2816 Tasting Notes

88

A delicate and soft light oolong which is reminiscent of a white tea. Slight floral aroma with a hint of butter in the finish, it’s nice. Does not seem like a flavor enhanced tea if it is a milk oolong. Good for a contemplative moment of peace.

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 2 min, 0 sec
ScottTeaMan

By the description it doesn’t seem to be flavored artificially, but by the natural roasting process.

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100
drank Black Spiral by The Tao of Tea
2816 tasting notes

i’m running low on this so already mentally planning my next Tao of Tea order. :)

ScottTeaMan

Amy, I’ve seen spiral buds elsewhere, but I didn’t see it on Tao’s website. I’ve seen it here, but I’m not sure it is the same tea.

http://www.uptontea.com/shopcart/item.asp?itemID=ZY78&from=search.asp

TeaBrat

I don’t know either.

Jim Marks

They’re both Yunnan black teas which have been spiral rolled, but there isn’t enough information to know if they are, in fact, the exact same tea.

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96

Still very delicious…. my favorite wuyi tea to date

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78
drank Troika by Kusmi Tea
2816 tasting notes

I am hoping this breaks me out of the Monday morning doldrums… somehow it does seem cheerful today.

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90

A nice little oolong from Arbor teas – my favorite compostable packaging company.

This one is very good if you like the darker style of oolongs. Naturally sweet, grilled charcoal peach/plum aroma. Great aftertaste and a very nice mouthfeel. Would definitely consider getting this one again. Brewed this one up in the xi ying for about 2 minutes. It goes on my shopping list. The man friend likes it too.

Organic a plus…

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 2 min, 0 sec

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92

Again I am backlogging – This was a very nice pu-erh tea I had at lunch today. I believe this is the one that was 30 years old and I drank out of the gaiwan. Very dark, smoky rich flavor. I think I am getting tea fatigue right now. I like puerhs but I do not think they are worth the overly inflated price or all the hype. Perhaps I will change my mind someday. This was a great tea with our lunch of vegetarian spicy noodles and buns.

Spoonvonstup

I feel like pu’ers are always best when you can sit down and drink them with friends. They become so excited when you share the experience directly with others.

TeaBrat

I sometimes drink them with my boyfriend but he would rather have earl grey. :-)

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94

Backlogging – we had this at a tea tasting at lunch today and both loved it. Very rich, smooth, malty and sweet. Sadly I cannot really write descriptively about teas hours after I have had them. I do know I was tempted to buy it.

ScottTeaMan

I’ll have to try some samples from ITC. Also, last time I checked, they had some really cool Yixing Gaiwans. They may be easier to season than Yixing teapots. so, how do you like your “little elf” teapot? :))

TeaBrat

I like it – for oolong tea only

Jim Marks

The more tea I drink, the more Yunnan golds are becoming my benchmark for all “darker” teas (black, oolong, &c.)

Hopefully, over time I can invest in a suite of yixing and will eventually have one just for Yunnans which I am sure will improve them all the more.

Is a yixing gaiwan really all that much smaller than a 100-150ml tea pot?

TeaBrat

Jim, they are probably about the same size. I would like to go back and get some of that yunnan gold. It was quite delicious I must say. Definitely not cheap though at $14/oz

ScottTeaMan

Imperial Tea Court Ming Gaiwans are 8 oz, 236.59 ml- the gaiwans I was referring to. They can be that small. The biggest gaiwan I’ve seen is a porecelain 10 oz-approx 300ml.

Jim Marks

So that’s actually bigger than a lot of yixing tea pots. Were you suggesting they’d be easier to season simply because their geometry is simpler? I’m looking to start investing in yixing “soon” and was thinking of also getting at least one gaiwan, but this may simplify everything.

ScottTeaMan

Yes, the Gaiwans are smaller, generally speaking. I haven’t seen one beyond 12 oz. Yixings can be small too, but I have seen Yixing teapots up to 25 oz.. Personally, I like my Yixing Gaiwans at 7-8 oz (207-237ml)-and my teapots between 6-10 oz ( 177-296ml).

ScottTeaMan

Jim, I didnt see you in my message compose section, so here is some info I discussed with Amy, about Yixing seasoning of teapots & gaiwans.:

SEASONING YIXING TEAPOTS
Inbox
Sent
ScottTeaMan wrote 5 days ago
AMY:

Here are a couple links on seasoning your Yixing teapot:

http://www.gongfugirl.com/seasoning-a-new-yixing-teapot/

http://teamasters.blogspot.com/2005/05/various-techniques-to-prepare-new.html

Hope this helps. Enjoy! :))

Scott

delete
Amy oh wrote 5 days ago

hmm. that is interesting. did you use the complicated method or the simple method?
ScottTeaMan wrote 5 days ago

I believe I used the simple method. I personally think You can clean the pot successfully w/out boiling water….say just below boiling:

(from website below)

Teamaster Teaparker does not recommend the other methods where you boil the teapot. He thinks this may clog the pores in the clay. But such pores are essential to the ‘breathing’ function of the teapot. Without the pores, you may just as well drink from a glazed gaiwan/gaibei.

I was always leary of boiling the pot, I mean come on….FOR 30 MINUTES!! YIKES!!

Personally I didn’t do that. The Key is to sterilize and wash away impuruties. I didn’t boil my Yixing. You can do what you want, I’m just saying, I didn’t do that.

Jim, I hope this helps! :))

ScottTeaMan

I just didn’t want to risk damaging my teapot. I’ve read you are suppossed to fill Yixing 2/3 full with tea, but I think it is too much. That’s just my preference. I also don’t have all the equipment for true Gongfu tea preperation. They have plenty of vids on YOUTUBE if you’re interested. :))

I hope this helps.

Jim Marks

Yeah, I know how seasoning works. Which, since it involves 100% sinking the pot into tea, I wasn’t clear why one object would be easier/harder than another to season. Obviously, the pot continues to season over time, and perhaps the intricate shape of a pot poses challenges not found in a gaiwan. The question really had nothing to do with how seasoning works, which I understand, but was more about clarification as to why seasoning object A would be easier/harder than object B. Not something to get into on someone else’s tea note and this has already gone way too far.

TeaBrat

yeah, get a room people!!!

ScottTeaMan

I just meant typically smaller gaiwans are a little easier to handle, and thus seasoning may be easier. The seasoning info was only meant to help you, and I should’ve PM you, but your name wasn’t on my list.

Sorry Amy.

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90

A nice afternoon tea for us. Do not chastise me Verdant disciples but I lowered the rating. I’ve had a few wuyis since then. I still like this one though. I love you but I am not in love with you… lol

ScottTeaMan

What is your fav Big Red Robe?

TeaBrat

I can’t say that I really have one… it’s not like I just became a self proclaimed expert on red robes or anything… ;-)

ScottTeaMan

hehe….ok.

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27
drank Joy by Tazo
2816 tasting notes

I got this at Starbucks today before going on my hike. I thought it would be kinda Christmasy and nice… I could not pick any flavor out of it whatsoever. Like drinking tea flavored water.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec
ScottTeaMan

Tazo’s organic Chai teabags are really pretty good. Give those a try if you like.

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94
drank Laoshan Black by Verdant Tea
2816 tasting notes

I liked the spring laoshan black a bit better but this is still very delicious -Malty, fruity and chocolate notes. Very complex and chewy

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Profile

Bio

My profile pic is of a pink dahlia at Golden Gate Park.

Hobbies include: tea, making art, animals, vegan things, buddhism, nature, creativity, books, writing, cooking, meditation, yoga.

I am a fan of many different teas but my favorites are blacks and oolongs, chai, also like darjeeling and pu-erh. I’n always learning and expanding my horizons!

Dislikes include: bergamot, jasmine, highly tannic or bitter teas, overly judgmental and bitter people. :)

Live in San Francisco, I’m a SINK (single income, no kids) and love the urban life, but traveling out to the middle of nowhere is always fun too.

I tend to not drink things I know I will hate so a lot of my tea ratings are on the higher side. Here’s my rating system, sorta

95-100 I love this tea and would like to keep it around

94-90 An excellent tea which I may or may not repurchase

89-80 Pretty good, above average

79-70 Acceptable

69-60 Mundane – Will probably drink it if I have it

59-50 Ick

49 and below Nasty

Location

San Frandisco

Website

http://sanfrantea.teatra.de

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