Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: The Tea Merchant
Tea Description:
Our organic green kukicha is comprised of non-roasted tea twigs and leafs. Otherwise known as Senkukicha and praised for its health benefits and low caffeine content in the macrobiotic community. This tea has a fresh grassy feel with a slightly fruity taste and a crisp finish. Brews a lively green infusion and is best brewed at a low temperature.
Ingredients:
Organic Green Tea Leafs and StemsCaffeine Content: Low
Organic
Region: Japan
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This has a lovely green Kukicha base and one of my first Kukicha, actually this may have been my first Kukicha, however since have been able to sample a couple others so I can say I do like the base used in this blend. Its buttery, and slightly nutty and I am partial to buttery, nutty teas!
The initial aroma was nutty and the dry leaf is eye pleasing.
The initial taste on first sip was indeed buttery but then something shifted, this tea tasted very much of an oolong, which I also do love my oolongs!
The color of the steeped tea is quite interesting, almost a neon yellowish color that boarders on orange. It is the color of the sunrise. Quite pretty.
For such a light colored tea it actually has somewhat of a full mouth feel being nice and creamy!
As I sat with my cup and took in the aromas around me I noticed this tea also smells very much like an oolong!
The flavor however was still very vegetal, grassy and fresh, yet there was this kick to it similar to an oolong with a roast-y toast-y goodness and after taste!
It is quite rich and while I am used to using 2tsp of leaves for greens and oolongs this one may even be able to be extended in your stash by only using 1tsp but I have yet to try that.
Its a delicate tea so be sure you steep a bit lower – around 150 to 170 degrees but not over that as it will become bitter and astringent.
This is a part that is slightly annoying to me as often I do not have the time to baby my teas and just need hardy teas that you can dump into the stainer and pour some scouring water over and be done with it but fine tea does deserve far more focus and attention so be sure that when you steep this tea you have the time to treat it with respect and it will offer you a welcome cup.
2009 Bu Lang Gong Ting from Mandala Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Pu’er, Pu-erh, Ripe, Shu
Where to Buy: Mandala Tea
Tea Description:
We totally scored with this find! We have sampled so many different ripe teas over the years both in China and here at our shop. Samples are continuously sent here from various tea merchants and most of the time, we find them ok at best. But when we tasted this gong ting (imperial court quality, smallest leaf) tea, we immediately had every last bit of it shipped to us so we could share it with our customers not to mention drink it ourselves!
Hailing from Bu Lang mountain in Menghai, this is an expertly crafted tea. Rich and sweet, hints of dark chocolate and slight nuttiness with a creamy aroma becoming more pronounced as the post-fermentation smell quickly becomes a memory. We are sure that this gong ting, given a bit more age, will easily rival our favorite Golden Gong Ting from 2005. We are extremely pleased when all the conditions come together to create a memorable tea and this, my friend, is one of those teas.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I had logged eight steepings before I lost focus, and became too full to do more. Each steep brought forth new and wonderful flavors!
When reviewing a pu’er I find it difficult to write in paragraphs because each steep is like a new tea unto itself. So with that I give you my tea log with short notes on each steep. I know it may be dull to some, but to those who really enjoy pu’er I hope it gives even a small glimpse of the wonder of this tea! These are my actual notes.
Steep One: 30 Seconds (after an initial rinse)
Light, Juicy mouthfeel, Dry in back of throat, Mushroom flavors, Spicy, Creamy, and my favorite flavor.. Leafy!
Steep Two: 45 Seconds
Leafy, Oaky, More Creamy than first steep, Autumnal Flavors and aromas like being in the woods after a light rain in autumn! Love it!
Steep Three: 1 Minute
Leafy aromas with an amazing mossy flavor again the wet leaves in autumn flavors but more prominent!
Drier, Earthy, Hay, Tingly, Mushroom.
Steep Four: 1:15 Minutes
Light, Clean, Milky, Nutty
Steep Five: 1:30 Minutes
Weaker on flavor in this steeping, Mellow, Leafy, Sweetness coming out!
Steep Six: 2:00 Minutes
About the same as the last cup but sort of getting weak. I went for another steep anyway.
Steep Seven: 2:30 Minutes
Mossy, Juicy and now Fruity!
This shows just because one steep is less flavorful its always a good idea to steep one more time!
Steep Eight: 2:45
No real flavors present although a light golden color. No notes taken, by this time I was absorbed into a movie (Red Tails – GREAT movie!)
Overall I was surprised to find I did not get any of the chocolate notes as in the description but was not disappointed! I think I will allow this to age quite a bit and re-visit it later on.
I did enjoy it very much and there were some wonderful flavor notes and a few surprises even once I began to think it was past it’s steep-ability!
A nice tea with mellow flavors through out that over all remind of me my favorite season! You can’t beat that!
On another note. My husband, who drinks very little tea to begin with, at first, said it smelled fishy. “Fishy” is a word that seems to come up often with pu’er, but I proved something to him and myself.
I said rather than fishy think of it as MUSHROOMY!
He disagreed so I made him go get an organic mushroom from the fridge!
He took a bite and said “OMG your right!!!”
I think the two flavors are similar in some ways but distinctly different enough. Plus for most mushroom is more palatable to stomach and mind than “fishy”. Honestly, I did not get a bit of fishiness in this pu’er and I only bring it up because all too often, especially with those who are first starting out on their pu’er experience that word comes up. My suggestion is to grab yourself a couple of mushrooms, and take a couple of bites to compare.
After pointing this out to my husband he drank with me the entire time! I was so shocked and happy!
It was a great experience to share a pu’er session with him and he also shared his tasting notes with me during that time. We both enjoyed this tea very much.
Hong Shui Oolong Tea from Zi Chun Tea Co
Tea Type: Oolong
Where To buy: Zi Chun Tea Co
Product Description:
n/a
Tasters Review:
Oolong Tea is the “Rising Star of the Tea Drinkers Universe” according to MarketPressRelease.com and I totally agree! I’m so happy Oolong Tea is become more and more popular around the world!
“Like black tea, oolong tea contains antioxidants, but it has more of them than black tea because oolong tea isn’t subjected to as much oxidation/fermentation during processing as black tea is. ” (Direct Quote from above linked article).
Hong Shui Oolong from Zi Chun has a great taste that men and women – young and old will enjoy!
The best way I could try and describe the taste of this one is that it has a roasted or toasted nutty flavor with a little bit of charcoal flavor. As it cools for a minute or two…it has a juicer finish. It’s very interesting and pretty tasty!
Another winner from Zi Chun!
Roasted Almond from Caraway Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Fruit/Herbal (and Nut!) Tisane
Where to Buy: Caraway Tea
Product Description:
This festive fruit tisane is great all year round. It smells like christmas, but tastes like summer. Sweet roasted, caramelized almonds, apples, and beetroot sprinkled with cinnamon make this a favorite.
Taster’s Review:
This is so yummy! No wonder it’s Caraway Tea’s #1 seller!
The aroma is warm with sweet cinnamon and toasted nuts. I can also smell hints of apple in the background … you know, I have to disagree a little bit with the above description, because this smells more autumnal to me. I can certainly understand where the “Christmas” comparison comes from, but for me, this is autumn. If I close my eyes and take a big whiff, I can even “see” the beautiful fall leaves on the trees.
This is a light-to-medium bodied tisane that is beautifully sweet. It tastes like a cross between lightly spiced apple cider and freshly roasted almonds that have been sprinkled lightly with cinnamon and sugar. And… no, I didn’t add any sweetener to this, that sugar sweetness comes naturally from the beetroot (which also provides a pretty, pinkish color to the cup).
While I am sure that this makes a very tasty iced tea, the autumnal feel of it demands that it be served hot. It is so cozy and delightfully comforting. A delightful dessert substitution that is naturally caffeine-free so it can be enjoyed any time of day. Kids will love this one too!
Nepali Oolong Tea from The Tao of Tea
Tea Type: Oolong Tea
Where To Buy: The Tao of Tea
Product Description:
Very buttery, almost void of any astringency. Full-bodied, smooth with flavor of dried, preserved plums.
Tasters Review:
Nepali Oolong from The Tao of Tea has a faded fresh yet cocoa-powder aroma to it before infusing.
The leaves are WILD and fun! They almost have a natural tye-dyed effect with natural and earthy colors! I LOVE these leaves!
The smell of this completely changes as it infuses! While infusing there is a nice, unique scent…buttery but very plum-like with a hint of nuttiness! The leaves are swimming and dancing around in my cup. They are very active lil buggers! They have a lot of character! I like that in a tea!
The color of the liquor is very light brown with almost a greyness to it.
The taste is very pure. It seems to quench my thirst. There are both fruity and nutty flavors present…maybe more plum notes than nut notes, however.
This is a VERY Impressive Oolong! It’s creamy and buttery and has a very nice aftertaste!