A few years ago had you had asked me if the time of year matters for when you plucked a leaf I would have shrugged my shoulders. But once you really delve into the world of tea it’s amazing what you will learn.
Pre-Ming for example is any tea harvested before a specific date, this being the Qing Ming festival. In this year of the Dragon 2020, the festival falls on April 4th.
These teas are usually considered higher quality. I could go on forever about this but go look it up and you’ll see what I mean. Once you do you’ll understand a bit more about why I am excited to drink this tea.
Without further ado and because I can’t stand sitting here any longer staring at this package, let’s steep!
The dry aroma is very slight. Maybe because this is only a small sample. But have no fear the wet aroma is fantastic.
Sweet, grassy, with some hints of indistinct florals. The liquid is silky on the tongue. Oh heavens that is nice. Slight astringency with overwhelming (in a good way) grass and hay notes.
This is the first time I’ve done a dragonwell Gong fu style and I must admit it is tough. But so worth it. Oh unique! With the second steeping, I am getting an aroma of asparagus. The flavor remains the same. Maybe a bit more grassy then before.
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Mei Mei Tea
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
photo/logo credit: Mei Mei Tea
China Snow Dragon Green/Simpson and Vail. . . .
Not too long ago…I knew what I wanted…I wanted a green tea. I wanted a green tea from China…I wanted something mystical like a Dragon and soft like snow…lucky me…I had a pouch of China Snow Dragon Green Tea from Simpson and Vail that I had waiting for me.
I have found my own personal ‘sweet spot’ for infusing green teas and that is just shy of 2 minutes. This one stood up to the test.
These leaves were a FUN mix of green leaf and white downy (snow) buds. The aroma is fresh yet vegetal. It brews to a pale green cup with a light, delicate floral taste, too!
I was happy to learn that this special green tea comes from gardens in Fuding county which is a Fujian province in China. This county is known for its steep mountains and vast seacoast and I have to say you can really taste the difference in the tea!
This was another winner from Simpson & Vail! Can’t wait to see and TASTE what is next!
Want to Know More About This Tea?
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Simpson and Vail
Description
This special green tea comes from gardens in Fuding county, Fujian province in China. This county is known for its steep mountains and vast seacoast.
These leaves are a mix of green leaf and white downy (snow) buds. The aroma is fresh and vegetal. It brews to a pale green cup with a light, delicate floral taste. Truly exquisite!
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Anji Bai from Teasenz. . . .
Another rainy night with the feeling of winter in the air. I want tea, a tea that makes me go “mmmmmm” and cuddle the cup.
Enter Anji Bai. Flat leaves of brilliant green that steep a golden cup of tea. The dry leaves smell like milk chocolate to me for some reason, which is also true of some Da Hong Pao. But the steeped tea does not.
The steeped tea smells like oh so fresh lightly buttered vegetables with a hint of asparagus and a hint of peas, but also freshly shelled walnuts with the little papery membrane still on. It reminds me somewhat of a Huang Shan Mao Feng.
At first I think the flavor is very light and mild, and I really concentrate on my cup. The creamy texture of the tea coats your mouth and makes you want more. I could really chug this tea but it is so delicious that I try to slow down and enjoy it. Now the green veggie notes are lingering along with the creaminess. Each exhale causes a little rush of flavor.
Note to self – drink this tea during quiet time and meditation. Exquisite.
(Package said steep for four minutes, website said three so I went for three since it is a green.)
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Teasenz
Description
Fresh and creamy soft with notes of citrus and nuts. From Anji, the town of dense bamboo forests and tea cultivation, comes this Anji Bai Cha, one of the rarest of all Chinese teas. With long, delicate, vivid green leaves, Anji white tea is beautiful in every sense of the word. A green tea connoisseur’s dream.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Frosty Garden from Mellow Monk
Frosty Garden from Mellow Monk is a Kumamoto-style guricha with tea leaf stems. Apparently, the curly-shaped guricha leaves are prepared using a steaming process, rather than a pan-fried process, which give this tea its special flavor.
First and foremost, let me say that I like the name of the tea, and it’s helped me be inspired while drinking this brew. This is a well-balanced tea, just the right mix of both vegetal and fruity notes, and both sweet and savory tones. The vegetal notes feel like spring grass that grew up fast and got caught by that last, sudden wet frost. This tea feels green and fresh, like melting frost on new grass, very wet and green.
There are also some brighter notes, which taste more lemony with a hint of savory herbs like sage or parsley. In the aftertaste, there’s a bit of green almost-melon sweetness. The most I drink this tea, the more I experience a buttery mouthfeel with hints of toasted nuts.
Reminding me of the cusp of spring weather where new greens meet the last clutches of cold, Frosty Garden from Mellow Monk is aptly named, and a fresh, fantastic brew.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Mellow Monk
Description:
Frosty Garden™ is a shiraore (also known as karigane), a tasty sencha mixed with some white leaf stems. That, plus a slightly different tea-crafting technique, results in a uniquely “soft” tea—a lightly herbaceous aroma, a gentle, creamy sweetness with nutty overtones, hints of sage, and a savory finish. This tea is always first flush—made from the first harvest of spring leaves.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Glenburn Estate Darjeeling from Yatra Tea Company. . . . .
Green tea is what I’ve been craving lately, so when my fellow sister, CuppaGeek, told me about this amazing tea, I just knew I had to try it. And I have to say, this tea IS the green tea of the moment at The SororiTea Sisters. . in my opinion.
The description of this tea states that this Glenburn Estates Darjeeling has a lemon buttery flavor and they aren’t wrong. Brewed up per the parameters provided on the package, this tea yields this lovely smooth buttery flavor with a hint of a citrus finish. Towards the end of each sip there is this yummy and lovely vegetal feel that contrasts nicely with the buttery tone. All the flavors do a great job of showcasing each other providing a very satisfying cuppa.
Cup after cup, sip after sip, this tea delivers. Thanks Yatra Tea Company! This tea knocks the flavors out of the park in a wonderfully subtle and flavorful way! I spy a few other Yatra Tea Company teas that I need to try. I’m excited to see what flavors those teas yield. On top of that, after looking at their website, Yatra Tea Company is a tea company that gives back. This is one tea company to keep your eye on for sure!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Yatra Tea Company
Description
Light lemon-yellow liquor, with a vegetal, herbal aroma, and a buttery, naturally sweet taste.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!