Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Qing Tea
Product Description:
Cuiyu is Taiwan tea made with tea varietal called Taiwan Tea No. 13. It was first developed in early 1980’s. Cuiyu, literally Green Jade, is lightly oxidized and roasted. It gives off special floral aroma which is often described as osmanthus or orchid aroma. The mild soup together with the refreshing scent makes it a nice choice for light Wulong lovers and daily drink.
Taster’s Review:
I love Oolong tea – and what I love most about Oolongs is that they differ in subtle ways from one tea to another. I am fascinated when I come across an Oolong that is so different from others that I’ve tried. This is one such Oolong.
This tea brews to such a beautiful, pale yellow-green color, and possesses an exotic floral fragrance. Just as the description above suggests, these floral notes are quite similar to osmanthus and orchid. This enchanting scent lures me in and begs me to take a sip. Who am I to refuse?
The flavor is also floral. It’s delightfully sweet – one of the sweeter Oolongs I’ve encountered! It is a mild flavor: the flowery notes are softened by the sweet tones. Even though these are lightly oxidized leaves, they do not have that “buttery” note that many lightly oxidized Oolongs have. Instead, there is a hint of toasty flavor that melds seamlessly with the aforementioned sweetness.
The mouthfeel is light, and there is a cleansing astringency – not too dry – and the astringency seems to clean away any lingering texture. This is a beautifully light, crisp Oolong that is quite different from any that I’ve tasted.
Another winning tea from Qing Tea! If you love Oolong – you must try this one!
Yiwu Wild Puerh Cake 2010 from Qing Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Puerh
Where to Buy: Qing Tea
Product Description:
Yiwu moutain is the biggest mountain among the famous 6 mountains in Yunnan. The region grows a great amount of old tea trees.This puerh cake uses spring tea leaves from Yiwu and is shaped in traditional way. The soup is already friendly and rich of sensation.
Taster’s Review:
I am still a little afraid of Pu-erh… I think more than anything, it’s that very pungent earthy aroma that puts me off on the stuff. However, I was very pleasantly surprised when I opened the sample pouch that I received of this Pu-erh and noted very little (almost NO) earthy scent.
This translates into the flavor as well, with very little earthiness detected in the taste. There is some earthiness in the flavor, it just doesn’t dominate the cup.
What I am finding most intriguing about this tea is an almost wild note in the background. I don’t know if one can actually taste the “wild” in a wild-grown Pu-erh, but, this flavor is a bit different from any other Pu-erh that I’ve tried.
There is a lightness to this particular Pu-erh, and this allows the flavor to come off as a bit more crisp and bright. I taste notes of spice in this tea, as well as a hint of sweetness. It has an almost rustic tone to it. The finish is dry. A very pleasant Pu-erh!