The holidays are upon us, which means two horrific things: 1) “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer,” which I STILL have not yet heard, thankfully; and 2) my annual Throat-Destroying Nostril-Apocalypse Cold.
This tea was JUST the thing! It’s organic, which means it’s healthy. Therefore, I chose it this morning to wash down Robitussin and an I-Deserve-It donut (the Breakfast of Champions).
This tea was JUST the thing! It’s organic, which means it’s healthy. Therefore, I chose it this morning to wash down Robitussin and an I-Deserve-It donut (the Breakfast of Champions).
Like, you know how Wolverine is Canadian? That kind of maple syrup ancestry. Wearing a flannel shirt. Brooding a little. Lots of chest hair. Claws.
This is not a Cupcake/Sugar type of tea. It is still, however, very rich and delicious. (Like Wolverine.)
In summary: this is a great tea, I have a crush on Wolverine, and this entire post was brought to you by Tripping On Robitussin.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Flavored Black Tea
Where to Buy: Shanti Tea
Description
Try our “Canadian Breakfast Tea”, the sweet flavor of maple with a soft black tea.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Nonpareil Te Gong Huang Shan Mao Feng Green Tea from Teavivre
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Teavivre
Tea Description:
The historic Huang Shan Mao Feng is well-known as one of the ten famous Chinese tea. This Ming Qian Huang Shan Mao Feng is a kind of pre-ming green tea. Pre-ming tea has strict requirement of the picking time and its making standard, thus the bird-tongue appearance could been perfect formed, as well as the brisk flavor. Both of which are favored by tea lovers.
Our Nonpareil Huang Shan Mao Feng Green tea is Te Gong grade. Te Gong refers to two Chinese words: 特(tè) and 贡(gòng). 特 is short for 特级, which means the tea’s grade is nonpareil; while 贡 is short for 贡品, meaning that the tea was used to be paid as tribute to the emperor.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
What a pleasure it has been to try Teavivre’s newest green teas from this spring. They taste so fresh and wonderful!
This Nonpareil Te Gong Huang Shan Mao Feng Green Tea – quite a name! – is lovely. I am a fan of Mao Feng Green teas anyway, they’re one of my favorite of the ‘ten famous’ Chinese teas. I enjoyed two infusions from one measurement of this tea, and I found both to be quite good.
The first infusion was delicate in flavor at first, and I found that the flavor developed as I continued to sip. I’m not sure if this is because the tea was cooling slightly or because the flavors developed on the palate after taking a few sips. Either way, this is a tea that requires a patient palate, but don’t worry, that patience will be rewarded soon enough!
It is a beautifully sweet flavor with notes of fruit. I don’t often experience fruity notes with green tea (usually I experience grassy or vegetal notes, but not so much of a fruit note as this Mao Feng offers), and it reminds me of a combination of sweet grapes, melon and apple. There is no tartness to these fruit notes, so think only of the sweetest grapes and apples, with the lush, juicy taste of a sweet honeydew melon. This is a tea you want to slurp to get the most out of these fruit notes! Aerate the tea on the palate and you’ll be happy with the result.
I added thirty seconds onto the steep time for the second infusion. This cup offers a deeper flavor with even more sweetness. You definitely want to take this tea for a second steep! There is a lot of flavor to this second cup. Sweet with nutty flavors, and the fruit notes are still there too. This time, I taste less of the grape and more of the melon. There is a little bit of vegetative taste that comes through now too, but there is more fruit than vegetable to this cup. It’s a very refreshing cuppa!
Of the two infusions, the second is my favorite, but the first was certainly worthwhile too. I enjoyed both and what I liked best is that both were so different from one another – it was like taking two adventures with one tea. An exceptional Mao Feng!
Nonpareil Te Gong Huang Shan Mao Feng Green Tea from Teavivre
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Teavivre
Tea Description:
The historic Huang Shan Mao Feng is well-known as one of the ten famous Chinese tea. This Ming QianHuang Shan Mao Feng was picked on March 23, 2013, is a kind of pre-ming green tea. Pre-ming tea has strict requirement of the picking time and its making standard, thus the bird-tongue appearance could been perfect formed, as well as the brisk flavor. Both of which are favored by tea lovers.
Our Nonpareil Huang Shan Mao Feng Green tea is Te Gong grade. Te Gong refers to two Chinese words: 特(tè) and 贡(gòng). 特 is short for 特级, which means the tea’s grade is nonpareil; while 贡 is short for 贡品, meaning that the tea was used to be paid as tribute to the emperor.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve had the opportunity to try many different Mao Feng Green Teas, but this Nonpareil Te Gong Huang Shan from Teavivre is one of the very best that I’ve ever encountered. It has an outstanding flavor.
These gorgeous green leaves produce a clear, soft green liquid that tastes earthy and sweet at first, and then as I continue to sip, I notice different flavors develop. The taste and texture is soft and creamy, with the cream notes falling somewhere between milk and butter with slight vanilla-like tones.
By the time I’m at mid-cup, I begin to notice a crisp apple-y taste that is sweet with hints of tang. The tangy note develops further into something that is more savory than tangy toward the bottom of the cup. It’s a nice, well-rounded tea.
I really enjoyed this Mao Feng from Teavivre . Be sure to take this tea through its paces because it can deliver several flavorful infusions! A true delight to drink.
Velvet Oolong from Tea Chai Té
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Tea Chai Té
Tea Description:
GREAT NEWS! This tea was a 1st Place Winner – Oregon’s First State Tea Competition – Sept. 2, 2011
Called a Taiwanese milk oolong, our Velvet Oolong has a wonderful aroma that is rich and buttery with subtle floral notes. Light and smooth brew.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is a lovely milk Oolong, so creamy and rich!
When I first opened the pouch, before reading anything about this tea, I knew it was a milk Oolong. It has that lovely, buttery scent to the dry leaf. I was excited when I realized it was a milk Oolong as I do enjoy them, and I don’t drink them often enough … at least, not often enough for my liking!
The flavor is sublime. It is sweet and even just a little tangy, tasting a bit like fresh cream with a drop or two of buttermilk added to it. It even has a thick, creamy texture (although it is certainly not as thick as fresh cream!)
The taste also presents hints of flower in the distance … orchid, maybe? Perhaps even a whisper of honeysuckle. With the subsequent infusions, I noticed that the cream and buttermilk combination became smoother and mellower while the floral tones emerged. It is still sweet and creamy, but I notice more distinct floral notes now.
A very interesting and complex cup of tea. I can see why this tea won the Oregon State Tea Competition in 2011. It is certainly worthy.