Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Teavivre
Tea Description:
Bailin Gongfu is the highest quality Fujian black tea. This Bailin Gonfu is a premium quality tea produced at Mt. Taimu in Fujian, and is crafted from Fuding DaBai and Da Hao trees. This delicious tea has a great refreshing sweet taste and fragrance.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I have enjoyed many different types of tea. When it comes to pure black teas, there are many that I consider “favorites” – but if I had to narrow it down to one pure black tea that I could have – that and only that for the rest of my life, I think I would ultimately end up choosing a Fujian black tea like this Bailin Gongfu Black Tea from Teavivre.
Fortunately, that is not a choice I’d have to make… and don’t get me wrong, I have enjoyed many different pure black teas and I hope to continue to do just that. But a good Fujian like this one – well, it’s hard to beat.
This has all the qualities that I want in a black tea, and none that I don’t want. It comes as close to perfection in a black tea that one can get! It is rich, smooth, a little malty with pleasant baked good kind of notes throughout. It has a very luscious caramel-y undertone – sweet and unlike some other teas that have this caramel-y tone, it is a strong, unwavering kind of flavor that stays with you from the first sip right through to the last sip.
But there’s more. What really draws me in to with this tea is the cocoa notes. This tea tastes as though it has been coated with the highest quality dark cocoa powder. Of course, it hasn’t been, but it tastes like it. It has such a pleasing dark chocolate flavor. Of course, for those who prefer milk chocolate, you can remedy this by adding a splash of milk or cream and this tea takes that addition quite nicely.
I happen to prefer this tea straight up, it doesn’t really need sweetener, it doesn’t really need anything other than the brewing process to make a perfect cup of tea. And that is what I have before me right now. I love this!
Mengku Palace Ripened Golden Buds Pu-erh (2007) from Teavivre
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Pu-erh
Where to Buy: Teavivre
Tea Description:
This Palace Pu’er Tea (Gong Ting 宫廷普洱) carefully selected by Teavivre is produced in Mengku, Lincang, which is a representative producing area of Yunnan pu’er tea and one of the famous five tea-producing areas in Yunnan.
The pure flavor, the mellow taste, the exposed gold coins make this kind of high-quality tea deserve to be appreciated carefully.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
As I’ve said before (more than once), I’ve not always been so fond of Pu-erh. I think my taste buds have not only matured, but, also that I’ve learned more about the best way to brew teas including Pu-erh and this really has made a huge difference in how I’ve come to enjoy it.
But even so, Pu-erh still sometimes scare me, especially when they come off smelling very earthy. And that is just what this tea did. When I opened the pouch, I didn’t notice it quite as much as just after I brewed it. When I poured it from my gaiwan, I really noticed a strong, earthy smell – it smelled of earth, reminiscent of peat, and also slightly of leather and wood.
I took a very apprehensive sip, but was so pleased to discover that this tastes less of earth than the aroma had lead me to believe. Instead, this tastes sweet and remarkably smooth. No bitterness or astringency at all. It has a buttery sweetness – not so much like a buttery note that you might experience with a green tea or an Oolong, but more of the buttery taste in butter toffee or browned butter that’s been poured over the crust of a freshly baked loaf of bread.
It has an earthy flavor too, of course, but, it isn’t as prominent as I expected it to be. It is very mellow tasting, and the flavor seems to improve with each subsequent infusion, so do take the time to explore this tea thoroughly!
A really amazing Pu-erh. And after a visit to Teavivre’s website, I noticed that this particular tea is 10% off through July 15! Time to stock up on this, you’ll be glad you did.
Taiwan Dong Ding (Tung Ting) Oolong from Teavivre
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Teavivre
Tea Description:
The Dong Ding Oolong Teavivre select is among the best ones original from Taiwan. This kind of tea has a high quality and in a leadership among tea market in Taiwan. Dong Ding oolong tea, also know as Tung Ting Oolong traditionally was made from one bud and two or three leaves with fermentation level around 30% that it is also called “delicate elegant Oolong”
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I do adore Oolong tea, although I’ll admit that I love some more than others. I never really considered Dong Ding (aka Tung Ting) Oolong teas to be at the top of my list, but this Dong Ding from Teavivre certainly has the ability to change my mind! It’s that good!
The flavor is delicate, it isn’t heavy or buttery the way so many green Oolong teas can taste, it doesn’t inundate the palate with overwhelming floral notes or creamy tones. Don’t get me wrong, I love it when I experience Oolong teas that are very buttery or creamy or floral… but, it’s a nice change of pace to find an Oolong that is so delicate as this Dong Ding.
Incidentally, do you get a chuckle when you read the name “Dong Ding?” I do. It makes me think of Ding Dongs.
The flavor is sweet and floral, yes, but, it is light and refreshing. The palate doesn’t feel weighed down with a buttery or creamy essence. It is a perfect spring-time kind of tea, when you want something pure and naturally light. This tea evokes thoughts of the fresh breeze that wisps through a flower garden. The grass, the flowers, the clean, crisp air … I can taste these elements in this cup.
Subsequent infusions bring a more pronounced flavor, but, it never becomes overwhelming. The first cup (with infusions one and two) are my favorite for lightness, but overall, I prefer the second cup because the floral notes become a little more distinct.
This is the kind of tea that you want to sip over the course of an hour or two, just lingering over the delicate flavors. Relax and enjoy!
Taiwan Oriental Beauty (Bai Hao) from Teavivre
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Teavivre
Tea Description:
- Grown and produced in Xinzhu (Hsinchu), Taiwan
- Tea buds covered in white tips, with one or two leaves
- Bright-reddish orange tea liquor
- A mellow, sweet taste
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
True to its name, this is definitely a beauty!
Using my gaiwan, I steeped this tea using short steeps: following a quick 10 second rinse, I steeped it for about 45 seconds for the first infusion, and a full minute for the second infusion, and combined these two infusions in one cup. Each subsequent cup was poured in the same fashion, adding 15 seconds to each steep, and combining the brewed tea of two infusions. This produced a beautiful golden, honey-colored tea with a delicious honey-esque flavor to match its color.
There are delicate peach notes in the background which add to the sweetness but not in a way that renders it cloying. There is an earthiness to this cup as well, which offers the palate some balance to the sweet flavors of honey and peach.
The flavor seems to get better and better with each cup! The first cup was light and crisp in flavor and quite delicious, but with the second cup, the tea brewed a darker color and produced a deeper, richer flavor. The honey tones are now quite distinct.
The third cup was a little lighter than the second, but richer than the first. As I noticed that the tea was beginning to taper, I decided to stop at three cups … six very delicious infusions from one measurement of leaves!
Another delightful tea from Teavivre. If you tend to prefer your Oolongs to taste more of honey-fruit rather than floral, this would be an excellent choice!
Yun Nan Dian Hong Black Tea – Golden Tip from Teavivre
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Teavivre
Tea Description:
Dian Hong black tea, also known as Yunnan black tea, is one of China’s most famous black teas. This is the highest grade Dian Hong generally available in China – called Golden Tip Dian Hong. It has lots of orange pekoe in the dried tea, and brews into an absolutely great tasting, golden coloured tea, with very rich taste and aroma.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I know that for some of you who might read me regularly, it may be kind of boring to read just how excited I get over tea … cup after cup after cup! But, really, I love tea so much, and when I find a good cup (and I do find them quite often!) I want to share that joy! And yes, I really do get this excited over tea!
And it’s easy to get excited over tea when it tastes as good as this tea does.
The dry leaf is absolutely beautiful. The colors of the leaves ranges from bright, golden yellow to a rich brown, and the leaves are curled and twisted. But even more magnificent than their color is the flavor of the tea that they produce!
It is sweet with caramel-y undertones, and there is a hint of smoke to this tea as well. The smoke melds with the caramel in such a way to give it a distinct flavor that is both savory and sweet. I love the contrast! The mouthfeel is very smooth and even has a certain thickness to it (almost velvety!) that enhances the caramel experience even further.
If I were to categorize this tea into a season of the year, the season for this tea would be Autumn. The flavors remind me of autumn, not just the warm, smoky caramel, but, I also notice a warm spice to this tea. Almost like a mild nutmeg with a dash of pepper, just enough to tantalize the taste buds.
And then there is the sweet-potato/yam-like flavor, another flavor of fall! All of these flavors accent each other quite nicely – a delicious autumnal medley of tastes in one teacup. Truly a memorable cup of tea!