Had to open up the aroma wheel for this one. There are some black teas that I have such a hard time finding descriptors for.
This is a very pleasant tea. No harsh after taste. An intriguing liquid color. Golden brown perhaps? The flavor profile is so amazing. Slightly citrus but the more I sip it the more I am tasting woodsy notes at the end. Flashes of walking through a slightly damp Washington state forest come to mind. Keep spinning the aroma wheel we aren’t through yet.
Even with the citrus and woodsy flavors it can also be defined as sweet. Almost like honey. The sweetness gathers all the flavors in a way that makes you feel as if you are drinking a royal cup of tea. Something truly unique.
Something must also be said about the leaves. Look at how tightly rolled they are!
From the pain-staking process of picking only the young tender buds from the purple trees (See the web page below for more details!), to the processing, and up to the end where it is packaged- all care is taken with this tea.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea/Purple Tea
Where to Buy: Yunnan Sourcing
Description
Purple leaf “Zi Cha” was harvested in Late April from the Jing Mai mountainous area in Lancang county of Simao. The fresh purple leaves were then processed into a flat needle style tea. The processed tea leaves are black with tiny golden shoots on some.
The brewed tea is citrus fruity sweet and very vibrant in the mouth. The smell is floral and grapefruit. The tea soup is a deep red-orange with hints of purple and vert clear.
A unique tea from “Zi Cha” purple tea leaves which is quite different from “Wild Purple / Ye Sheng” varietal black tea.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Ye Sheng Wild White Tea from Canton Tea Co.
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: White
Where To Buy: Canton Tea Company
Product Description:
Other names: Wild White
This is a glorious, limited edition tea with a great story. This tea farm was once owned by the government but had been abandoned for many years and the tea bushes were left to grow wild. Our producer recognised the potential in the farm, the natural tea bushes, the excellent terroir and particularly the yellowy, rocky soil – perfect for giving the tea a delicious mineral note. He bought up the estate and produced this great tea from the first, small harvest of all the tea bushes that had been left untouched, in a natural state for decades.
We are the only people in the UK (and probably anywhere outside China) to have this tea. It is an ideal all-day, summer tea, very soft on the palate with a creamy depth and a satisfying full-bodied, warm fruity note, lifted by the mildest hint of flint (from that excellent ground).
Taster’s Review:
I find myself somewhat surprised when I hear someone say “I don’t like white tea.” It is such a blanketing statement and it almost irks me because I have learned that just because I have tried one white tea, does not mean that I’ve tasted them all. There are many white teas out there, each with their own unique nuances. Just because you may not like one that you’ve tried, doesn’t mean that you’ll dislike all of them.
This is a wonderful white tea that is so very different from others that I’ve tried.
The dry leaf smells a bit like hay, and it keeps that fragrance after its been brewed. The liquor is such an enchanting color. So pale, almost like alabaster!
After seeing such a lightly colored liquor, I figured that the flavor would be equally as light. And, it does start out that way. But by the time I’ve reached the bottom of the cup, the flavor and body have both developed significantly.
The flavor is very pleasantly sweet with a mild undertone of citrus and wood. It feels incredibly soft on the palate, almost creamy, which seems to encourage my taste buds to taste a cream-like flavor as well. These delightful flavors intensify as I continue to sip it, and by the time I reach the end of my cup, I recognize it as a bright, full-bodied, delicious cup of tea.
I highly recommend this one!
