Ed Fladung

I have become a kombucha addict. This so far is the best I have found. I love the ginger taste against the tea and sweet-sour background. It usually has a slight bit of fizziness because it is a culture and once capped the cultures produce CO2. I just finished brewing up my first batch using green tea, but it is not nearly a good as the KBBK Red Ginger.

Just finished another fine cup of MTW Dragonwell. I like to drink it out of a small cup to let the pot brew a bit. The first half cup is light and hot and as it cools in the pot it gets stronger. It’s never bitter, it just keeps improving right down to the bottom of the pot. The grassy smell and the pleasant taste are complimented by the wonderful feeling as the tea takes hold and I sit here saying to myself, this is really fine tea and the world is alright. 3 min minimum steep time and proceed from there…

It’s hard to believe that I haven’t written a tasting note on this tea yet. This tea has become my favorite tea in the world. It should be admitted that good Darjeeling is at the top of my tea drinking list. I have tried many Darjeelings and I find the first flushes too light for morning tea and many are too coarse producing a cup that can only be consumed with milk or cream added to cut the excessive tannin. In the past I have had to go to the Extra Fancy grade to get a Darjeeling that has the aroma and smooth taste for my daily cup of tea. When I first ordered this tea two years ago I was immediately surprised that it was as fine as any of the Extra Fancy grade Darjeelings that I had bought. It has now become my daily morning favorite.

One of my favorite afternoon teas. Dragonwell to me is the king of green teas. This one is very fine. It makes a very substantial cup of beautifully scented and tasty tea. It is my tea of choice if I am working on a project that needs my absolute concentration. A small purple clay teapot with a teaspoon and a half of Dragonwell refilled periodically with hot water takes me through the afternoon. The scent alone is worth the price.

Well, I love Jasmine tea particularly in the afternoon where it’s light liquor, subtle taste and indescribable scent waits to rouse you from the afternoon doldrums. I love it just as it is, straight from the pot preferably a Yixing purple clay Teapot which Mark T. Wendell sells. The tea pot makes a real difference.

Well, Genmaicha is sort of like the white bread or jug wine of teas. This Genmaicha is real, serviceable and drinkable. Is it exciting?, no, is it subtle, no, but when you really want a drinkable Genmaicha without buying the Sencha and toasting the brown rice for yourself, this will do…

It’s taken me a while to post this because I needed to live with this tea to really get to know it. For the most part I really like full bodied Darjeelings, so first flushes are not what I would drink on a regular basis. I usually drink green tea in the afternoon and instead I have been giving this first flush a try. It is very light compared to most black teas, but when compared to my usual green teas it compares very well. Over time I have come to really love it’s beautiful floral notes, almost as if it were perfumed but with a exquisite subtlety that has you reaching for more. In short (it’s too late for that) I am enjoying this tea immeasurably and if you like teas which are a delight to your nose as well as you taste buds, try this one.

Dragonwell is one of the finest of the green teas. This organic Dragonwell is one that I can’t seem to keep in my pantry, I love it in the afternoon and early evening. It is smooth, bright and uplifting. I usually get 2-3 brews off the leaves when I am concentrating on a project, it is magic.

This is a really fine and consistent Darjeeling. For many years it was my daily tea. It is smooth and deep without being bitter. While I love the first flushes, this tea has the depth that I love on a daily basis.

I have for many years been a big fan of Mark T. Wendell’s Hu-Kwa tea. So I decided to give this one a try. I loved it. The blend is excellent, with just a note of smokey Labsang Souchong, great for afternoons when you’d like a tea with some body but not as strong as Labsang Souchong. I also love it in the morning. This one is a permanent one in my collection.

I have been buying this tea since the 1960’s and as far as I’m concerned it is the absolute best Lapsang Souchong tea there is. Over the years it has not deviated even slightly from its excellence. In comparison to other Lapsang Souchongs, many are far too strong and the tar taste is too intense. Hu-Kwa strikes the perfect balance with that wonderful smoky flavor and a hardy deep amber brew that warms your body and soul on a cold morning. This tea is simply the best…