188 Tasting Notes

92

Totally agree with Rasseru. This is a generally over the top Dan Cong which I too have had darker roasted. The trend though has been to make lighter ones and with this tea its not an improvement IMOA. Yes all the things you love are here, but not with the pop and clarity of a darker roasted version. That being said its still a damn good tea, finicky if over-steeped and just the right temp. I played with the temp and found lower to be better than the requisite 195. The number two on my best Ba Xians

Flavors: Citrus, Malt, Orange Blossom, Orchid

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 0 min, 15 sec 8 g 6 OZ / 180 ML
Rasseru

What was your favourite? I had a check and no higher ba xian ratings than this

BigDaddy

I drink it locally at a tea shop near me called Tea Drunk, she only does mainland Chinese teas and her heart is all oolong. The prices are high because she really does care about procuring the best teas for her shop and it reflects in the quality. She does tea-offs on Tuesdays , the type of tea is chosen before hand and everyone brings their own and compares with her version, lots of fun and a great learning experience.

tanluwils

If only I could get to NYC on the weekdays..

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96

Where has this been all my life. Superb execution on the making of this tea. Perfect oxidation and roasting, leading to a burst of floral, malt and citrus. The only other red tea I’ve had with this profile was a Darjeeling from Teabox.

Preparation
Boiling 0 min, 15 sec 8 g 7 OZ / 220 ML
DigniTea

I agree. This is a very nice tea!

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92

Came as free sample with my order, and was confused and excited, Yancha my favorite but in black tea form? The tea is superb, all the right notes of a black with the malt caramel and some attributes of Yancha on the oolong side with orange flower. Well done

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 0 min, 15 sec 5 g 5 OZ / 140 ML

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84

I didn’t think this tea was as good as some of the other Assams, not enough of a flavor profile, but still quite a drinkable tea especially the pow from the abundant caffeine

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 0 min, 15 sec 8 g 10 OZ / 300 ML

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90

Back of the cupboard discovery from Steepter’s monthy. I used the whole package 8 gms and a celadon teapot, 190° water. Fresh aromas of cut grass in the package and the brewed aromas of grass and melon appear with a sweetness of honey on the nose. The flavor profile is delicate, lemony, muted malt and a bit of white pepper. Resteeped 4 times.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 0 min, 15 sec 8 g 10 OZ / 300 ML

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92

Shooooooou…….smoooooooth. Brilliant on a bitter cold day when chores are necessary outdoors. Aroma and flavors of the outdoors before you even leave the house. Had enough energy all day and then some. Love this tea.

Preparation
Boiling 0 min, 15 sec 16 g 8 OZ / 240 ML
mrmopar

A good one.

looseTman

How is the 2011 compared to the 2007?

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82

Free sample from YSUS, for my splurge in oolongs. This sample was 21 grams, very generous. A quick look up on the site provided no inside knowledge so its basically a blind tasting. Use a thin walled 100 ml gaiwan and used the approved mrmopar brewing techniques, which produces a smoky tea, viscous with soft florals, no astringency or bitterness. It is a decent tea and further research on the goog says its meant for the Taiwan market and is tightly compressed for their humid environs. I purposely over brewed my 6th session to see if I could coax out anything other than the smokiness and not much showed up other than puckering bitter. I’m going to recommend it because although it may not have much depth it still is a smooth smokey tea is that’s your thing. Oh and the other is that I can’t find it anywhere online.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 0 min, 15 sec 9 g 3 OZ / 100 ML

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82
drank Ippoen by Ippodo
188 tasting notes

Bought this while strolling through the hood on my way to my favorite lunch place for dan dan noodles. Bright green leaf in bag with no obvious aromas. Brewed to instructions in smallest gaiwan, the aroma is really intense with cooked spinach. Not that over boiled nasty spinach smell but the gentle parboiled fresh smell as you squeeze out the juices. The liquor is a bit cloudy, thick and not as vibrant as i would have expected, more of a muted yellow. The flavor is dead on spinach and asparagus at first with a hint of seaweed. As you continue to sip, a noticeable bitter approaches but not enough to scare you off. After about 2 minutes the aftertaste yields from bitter to sweet. The one thing I observed in my reaction was I didn’t feel like I had drank a tea. Knowing my way around a kitchen and being one of those who wastes nothing I have been known to drink my spinach water if I wasn’t using it it in a recipe, and that’s how I regarded this tasting. I would have given it a better rating but I am new to Japanese greens and will need to revisit after I try a few more samples. Also the bitterness was noticeable and I don’t know if it is supposed to be part of the experience or just an expression of this tea alone.

Flavors: Asparagus, Seaweed, Spinach

Preparation
140 °F / 60 °C 1 min, 30 sec 10 g 3 OZ / 80 ML

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80

All your typical Yunnan red tea flavors and aromas in a nutshell. It’s comforting on these cold winter days and I drink it as a second round of tea after my morning oolong. A standard bearer that is consistent year after year.

Flavors: Caramel, Malt

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94

Very nice example of the Phoenix powerhouse fragrant tea. Right away I noticed the leaf as well processed, tight twist and roasted lightly Over the top floral notes and the flavors of honeysuckle, musk melon and slightly sweet. Well structured mouth-feel and a tiny bit of astringency that compliments this teas aromatic boldness. This is one of those teas that I give to jaded coffee drinkers to win them over to our side.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 0 min, 15 sec 5 g 3 OZ / 100 ML
Daylon R Thomas

Dancong’s are what converted me to full fledged tea drinker from coffee. That was one I eyeballed along with the Ba Xian and the Snowflake Da Wu Ye…but I’m on a “budget” and used my Amazon Gift Card on a Golden Lily and Eco-Cha’s Dong Ding. The Golden Lily is from a company called Immortalitea, and I’m curious to see how it is.

Liquid Proust

So this one is a bit sweet?

BigDaddy

Yes just a bit sweet but profound florals

tanluwils

Funny, the first Dancong I had from YS was disappointing, in that it tasted like an inexpensive Wuyi. However, I’ve been able to muster up the confidence try this one since lately I’ve been more than happy with Scott’s other oolongs and this one has been so favorably reviewed. I’m pretty sure I won’t regret it.

BigDaddy

I had less than appealing results from their earlier choices but there has been a concerted effort of late to bring a better offering. While it has gotten better it’s still just above average, there are better vendors and as with anything you lose out on the gamble sometimes but when you hit the mother load stick with it. Sites I like are Tea Urchin, Trees Drunk and Dragon Tea House.

Rasseru

Defo need to try tea drunk now. That last review sounded great, the ya Shi

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Food and Drink fanatic. Expanding my horizons with new teas. Accomplished cook with a love of wines, liquors, cocktails, coffees and teas.
Semi-retired Interventional Cardiology Registered Nurse

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East Village NYC, Red Hook NY, USA

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