Yu Chi

Tea Information:

Leaf Type: Black

Where to Buy: Eco-Cha

Tea Description:

The maker of this tea is employed by the Yu Chi Township Tea Research Extension Station and his factory produced the winner of the 2011 Black Tea Competition in this area. He is a leading figure in his field and his knowledge and expertise of black tea cultivation in Taiwan is virtually unsurpassed.

Learn more about this tea here.

Subscribe to Steepster Select here.

Taster’s Review:

I was really excited when I found teas from Eco Cha in January’s Steepster Select Box. Eco Cha is one of my favorite “new” companies. I’ve tried a few teas from them, and I’ve enjoyed each one, and I’m loving this Red Jade Tea too!

The aroma of the tea has a warm spiced scent to it – not really spicy, but more like a touch of spice. The flavor is full and there is a fair amount of astringency to this. I taste the notes of cinnamon and clove that are mentioned in the description of this tea, but I didn’t start noticing the mint until I got to mid-cup. Then I noticed the “tingly” sensation of mint, and I could feel the cooling sensation of the mint when I would inhale air over my palate in the aftertaste. It doesn’t taste distinctly of mint … but it has mint-like qualities.

I also taste a sort of “grain” like flavor: like malt. Not like the malty note you might taste from an Assam tea, but, more like the flavor of a hot cereal. That kind of malt. It’s a comforting kind of flavor, just like a steaming hot bowl of hot cereal would be. There is also a wine-like quality that I taste – reminiscent of black currant. Sweet and slightly fruity.

I recommend steeping this for just 2 1/2 minutes in boiling water, because a longer steep time could result in a slightly bitter tasting cup. I brewed mine at 3 minutes, and I started to notice just a hint of bitterness, nothing I found off-putting, but it made me wish I had infused the leaves for 2 1/2 minutes rather than three.

Another enjoyable tea from Eco Cha, and yet another tea that makes me glad that I subscribe to Steepster Select!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Black Tea