Rachel J

When I ran out of PG Tips (which I often drink for my morning tea when I am not interested in subtlety, but just need to wake up), I saw a small box of this at the tea shop and decided to give it a try to compare. I’m gonna stick with PG Tips. This is decent, basic black tea in the same sort of style, but it doesn’t have as much flavor to me. I’m just more fond of the PG Tips.

2 heaping tsps in 12 oz

Have had this a few more times since my last note. It is soooo good. I’ve decided that the texture reminds me of miso soup. It is so rich and comforting.

2 heaping tsps in 12 oz

Wow, now I don’t know if I prefer this one or the Imperial Mojiang. The leaves are gorgeous. Perfectly straight needles. Not a single one broken. It has a very rich, heavy mouthfeel. And perhaps for the first time, I am finding a tea pleasantly astringent. Usually when I find a tea astringent, I consider it a negative, but this one has a very slight astringency which balances well with its “thickness”. Hope that makes some sense.

BTW, this note is for the Spring 2013 plucking.

Next up will have to be a side by side taste test of these two marvelous teas.

1 tbsp in 12 oz

Delish as usual! Like I always say, a bit lighter and drier than Taiwanese Wild Mountain Black but definitely in the same family.

2 tsp in 12 oz

Okay, I definitely have to pick some of this up in my next order. It’s fabulous. Just like I said before, a sweetness characteristic of Dian Hongs from the many golden tips. Super smooth and rich.

1 1/2 tsp for 8 oz

Fantastic, like I said before. This is stronger than I brewed it last time. It does gain a hint of astringency this way, but just a teeny bit. I think I’ll try 3:30 next time.

1 tbsp in 12oz

Every time I don’t have this tea for a couple of weeks and then have it again, it’s an experience. Seriously, there can be no better taste on earth than this. It’s crazy how much I love it. Nothing else compares. Other Taiwanese blacks are kind of similar but this one is unique and just amazing.

Just a couple of tablespoons left to hold me until it’s available again. Eek.

1 tbsp in 12 oz

This was better last time with less leaf. It bordered on bitter this time. Must remember to do no more than 1 1/2 tsp per 8 oz.

2 heaping tsp for 12 oz

The best Dian Hong I’ve ever had. Thanks to Doug F for turning me on to this. It has all the classic Dian Hong flavor that I’ve come to expect with zero astringency and a very smooth, rich mouthfeel. Love love love…

I might brew it a little stronger next time to see how that goes. It is so smooth, that I bet I could get even more flavor out of it without risking too much astringency or bitterness.

1 1/2 tsp for 12 oz

This tea is great for what it is. A solid, basic tea. Totally non astringent with these steeping parameters, but not sweet like the Taiwanese teas I like. I needed a little extra oomph this afternoon so I went for a stronger tea, and I enjoyed it with no additions.

1 tbsp for 12 oz

Just tried this again, and still love it. It really hits the spot. It is not the most complex tea, but it is smooth, flavorful (has a definite though subtle presence from the Assam flavor), and just happens to be what I am really looking for in a tea at this price point. YUM.

1/2 tbsp in 12 oz

This is a great oolong that’s a bit lighter and drier than a Bai Hao. Just as last time, I really love it. It isn’t astringent (now that I have a good thermometer!), and has a very pleasant, soothing flavor. (Not really floral like many other oolongs I’ve tasted.) It’s perfect for me when I want tea in the late afternoon and have already had a few stronger teas earlier in the day. This is probably the “lightest” tea I’ve had that I really like. I’m embracing the fact that I’m not a green tea person (at least for now).

1 tbsp for 12 oz

Very rich and satisfying tea. Completely smooth. Not as bold as the Fujian black teas I’ve tried, but more in that direction than the other Taiwanese black teas I’ve tried.

Was out of town this weekend gallivanting around Boston. So, I had this at Starbucks a few times. With a bit of sugar and soymilk, it got the job done of waking me up. Not something I’d buy to have at home, but when Starbucks is your only option, this will do.

2 tsp in 8 oz.

Fantastic tea. A smoother, sweeter tea than I would have expected at this price point. It’s kind of like the Harney and Sons Formosa Oolong I like, but with more body. It’s lighter than the Fujian blacks I’ve tried.

I think I’m going to have to come up with a 3-tier system for the teas I like. I’m starting to realize there are a few teas in the $2/oz range that I consider good enough (and inexpensive enough) to drink often — as in daily, teas in the $5/oz ballpark (like this one) that are good for once every couple of days, and teas in the $10+/oz range that I can indulge in maybe once a week.

2 rounded tsp in 16 oz

Enjoying this tea today. It’s smooth and dark with a quality that I think is what people call “malty” though I’m personally not too sure what that is. I notice than it doesn’t have nearly as many golden tips as the Superfine Tan Yang and so is lacking that sweet Dian Hong – like characteristic. It’s what I’d classify as a very good basic breakfast tea.

1 1/2 tsp in 8 oz

I picked up a tin of this one in my latest Harney order because I’ve been enjoying the Fujian blacks from Teavivre that I’ve tried lately, and it is only $2 per ounce, so why not?

It is a very nice, smooth tea with a slightly earthy quality. Doesn’t need milk or sugar. It’s kind of like a cross between a Keemun and a Yunnan. It’s not that exciting, but at $2 per ounce, it could certainly be a cupboard staple for when I need to make a quick mug of something to run out the door with.

Having a couple of basic teas like this are great so that I can save my favorites for times when I can really sit and savor every sip.

1 1/2 tsp in 8 oz

Yeah, so I think this tea is just too light for my taste. I’m really starting to narrow down my likes/dislikes. Also, I finally have a thermometer that works correctly, so I am getting better, more consistent results.

I like darker oolongs that aren’t too roasted and lighter blacks. Anything greener than a Bai Hao or anything more intense than a Keemun is just not going to be for me. Though I do like greener teas iced. I think I’ll be using up the rest of my green and light oolong samples for cold brewing iced tea.

This style is just a bit greener than a Bai Hao, and though I got a nice smooth flavorful result this time, it’s just not my preference. You might love it, though!

1 1/2 tsp in 8 oz

Had to raise my rating on this. When I tried it side by side with Adagio’s Bai Hao, I thought I preferred the Adagio. But, yesterday I had some of the Adagio, and today the Teavivre, and now I think I prefer the Teavivre or at least it is very close. This one is lacking the honey-like aftertaste that I notice in the Adagio, but it is a very subtle difference.

Anyway, I really enjoyed this today. It is smooth and flavorful with a natural sweetness. I tell you, I just love this style of oolong… pretty highly oxidized and not heavily roasted. It’s fantastic.

1 1/2 tsp in 12oz

Very enjoyable. I have figured out how I feel about this tea. It is really amazing. Very much right in the middle of the spectrum between green and black. Completely non-astringent when brewed properly. (I realized that the thermometer I had been using until recently was under-reporting the temp by 10-15 degrees, yikes.) It is silky and naturally sweet with a hint of a floral essence. When I compare it to a couple of Bai Hao’s I’ve tried, it is very similar though perhaps more floral where the Bai Hao’s tend to have more of a honey-like sweetness.

I really like this tea, but it is similar enough to a Bai Hao (which I prefer slightly) that I probably won’t make this one a cupboard staple.

1 tsp for 4 oz

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Taste test of 2 Formosa Oolongs

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Adagio: Formosa Oolong #8 ($4.00/oz)
A little thin and too astringent

Harney & Sons: Formosa Oolong ($1.67/oz)
More flavorful and smoother

Again, I seem to prefer the less expensive tea! This is very convenient. I really like the Formosa Oolong flavor. Now that I know more about tea, what I can say is that this type of tea is very similar in profile to a Bai Hao oolong. However, I believe it is probably not allowed to be affected by the leafhoppers. Also, from what Michael Harney has said, it is mechanically harvested. So, it’s a much less expensive option to the Bai Hao. That said, it is also less sweet, a bit more astringent. But it is incredibly similar in every other way. When I add a touch of honey to the Harney Formosa Oolong, I can barely tell the difference between it and the Bai Haos I’ve had.

1 tsp for 4 oz

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Taste test of 2 Formosa Oolongs

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Adagio: Formosa Oolong #8 ($4.00/oz)
A little thin and too astringent

Harney & Sons: Formosa Oolong ($1.67/oz)
More flavorful and smoother

Again, I seem to prefer the less expensive tea! This is very convenient. I really like the Formosa Oolong flavor. Now that I know more about tea, what I can say is that this type of tea is very similar in profile to a Bai Hao oolong. However, I believe it is probably not allowed to be affected by the leafhoppers. Also, from what Michael Harney has said, it is mechanically harvested. So, it’s a much less expensive option to the Bai Hao. That said, it is also less sweet, a bit more astringent. But it is incredibly similar in every other way. When I add a touch of honey to the Harney Formosa Oolong, I can barely tell the difference between it and the Bai Haos I’ve had.

1/2 tsp in 4 oz

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Taste test of 4 Keemuns

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Harney & Sons: English Breakfast ($1.62/oz)
My favorite of the bunch. Lightest flavor. Kind of fruity with no smokiness or earthiness. Could drink this every day for refreshment. I bet I’d love it iced. Will definitely get a large tin. Very pleased. I have been on the search for an inexpensive tea that I would enjoy as a daily drinker so I can save my favorites for times when I can sit quietly and really savor them. This fits the bill.

Harney & Sons: Hao Ya B ($3.00/oz)
My least favorite. Wow is it ever smoky. If I didn’t know what it was, I’d think it was a Russian Caravan blend with plenty of Lapsang Souchong in it. The smokiness overpowers any other flavor there might be in there.

Teavivre: Organic Superfine Keemun ($5.40/oz)
2nd best to me. Though it does have an earthy or mushroomy quality that I find a bit off-putting.

Adagio: Keemun Concerto ($4/oz)
3rd place. Most similar to the Teavivre but with more of that mushroomy quality that I just wouldn’t want in my tea. (I really dislike Puerhs for example.)

NONE of these teas was the least bit astringent which really pleasantly surprised me. Though I think one factor is that in order to taste each one without the others muddying the flavor, I did take a sip of water in between sips of tea. I find that sometimes tea is not astringent for the first few sips, but gets so as it builds up on your palate.

What amuses me is that the cheapest one is my favorite. Perhaps that means that Keemuns are not for me. The ones with more intense flavors pretty much turned me off. I liked the one with the lightest, sweetest taste.

1/2 tsp in 4 oz

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Taste test of 4 Keemuns

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Harney & Sons: English Breakfast ($1.62/oz)
My favorite of the bunch. Lightest flavor. Kind of fruity with no smokiness or earthiness. Could drink this every day for refreshment. I bet I’d love it iced. Will definitely get a large tin. Very pleased. I have been on the search for an inexpensive tea that I would enjoy as a daily drinker so I can save my favorites for times when I can sit quietly and really savor them. This fits the bill.

Harney & Sons: Hao Ya B ($3.00/oz)
My least favorite. Wow is it ever smoky. If I didn’t know what it was, I’d think it was a Russian Caravan blend with plenty of Lapsang Souchong in it. The smokiness overpowers any other flavor there might be in there.

Teavivre: Organic Superfine Keemun ($5.40/oz)
2nd best to me. Though it does have an earthy or mushroomy quality that I find a bit off-putting.

Adagio: Keemun Concerto ($4/oz)
3rd place. Most similar to the Teavivre but with more of that mushroomy quality that I just wouldn’t want in my tea. (I really dislike Puerhs for example.)

NONE of these teas was the least bit astringent which really pleasantly surprised me. Though I think one factor is that in order to taste each one without the others muddying the flavor, I did take a sip of water in between sips of tea. I find that sometimes tea is not astringent for the first few sips, but gets so as it builds up on your palate.

What amuses me is that the cheapest one is my favorite. Perhaps that means that Keemuns are not for me. The ones with more intense flavors pretty much turned me off. I liked the one with the lightest, sweetest taste.