn’t have the same kind of kick-in-the-butt gusto that some teas have, but it has a really pleasing “chewy” sort of flavor to it that evokes thoughts of freshly baked bread. It’s a very satisfying tea.
I steeped this for 3 minutes at 205°F, which is what I usually go with when I have leaves with golden tips. I’m not sure exactly why, but for some reason, I want to be just a little (about 7°) gentler with the pretty golden leaves. This produced a really flavorful cup that is something that I’d love to indulge in regularly. It’s one of those amazing, decadent teas that make you realize just how truly incredible tea is!
Rara Willow White Tea from Nepali Tea Traders
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where to Buy: Nepali Tea Traders
Tea Description:
There are special days in the summer when sunshine is at its best and the tea fields of Jasbirey are shining and almost white. This white tea from Sandakphu is carefully hand-picked during this time to ensure that only one leaf and a bud is plucked. This delicious summer flush is highly aromatic, with hints of orange and lemon. Full leaf, loose tea.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I know I say this a lot when I review a tea, but this tea is: AMAZING! Seriously, this is one of the best white teas I’ve had. It is so sweet, evoking thoughts of the time when I was a kid and I’d go to Disneyland, and I’d go into the candy shop on Main Street and buy a bunch of rock candy on a stick. It has that kind of sweetness, but with a hint of fruit flavor, just like the rock sugar lollipops from the “happiest place on earth.”
But there’s more to this Rara Willow White Tea from Nepali Tea Traders than just a sugary, fruity sweetness. Light notes of vegetation (slightly hay-like), hints of melon, and a dewy note that is very refreshing.
This tastes a lot like a white Darjeeling tea, which tends to be my favorite when it comes to white teas. This is crisp but also juicy, and it seems to sparkle as it washes over the palate.
The sip starts out with a sweet, juicy taste of fruit, and as the sip progresses, I notice the sugary notes. About mid-sip, the hay-like notes peek through -these are very subtle – and the notes of melon become more defined, as do the notes of citrus. The finish offers a very light, dry astringency, as if to gently pat the palate dry to ready it for another sip. If you wait just a moment to enjoy the aftertaste, you’ll notice a more focused citrus note.
A really remarkable white tea. I’d recommend this to any tea drinker, from the novice who is new to white tea, to the experienced drinker. If you’re one who feels white tea is too delicate, this tea might convince you of the lovely flavor that white tea has to offer. If you’re one who likes white tea, you’re going to absolutely adore this one. I love it!
Dhulagiri White Tea from Nepali Tea Traders
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Nepali Tea Traders
Tea Description:
Named for Nepal’s “dazzling, white beautiful mountain,” this delightful first flush white tea releases all of the purity and freshness of our Himalayan highlands. One leaf and a bud are hand-plucked and left overnight in the cool spring air for the mildest form of natural oxidation, then gently hand-rolled. Dhulagiri is a sweet, crispy white tea with a lovely floral aroma.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
According to the above description from the Nepali Tea Traders website, this tea was named after the “dazzling, white beautiful mountain.” And that is the perfect name for this Dhulagiri White Tea from Nepali Tea Traders, because this is indeed a beautiful white tea that is positively dazzling my taste buds!
I’ve tried a lot of white tea during my career as a tea reviewer, but, I can’t recall ever trying a Nepalese White Tea – until tonight, that is! And I’m so glad to finally be trying this! It’s so good. The flavor is sweet and refreshing, with a slight fruit note that reminds me of melon, and a hint of vegetation that reminds me of the freshest, newest leaf buds on a bush. Now imagine those new leaf buds with a droplet of dew on it … yeah!
In the past, I’ve often described the vegetal note of a white tea as “hay-like” but, I think that this has a slightly greener taste than that, and that’s why I used the description of a new leaf bud with a droplet of dew. It is clean and fresh and green, but not overly vegetative.
As I sip this, I feel a gentle re-awakening – not really an invigoration – but more like a replenishing of the body and soul from the inside out. And yet, as I sip, I also can’t help but feel a little bit of sadness, because this tea represents the last tea that I’ll be getting from my monthly tea sampler box from Amoda Tea. What I am happy about though, is that I’m closing this chapter of Amoda Tea on a very high note. This is one of the nicest teas that I’ve received in my Amoda Tea box. There are at least a handful of teas that were very memorable from Amoda Tea, and this one definitely belongs in that handful.
An EXCEPTIONAL tea from Nepali Tea Traders. I’ve tried a few teas from them now, and I highly recommend them! Their teas are excellent! If you do decide to place an order from them, be sure to put some of this tea in your cart. You won’t be sorry! This is wonderful.
Wild Yeti Oolong Tea from Nepali Tea Traders
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Nepali Tea Traders
Tea Description:
Our rare tea from Sandakphu has been oxidized longer than many Oolongs, producing a deep caramel color and taste. This is a rich, complex, full-bodied oolong unique to Nepal. Full-leaf, loose tea.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When I received my package from Nepali Tea Traders, this tea in particular really grabbed my attention. I love Oolong teas, and I love it when I find one from Nepal! I’ve had only a handful of Nepalese Oolong teas and I’ve loved every single one of them, so I knew that I was in for a treat with this Wild Yeti Oolong Tea.
My first cup is comprised of a combination of the first and second infusions (following a 15 second rinse). It is sweet with notes of honeyed caramel and fruit. The fruit notes are like a cross between sweet plum and a ripe, juicy peach. Sweet, woodsy tones, and layers of floral tones. A really lovely cuppa!
The second cup (infusions 3 and 4) brewed up darker than the first, looking a little bit like a black tea rather than a dark Oolong! The flavors are stronger: this is a full-flavored Oolong! Nicely round with sweet and sour fruit notes, hints of flower in the distance and warm woodsy tones. Even though we’re enjoying spring at the moment, this has such an autumnal taste to it that it is evoking beautiful, cozy memories of autumn.
The third and final cup (infusions five and six) was still very flavorful, but I did notice the flavors begin to soften. The flavors were less distinct, instead of tasting a clear and well-defined note of fruit, I could taste a subtle fruit sweetness. But, don’t let that stop you from going the distance with this tea and infusing it five and six times, because I also noticed a very interesting brown sugar-y note that was quite a surprise. It’s well worth the effort to keep on steepin’!
A really lovely Oolong from Nepal! If you’re a fan of Oolong, you should really expand your Oolong horizons and try this one!