_Josh_

Odd. Still very earthy and very smokey. I guess it just isn’t what I was expecting. Still I’d rather drink a pu-erh or lapsang if I’m craving something like this.

Tastes very earthy to me, and a lot like that 5 year or Golden Pu-erh from DAVIDsTEA etc. I oversteeped though, because I got distracted. There’s a little sweetness but not much. Will definitely have to try again.

Figured I’d try this one in the french press this time. As it turned out, my son had put a toy car and a nickel in the top part last week when we were doing some reorganizing, so that caught the tail end of the infusion. Still good. A little metallic. Yes, I plan on drinking it, dangit. :)

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Tried again at a little over 2 minutes with cooler water. Big difference in taste. Still has that maltiness. Very smooth on the tongue. Hints of caramel and oranges. The gingerbread thing is gone but the honey’s still there. It’s actually very sweet. I can’t say whether I prefer the shorter infusion at lower temperature or longer infusion with higher, but I’m bumping up the score anyway now that I know it’s got this much versatility.

Serviceable bagged dust. Heh, what can I say really. It is strong enough to get the job done if you’re looking for a boost, but personally I won’t go out of my way to drink it for sheer pleasure. I think it’s a combination of Assam and Ceylon, the latter dominating. It’s fine, just not my cup of tea.

Got this in the mail today (a swap with Emilie).

I like the curlicue look of it, and when it steeps, the leaves open up to be surprisingly massive. Lots of fun to watch.

To me it smells a bit like nutmeg or some vague christmasy spice combination I can’t quite place.

There’s a little grassiness to it and a little spice. Fairly full-bodied and maltier than I was expecting. As it cools it starts to smell like freshly baked bread, and the best way I can describe the taste is like gingerbread without the ginger. I know that doesn’t make much sense, and, not being into baking, can’t vouch for its accuracy. It is what it is. :) I’m getting, oddly enough, hints of cinnamon, and yep, there’s that Yunnan honey goodness.

It’s pretty good. Strong enough without being bitter or astringent. I’ll have to experiment with it. As it stands I think it’s tasty but nothing special. It seems like if I prepare it differently it could turn into that “comfort in a cup” kinda tea.

Oy.. I think I put too many leaves in this one this time, because I didn’t steep it all that long. Has quite the bite to it. I’ll just write from memory of the first time I tried it (a few hours ago).Smells almost identical to Wild Black Yunnan from DAVIDsTEA, which is a good sign I suppose. Tastes different, though. There’s a subtle sweetness and a whole lot of woodsy. A bit smoky and a bit peppery on the tongue but not as overbearing as the Wild Black Yunnan (not that I minded that). Very full-bodied. Brings to mind an old mossy forest at dusk, the scent of woodsmoke from a nearby cabin gently kissing the air. The kind of tea to sip slowly beside a campfire or stargazing with a good friend.Hm, if I’m talking like that, it’s safe to say I like it. I chose it as a free sample but I’ll have to add it to my ever-growing wish/purchase list.

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It took me a loooooong time to like this tea. I was naive. I didn’t understand why it wasn’t bold and bitter and kick-your-teeth-in strong, no matter how long I steeped it. Needless to say, now that I’m firmly ensconced in the world of loose leaf tea, I can sit back and appreciate it, and it’s very pleasing indeed.

The main thing that turned me off of it initially was an overpowering muskiness. It reminded me of years of half-remembered colognes. Quite odd and disarming.

Now I like it as I realize that aspect is mostly in the aroma. The flavor is predominantly plum or fig with a strong taste of peaches lingering on the tip of the tongue. And it’s very, very malty.

I don’t think this one holds up too well to multiple infusions. Strange, because I’d assume it would, given the (apparent) quality of the leaves and the fact that they’re almost all gold in color. There are other factors. I’m sure. I’m still naive. But I like this Golden Monkey.

I’m almost finished with the 38 grams of this I bought last week. Not very much of it, but if I went through it that quickly I know it’s something I’ll be picking up again. I’m usually nursing a cup of wonderful, tasty Yunnan or Keemun.

As Indigobloom pointed out, most of DAVIDsTEA’s selection seems to be of the relatively mild variety. Not this one. This is by far the strongest tea I’ve had from them.

This morning’s first steep didn’t even break the three minute mark. Two cups of near-boiling water, two teaspoons of tea (not heaping, but not stingy). Brewed as dark as most of my teas would be after a 4-5 minute steep.

The taste is very earthy and slightly bitter, but the good, pleasing kind of bitter. I definitely get the floral notes, but thankfully not as strong as I do in the smell (not a fan of floral). It’s very full-bodied. Very satisfying as a pick-me-up, but it works well as the after-dinner treat in the official description.

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I think this has been discontinued. I don’t mind that.

Steeped for seven minutes (not the “proper” way to do Pu-erh, but it’s the way I personally like all the other ones I’ve tried. Maybe I’ll give it another try and steep for far less time.

None of the conspicuous fishiness that some have, but none of the complexity either. Tastes like soil and campfire ashes. A bit of sweetness in the smell and a smaller bit in the taste. Decent but nothing special.

My favorite all-around tea so far. Not perfect (I don’t think that’s possible) but I had to give it a perfect rating. To me, this is to tea as Fuller’s London Pride is to beer. It’s the kind of tea I can drink any time of day or night and it’s always refreshing.

For all my teas I must admit I use a metal strainer, but not the ball type. It’s one that fits perfectly on top of my 2 cup teacup, so the leaves have some room to open and do their thing. So yes, that applies for this one.

Lots and lots of sweetness to this. Honey notes dominate at first sip. A lovely bit of grassiness when all that calms down, and a faint touch of smokiness too. I don’t get any of the pepper notes that some Yunnans have.

Really just a wonderful cup of tea that’s complex but not distractingly so.