Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Steepster Select
Tea Description:
Our Long Jing (or Dragon Well) is produced by one of the most respected organic growers in Anhui.
Read other Steepster thoughts on this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve tasted and reviewed a lot of Long Jing (also known as Dragon Well) green teas over the years. And while many of those that I’ve tried taste very similar to others, every once in a while I’ll taste one that sort of “stands out” among the others that I’ve sampled. This Organic Long Jing #03 from Steepster (from my January Steepster Select box!) is one of those Dragon Well teas that stands out.
And what makes me say that? Well, for one thing, just a few moments ago – after allowing the tea to cool slightly – I took a sip and I lightly slapped my lips and murmured “mmm!” Now … I do that from time to time when I taste teas. But, I can’t recall the last time I did that after taking a sip of a Dragon Well.
Like I said, many of my Dragon Well memories sort of melt into one another, like one big Long Jing conglomerate. That doesn’t mean that I didn’t enjoy those other Long Jing/Dragon Well teas – because I did. I enjoyed them immensely. However, as I said in the previous paragraph, every once in a while one just stands out.
What I’m trying to say, very simply, is this: this Long Jing ROCKS!
This is sweet and nutty, and there is a roasted note to it that reminds me of sweet, toasted chestnuts. One of the things I look forward to when the holidays approach is roasting some chestnuts over my roaring fireplace, and eating the shelled chestnuts while they’re still warm. Yum!
Well, that lip-smacking “mmm” moment I mentioned a while ago was from the warm, creamy chestnut taste that I get from this tea. The tasting notes from Steepster state:
Nutty and vegetal with hints of baked earth.
And yeah, I’m getting that “baked earth” sort of flavor, as well as the vegetative tones that are reminiscent of lightly buttered lima beans. But it’s the nutty flavors of this tea that really does for me. So sweet and delicious.
A really, REALLY good Long Jing!
Obukucha Green Tea from Steepster
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Steepster Select
Tea Description:
Cold aged until the New Year, this sencha is a reminder of the year that has passed and the upcoming spring just around the corner.
Read other Steepster thoughts on this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I took a few sips of this Obukucha Green Tea from Steepster before I read the above description and before I even read it, the first word that came to my mind after the first one or two sips was “spring.” This indeed tastes like spring to me with it’s fresh, vibrant flavor.
This tea brews up a beautiful bright, light green color that tells of its invigorating, spring-like taste. It is sweet and has a pleasant texture that reminds me of a light broth. The flavor is delicate. The vegetative notes here fall somewhere between grassy and seaweed-like.
There is a good balance between savory and sweet with this tea. It has a very satisfying flavor to it. Quite often with sencha teas, I find the flavor to either be very strong or to be so soft that I feel like I need to eat something with the tea to help bring out the flavors a little bit. But as I drink this tea, the best way I can think of to explain how the flavor of this tea is different is that it’s a “well balanced meal.” That is to say, this tea doesn’t need anything else to improve or accentuate the flavor or to help to bring out the delicate nuances.
One of the better Sencha teas I’ve tasted.
Red Jade Tea from Eco Cha
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Eco-Cha
Tea Description:
The maker of this tea is employed by the Yu Chi Township Tea Research Extension Station and his factory produced the winner of the 2011 Black Tea Competition in this area. He is a leading figure in his field and his knowledge and expertise of black tea cultivation in Taiwan is virtually unsurpassed.
Learn more about this tea here.
Subscribe to Steepster Select here.
Taster’s Review:
I was really excited when I found teas from Eco Cha in January’s Steepster Select Box. Eco Cha is one of my favorite “new” companies. I’ve tried a few teas from them, and I’ve enjoyed each one, and I’m loving this Red Jade Tea too!
The aroma of the tea has a warm spiced scent to it – not really spicy, but more like a touch of spice. The flavor is full and there is a fair amount of astringency to this. I taste the notes of cinnamon and clove that are mentioned in the description of this tea, but I didn’t start noticing the mint until I got to mid-cup. Then I noticed the “tingly” sensation of mint, and I could feel the cooling sensation of the mint when I would inhale air over my palate in the aftertaste. It doesn’t taste distinctly of mint … but it has mint-like qualities.
I also taste a sort of “grain” like flavor: like malt. Not like the malty note you might taste from an Assam tea, but, more like the flavor of a hot cereal. That kind of malt. It’s a comforting kind of flavor, just like a steaming hot bowl of hot cereal would be. There is also a wine-like quality that I taste – reminiscent of black currant. Sweet and slightly fruity.
I recommend steeping this for just 2 1/2 minutes in boiling water, because a longer steep time could result in a slightly bitter tasting cup. I brewed mine at 3 minutes, and I started to notice just a hint of bitterness, nothing I found off-putting, but it made me wish I had infused the leaves for 2 1/2 minutes rather than three.
Another enjoyable tea from Eco Cha, and yet another tea that makes me glad that I subscribe to Steepster Select!
Da Hong Pao Red Robe #55 Oolong Tea from Steepster
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Steepster Select
Tea Description:
A gorgeous Wuyi Oolong with a deep rich liquor, big aroma, and a complex flavor that lasts steep after steep.
Read other Steepster thoughts on this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Hooray! This month’s Steepster Select box has arrived! Five more amazing teas to sample is always something that will bring a smile to my face.
The aroma of the dry leaf of this Da Hong Pao Red Robe #55 Oolong Tea from Steepster reminds me of the smell of early evening air in autumn here in the Pacific Northwest. You step outside and you can smell the smoke rising out of the chimneys, and it smells rustic: like smoke and wood and the crisp, cool, clean air. I love the smell! It’s not overly smoky which I often find off-putting; it’s a gentle smoke scent.
After a quick 15-second re-awakening of the leaves, I steeped my first two infusions of the leaves and combined them into one cup. One of the other members of Steepster mentioned that this has a burnt hazelnut caramel sort of flavor, and I’d agree with that. There is a deep, nutty flavor to this that I find compelling, and a delightfully sweet caramel-y undertone (think dark, rich caramel!) that is keeping me sipping.
Pleasant smoky notes are in the foreground but they aren’t overpowering. A woody mid-note that plays to that rustic sort of feeling that I usually experience with a Big Red Robe Oolong. A deliciously complex cup. One thing that I’m noticing with this particular Da Hong Pao is that the finish is cleaner. It has an astringency to it that cleanses the palate, so I feel less of a heavy aftertaste. I don’t taste a “coating” of smoke that I sometimes experience from this type of Oolong. Nice!
The second cup (infusions 3 and 4) brought out new flavors to explore. I still enjoyed notes of smoke and wood, however, these tones were softer than they were in the first cup. Now, I’m noticing a sweet-tart fruit-like note in the distance. It isn’t a clear or distinct flavor, but, it’s back there, waiting for me. It is as if it beckons me to brew the third cup to taste more. The nutty tones were a little clearer this time, but there is a little less of a heavy caramelized flavor. Still sweet … but more like a honeyed sweetness rather than caramel.
The third cup (infusions 5 and 6) was incredibly smooth. Similar to the first two cups – I could still taste notes of smoke and wood, and the honeyed note became more distinct while the caramel notes diminished slightly. The fruit note emerged a little this time … tasting a bit like a cross between a nectarine and a plum. Notes of tart, but mostly it’s sweet.
A really enjoyable tea. One of the nicest Red Robe teas I’ve tried.
Wuyishan Black Tea from Steepster
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Steepster Select
Tea Description:
A rare and innovative black tea from Fujian, China. Sweet and smooth with notes of caramel and sour cherry. Unlike traditional black tea, our Wuyishan Black is made from oolong varietals. This unorthodox method imbues our Wuyishan with complex fruit aromatics and a deep flavor that reveals itself through multiple infusions.
Read other Steepster thoughts on this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This Wuyishan Black Tea from Steepster is AWESOME! Of the five teas that were featured in December’s Steepster Select box, this one is definitely my favorite. I love the smoky tones to this, as well as the caramel-y undertone and the hints of fruit in the background.
I steeped this tea twice. The first infusion was rich and full-flavored. It tasted and felt smooth as it washed over the palate. A nicely round tea. The second infusion was also delightful. I found the second infusion to be less astringent, but the flavors of the tea were all intact. The second cup was more flavorful, smoother and even more delicious than the first – so it’s definitely worth the effort to resteep this tea!
I found that slurping this tea was important to aerate the tea before it hit the palate. While slurping may not sound really “polite” depending upon whose company you are keeping, it definitely improves a tea experience by allowing all the flavors in the drink to be enjoyed.
The sip begins with a smoky tone. I like the way the smoke comes through in this tea – it is smoky but not overly so. Then I notice notes of fruit that are both sweet and sour, and I like the way these notes contrast with the smokiness. The aforementioned caramel-y undertones are there from start to finish, but, I notice them less at the start and as the sip progresses, the caramel flavors develop.
A very rich and satisfying tea – this is a tea that I’d recommend to any tea connoisseur, or even a tea novice for that matter! This is a tea that everyone should try!
This tea was wonderful and made the first Steepster Select box worthwhile – and I enjoyed the other four teas too! But this one is the standout for me. It’s especially nice when served with a dark chocolate bar. (Then again, what isn’t better when served with chocolate?)
Have you signed up for Steepster Select yet? If not, you really should!