Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Tea Frog
Tea Description:
This popular green tea is also known as Chun Mee, which translates to “Precious Eyebrows”, so named because of the shape of the rolled leaves. After being rolled, the tea is pan fried to halt the oxidization process in the leaf. The flavor of this tea is slightly sweet, with notes of plum, and a fragrant scent. The liquor is a pale yellow, and the tea is produced in the Anhui province of China.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is a very pleasant Chun Mee.
The flavor is consistent with other Chun Mee teas I’ve tasted. No big surprise there; however, I seem to be noticing more of a fruity tone with this Chun Mee. In other “Precious Eyebrow” green teas, I usually notice the vegetative flavors immediately – and yes, those vegetal notes are here as well – but, the first thing that really stood out for me was a very appealing fruit-like flavor. The description above suggests plum, and I get that … for my palate, I taste a cross between plum and apple, complete with a hint of tart green apple flavor that weaves its way in and out of each sip.
It has an earthiness to it as well, not an extraordinarily heavy earthy tone, but a light, musky kind of earthiness that provides a compelling contrast to the sweet fruit tones. It’s one of those teas that keeps me sipping for the interesting layers of flavors it presents.
And as I continue to sip, I notice the thick, smooth texture of the tea. It is a mouthfeel that is similar to a broth, and it is very satisfying. I am finding that not only is the flavor soothing but this texture is incredibly comforting to sip as it is cold and rainy outside.
Of course, this would also make a very pleasing iced tea – I’d recommend serving it with a thin slice of your favorite citrus fruit! If you enjoy a good Chun Mee, I’d recommend visiting the Tea Frog website and trying this one!
Bamboo Shoots from Tea Frog
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Tea Frog
Company Description:
Ingredients: Genmaicha, Green Tea, Ginger, Cardamom, Bamboo Shoots, Red Peppercorns, Papaya Pieces, Shredded Coconut, Pineapple Pieces
Taster’s Review:
Tea Frog has a great deal when it comes to samples: $2.00 per sample. You can order just a few or a whole bunch! The samples are generously sized too – enough to brew a couple of pots of tea!
With this deal, I decided to order several different samples that I was anxious to try. This one was very intriguing! I love Genmaicha, so I felt fairly confident that I would also love this blend.
The smell of toasty rice wafts out from the teapot as it brews… YUM!
This tea is an interesting balance of sweet rice and tea, warm spices and tropical flair! The Genmaicha flavor is the strongest component of this blend – it is rich, toasty and sweet. One big difference between an “ordinary” Genmaicha and this blend is that the grassy tone from the green tea seems to be absent in this cup. I suspect the other flavors help to conceal the sometimes undesirable vegetative notes of the green tea… I personally enjoy that vegetative flavor in green tea, but sometimes it IS too grassy. I like this because I can still enjoy the light, sweet flavor of the Genmaicha without the sometimes overwhelming vegetal tone.
The warmth of the spices is also subtle. There isn’t a strong peppery note from the ginger or peppercorns – it is a gentle warmth. The same is true of the tropical fruit – sweet, juicy, and yet subtle. There is a slight tartness to the blend that hits the palate in the aftertaste. This is also quite delicate and very enjoyable.
Overall, I’m finding this to be an outstanding tea. It is delicious, refreshing, and works well as both a hot tea and an iced tea. I like it a lot!