Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Peony Tea S.
Tea Description:
Hanyu Pinyin: huang shan mao feng
Production area: Huangshan, Anhui
Harvest time: Spring 2012Overview:
Perpetually shrouded in cloud and mist, the beautiful Huangshan which is translated literally as ‘Yellow Mountain’ is the origin of one of the most beloved and well-known green tea in China- the Huangshan Furry Peak. Just like its place of origin, this delightful green tea is truly a work of art, simultaneously soothing and exciting the drinker. Green teas are considered in Traditional Chinese Medicine terminology as ‘cooling’ so instead of reaching for your soda, try this sugarless all natural alternative instead. The recurring sweetness will fill your throat long after your last drop.
Taste:
Thirst quenching and cooling, feel the recurring sweetness well up and linger in your throat.
Liquor:
Yellowish green liquor.
Personality:
Like a classic beauty, there is an elegance about Huangshan Furry Peak that is almost ethereal. She carries about her an air that exudes class at every turn, beguiling all that crosses her path.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Huangshan Furry Peak from Peony Tea S. was given to me by one of my SororiTea Sisters LiberTeas to try. You can see her review of this tea here.
I have decided I need to really get caught up on the samples that I have had around awhile, while they are still fresh. So Huangshan Furry Peak, its your turn!
As I lifted the cup I picked up a lovely buttery aroma, almost like butterscotch candy due to the sweet aroma being also quite strong. Such an inviting sensation!
This is not an overly vegetal green, which is a nice departure into a more dessert like flavor.
There is a wonderful silkiness to the mouthfeel which is brothy and thick.
The color of the steeped leaf is the palest hue of gold.
This tea reminds me of being young, in the summer time. Out in the yard on a weekend playing or just being lazy, sticky fingers from that lollipop from the local candy shop. Sweetness on the breath and smiling because you know you had something really good and not one bit worried about the calories or what it does to your health! The upside of course is this tea is actually good for you but evokes that same feeling, as if you have done something naughty or have something everyone else would want.
You should want this tea too. That is if you love sweet butteriness in a green that feels like silk in your mouth and leaves you refreshed and satisfied!
Dong Ding Oolong from Peony Tea S.
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Peony Tea S.
Tea Description:
Dong Ding is one of the prime examples of all that is charming about Taiwanese oolongs- smooth texture and refreshing aftertaste often known as ‘hou yun’ or ‘harmony of the throat’. A sweetness that appears after the nutty, caramel like notes continues to delight.. A deep and deeply satisfying oolong.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Dong Ding is one of, if not my all time favorite tea. I can buy some not too far from my home (about 20 minutes each way) but it is very expensive as it is the only “local” tea house we have in my area.
The problem is that I absolutely love that Dong Ding, yet upon asking where they get their teas from I get their typical answer of “fron China”. (insert my laugh out loud). Not to knock our nice little local tea house but I am 99.9% sure they are not sourcing tea directly from a farmer in China. Its a typical answer given when someone does not want to give up their source, which I can respect not wanting to send your customer base elsewhere, but hey can we just say that instead? Okay rant over.
The reason I bring all of this up is because this Dong Ding from Peony Tea S. Is one I could easily substitute my regular beloved Dong Ding with.
A lovely nutty backdrop to floral and fruity notes that rest comfortably in a roasted caramel base.
I am not sure what it is I love about Dong Ding, it just reminds me of the woods, fallen leaves, trees…something about it makes me think I am part of Robin Hood’s Merry men, or ummm okay maybe a damsel in distress, but I would rather be that one girl in the group that shoots arrows and fights the good fight with the boys. Something about Dong Ding makes me reminiscent of going to the renaissance festival, which I try to do at least once a year if not more. There is something so down to earth about it, so soothing, centering. Yet it also appeases my sweet tooth with its fruity notes. It has a flavor of plums, or raisins, or maybe even fig at times. “Dark fruits” rather than berries, heavier, heartier fruits. The sweetness is similar to caramel or the topping on creme brulee, caramelized sugar.
What I do know, is that my explanation of Dong Ding does not do it justice. It is as much of an experience for me as a flavor. As I drink my cup and try to write a clear review I keep finding myself lost in my thoughts, on a journey.
Peony Tea S. provides an excellent tea here and I hope each of you will give it a try and go on your own journey.
Huangshan Furry Peak Tea from Peony Tea S.
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Peony Tea S.
Tea Description:
There are few areas more gorgeous than the UNESCO heritage site- Huangshan where this wonderful green tea is grown.
As you sip on this sweet, delectable green tea, imagine the exhilarating mountain air revitalize you.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This tea is really quite lovely. It looks quite a bit like some of the yellow teas that I’ve seen. The leaves and the buds look like miniature, young pea pods. They smell very vegetative, and produce a beautiful, light yellow-green liquor that is so pale it is nearly clear. The aroma of the brewed liquid is very faint compared to that of the dry leaf.
The mouthfeel of this tea is quite unusual. At the start of the sip, I notice a soft silkiness in the texture, and almost immediately I notice a slight astringency near the tip of the tongue. This radiates to the sides of the palate and especially toward the inner cheeks, toward the back of the throat. It is a dry, slightly “twinge-y” sort of sensation that sort of dissipates to make way for a lovely sweetness that is delicate, reminiscent of spun sugar.
The flavor is not so vegetative as I expected it to be, an expectation that I formed based solely on the aroma of the dry leaf. There are some vegetal notes in there, but they are mild and slightly creamy, reminding me of buttered lima beans. While this tea is beautifully sweet, there is a savory sort of element in there as well, and it adds a nice contrast to the sweet, creamy taste of the tea.
This is one of the most unusual green teas I’ve ever encountered. Unusual, but very, very lovely!
I have tried several different teas from Peony Tea S. now and I am incredibly impressed by everything that I’ve tried. The proprietor of this company, Derek, seems to be very passionate about tea and it shows through his vast knowledge of tea. I like that he maintains an online presence in tea communities like Steepster where he shares his knowledge with those that frequent the site, but most of all, I love the teas he offers!
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!
Dong Ding Oolong from Peony Tea S
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Peony Tea S
Tea Description:
In spite of its curious sounding name in English, the Dong Ding Oolong is one of the most well-known and beloved teas from Taiwan. It’s strong rich flavor and lingering aftertaste has enchanted countless drinkers across the generations.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
The more acquainted I become with Peony Tea S, the more impressed I become. This is a company that is dedicated to delivering the very best teas … and this Dong Ding is proof of it. While Dong Ding is one of the Oolong types that I have a little less experience with (I’m much more familiar with Tie Guan Yin and Ali Shan, for example), of the few Dong Ding Oolongs that I’ve tried, this is certainly right up there with the very best! It is so delicious, my mouth actually seems to water in between sips as my taste buds anticipate the flavor of it.
What I noticed first with this Dong Ding was it’s fruity character. It has a strong fruit-like presence, with tastes that are reminiscent of sun-dried fruit such as a dried plum or possibly a raisin. It has that sugary sweetness of the dried fruit … and then I notice a more caramelized kind of taste to it … like raisins that have been reconstituted and then cooked back down into a sweet, caramel-y sauce.
There is very little floral note here – oh… there’s some, certainly. I notice a certain amount of floral tones in just about every “green” Oolong I encounter, but, the floral tones seem to be washed over by the sweetness of the fruit. In the background, I notice a hint of nutty flavor that begins to develop.
Also in the background, I notice the faintest vegetative note – almost like it’s tempt the palate into a game of hide and seek (“try and find me!”) and along with it is a savory quality. Not quite sour … not quite. Not at all bitter. Very smooth, sweet and relaxing to sip, but all the while, it keeps my taste buds guessing with its complex character.
This Dong Ding is truly memorable – one of the best I’ve tried. Sweet and caramel-y; those are the flavors that stand out the most to me. Some astringency, a slight dry sensation toward the tail, leading into the aftertaste that is gently sweet.