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81 Tasting Notes
I had another pleasure of trying Gyokuro this time around since my last impression was from an “up-selling establishment”. My first impression was almost always the intense vegetal and spinach aroma along with a deep jaded color. Adagio’s take of Gyokuro is highly authentic grown by respected hands…yet a shadow of its essence. I don’t know exactly, maybe someone out here would explain but my idea is probably the age of the batch is a bit old for a sample, possible a bad batch, or yet the dreaded draw down of intense flavors for customer appeal (something I hate to see in this tea that’s know for its rich taste). Either way, this tea is light in comparison…even T’s gyokuro could rival in its umami salty-like, savory aspect, its tastes much more like grass, a faint familiar vegetal aroma and flavor.
The liqour has a light green color beyond two minutes, though at first I gave it a go at forty-five seconds but it was all too light that its liquor could have been mistaken for White Tea. Negatives aside, its an enjoyable tea with a balance not seen with gyokuro, smooth taste without tannins,without` bitterness after brew after brew. As much as I praise Adagio and the tea grower for this gyokuro, every sip I take always so often it seem generic yet I may be wrong.
Update: I kinda regret what I just mentioned above, It appears it does have an umami flavor close to sushi and seaweed. I dont know what went wrong with brewing this tea before but I certainly enjoy more often then I should of…I ran out of this stuff:( oh well…
The last but not least from the samples given, its best described in my opinion as the cu de gra of tea itself! Comfort. The richness of natural oolong flavors just coincides with an addition of a milky flavor that’s naturally harmonious altogether, and gives the said drinker a little more comfort (think of hot milk in cold day). The milky flavor is not at all too overwhelming but as to complement a slight vegetal and nutty flavor of the oolong itself. High quality in taste, even the raw leaves are still attached to its stems! Decent and rewarding, recommended to all! Drink on Steepsterites!
Another day and another review of samples from Teavivre! This time around its Organic superfine Keemun that found its way in my cuppa this morning to much of my delight! The tea has much of the usual Keemun qualities of a slightly smoky plum flavor but with characteristics of Assam in the starchy department. The brew itself at near boiling water yielded a smooth liquor, non astringent without much bitterness on the palate. An excellent quality tea made with buds, great taste and makes a fine cuppa! Drink on Steepsterites!
Poor Suchong indeed:( Many by now has been out off by the assertive smokiness , what ever happen to the enjoyment of single malts= scotch whiskey and smoked goods? Has anyone ever tasted deeply smoked meats…why not this tea? However, tastes are gradual acquired and those that do brave in drinking a cuppa of this fine tea will be rewarded!(to the content of Mrs. Hua. Its camp fire tea with much of the smokiness of fire and piney body that does not go bitter or too astringent. Its not all that smoky either! Its very well balanced enough for those used to Keemun, this tea is probably best to be introduced into Lapsang! Drink on Steepterites!
A lovely tea indeed! I received 4oz of this beauty just over an hour ago to which I immediately made a cup straight away. The aroma is complex as the taste of the liquor, with hints of honey, a peppery like smell and of course an earthy aroma. The liquor brewed with boiling water just over 208 degrees gave off a stronger aroma of honey and a dominant earthy aroma famous of this tea type with a smooth, slightly sweet, and astringent on the palate. Flavors that make of the tea is dominant in (again) earthy, aged foliage, with a leathery/smoky undertone without the smooth velvet like chocolaty at the back end of the palate. A decent tea, a decent buy with a great price, deserved of Mrs.Luo’s devotion!
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Another great tea and helping cup, this time its Golden Monkey! Its very much like Yunnan type black teas with a complex and layered flavors that seem best to come out during multiple steeps and playing around with temperature. It has a distinct flavor almost near to Assam which explains the sweet potato flavor with the amount of slight sweetness without it being to brisk on the palate. I can taste however the Yunnan qualities that works well with this tea, it gives a soily, maybe woody body, with smooth almost chocolaty on the back end of the palate. Just perfect!
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So I got me some samples courtesy of Teavivre(with many thanks)and enjoyed it profoundly! I have had many varieties of Keemun tea all of which I found to be either lacking in balance or really just lacking in characters(possibly bad luck). This particular type of Keemun by Teavivre fits what most consider a true Keemun tea! Smoky, rich, alomost vlevety, piney with undertones of sweet and possibly flower character that goes great with a rich overtone.
The first brew at five minutes yielded a flavorful tea with much of the smoky, piney , and undertones associated with Keemun. Its not at all too smoky, nor too piney, does not go bitter when over brewed, and smooth of the palate without drying it out. The second brews and beyond have a less but still prominent character that yields a slighty tannin and slightly astringent taste towards the 4th and 5th steep. The tea itself can handle the usual milk and sugar but also a plain cuppa can be much of an experience and a good introduction into smoky teas! What a great tea this is!
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At long last and patience rewarded with most gracious gifts of generosity from
this lovely company! Words cannot describe the immense quality of the leaves and the brew that comes afterwords…Its just heavenly in my opinion! Highly flowery with the jasmine goes really great with a light and smooth taste of white tea. The flavored is exactly balanced while not interfering with its woody, almost nutty and vegetal flavor, brews well and multiple times before becoming slightly tannin but not bitter. Its ambrosia indeed!
This tea also came with another sample of spring Darj today! I knew I was in for a treat and knew that as much I enjoyed Darj this tea would make me day! It Has! The little sample was a mere 3 grams but comforting and full in every way. The smell of the tea is of a light smokey with a touch of boiled vegetables, the liquor tasted of (again)boiled vegetables much like dark green vegetables, with hints of ginger and soil. Bottom line: A tea that is fulfilling and worth every penny for those in deeply in love of rich, full bodies teas. A tea that won’t disappoint at all!
I’ve been waiting for nearly three days for this tea to arrive and nearly a lifetime(not really) to actually taste genuine Darj! Its a welcome relief from the tasteless and tannin knock-offs or the “quality” and pricey Darj sold in a nearby Teavana. Yup! Those days are over and I could of wish I stuck with Adagio than Teavana… Anyways the tea has much of the floral and grassy smell and taste normally associated with Darj, yet this tea has a vegetal quality like steamed vegetables and a hint of citrus blossoms. In retrospect….its eerily similar to the Darj found in them wicked Teavana stores but without the tannin and the vague origin of the tea itself(which to my conclusion is a blend from different estates). A nice tea overall!
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As advertised, it has the flavors describes with as much potential now with the prices low enough to buy in bulk quantities! As usual, I got a sample of this so called “Dragonwell” and practically fell in love with the flavor as I am quite a fan of all things nutty and vegetal! I brewed it in the usual 180 degree(maybe 175) for the usual minute or two, the first steep was alright of course but when it comes to the second or third its plain mute and tannic:( I suspect for this tea sold for 10$ per 2oz is expected for its appealing price than the usual 18 dollar per 2oz “quality” (not that it would make a difference)! The tea is honestly above average compared to any brand name teabags in the markets, but downsides of a soon to be uber priced and nonrenewable tea is certainly not making its way into my pantry anytime soon!
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Back logging from Monday is when I received 100 grams worth of this baby! The tea is actually a nice cross between an Assam and a Keemun with all the robustness of either, with the lightness of Darjeeling, and hardly tannic and astringent. The leaves smelled of pines, with some floral aspects, and upon the first brew with 208 degree water and 6 minutes time yields a nice amber hue and the smell of pines being prominent. The tea of course was never a let down! It tasted just like keemun, with all the smokiness (albeit light) and being piney ,with some maltiness normally one would associate with Assams. The tea has the robustness and flavor of Keemun, with the maltiness of an Assam which gives the first brew and impression rather well enjoyable. The second brew gave off a lighter amber color in the liquor, the same flavors being slightly less smoky, more on the piney side, grassy and malty. Its quite a tea to have, and after reading reviews being the jewel of Georgia and the “creme de la creme” of Soviet products, its even more satisfying to know that one day this tea will go out strong with the rest of the world!
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So I was sitting there pondering something I can’t remember now while the Oscars was on, to which I suddenly craved for some hummous and pita chips to go along with! There I was swinging by the TJ’s , figured it was a grab and buy errand but as usual I got stuck in the store browsing around. Well, obviously it lead me to this fab tea, which I bought a carton of two along with some nachos(skipped the pita) and got some dips. I drank a cup at once i got home and brewed it with hot water for 5 minutes. It gave off the usual chamomile flowery aroma , but it turns out a bit starchy that gives off a woody taste. Another cup and steeped it again but it turns out mute and more woody, a fine stand by for any night!
If anybody by now has not tried silver needles from a teavana I suggest do so! Its a great intro to White Tea 101 for anyone who willing to buy quality leaves at fair prices, and love purity in taste. Not a whole lot of frills, complex flavors, or the kitchen sink, its simply a grassy/ slightly hay-ish taste much like green tea. A nuttiness can also be found based from its primary flavor which are quite related to one another adding a tad bit of starchiness. There is quite a chocolaty aftertaste at the end of the tongue, a bittersweet sensation that beckons a dear drinker for more tea. Just my kind of tea!
I got this packet a while back in December of last year visiting the Philippines. One of many pleasure besides white sand beaches, turquoise blue water, bustling cities and wonderful people of many cultures is the food! The mangoes, coconuts, pinapples, and mangosteens are just exquisite and abundant! I can’t just eat one fruit, with 20 dollars you can buy a bags full of fruits and have some to even take back!(too bad for customs..)This tea is a testimony of their best products of fruits called Guayabano, a green fruit bearing resemblance to a young pine cone with sweet fleshy white insides.
It does not acutally have pieces of guyabano bits but leaves , stems, and bark, the actual tea looks like tiny strips of light brown woody fibers and dark brown bits. It all smelled wood of course but a faint smell lemons and flowers. The tea had a light amber color and it tasted a light floral flavor of chamomile that tastes very clean but woody without any starchiness. Unlike any other teas, it was not as astringent or even tannic on the first steep and the last , though it does not impart any more flavors upon the third steep only a slight starchiness. Its a great herbal drink and certainly a first try for guayabano tea! I can just feel the energy and my ills going away about now…
