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Autumn Hearth

122 Followers / 113 Following

Autumn Hearth drank Shui Xian Wuyi Oolong by Verdant Tea

Holy teaeuphoria! The aroma of this tea! It is so autumnal: dark fruit and cinnamon and wood and everything that is good on this earth! And the taste? Wow! Just… I’m speechless and down right giddy!

I get the vanilla and cinnamon and wait… the description is insinuating this tastes like a banana split sans syrup with the addition of a waffle cone and I while I actually agree, there is something much more familiar here. Something in the stoney nature of Wuyi oolongs that is more than just the sweet mineral note. I can’t describe it but I know it, yet I never have I tasted it this intense. Mind blown, lovvve!

I’m going to have to spend the day with this and report back with more detailed notes. I’m starting out with quite a bit of leaf, water at 208 and steeped for 3 secs. And yay for tea arriving at the doorstep just as I’m putting the kettle on, glad I grabbed this one!

2012-08-16 11:17:21 -0400

205 °F / 96 °C

0 min 15 sec

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12 comments

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Azzrian 2012-08-16 13:21:13 -0400

SOLD!

Angrboda 2012-08-16 13:58:28 -0400

You don’t get any lemon and seafood at all? Maybe it’s just me having a weird tongue. It can’t be that different from the one I’ve got from Peony Teas S…

Or perhaps it’s just not suitable for western style at all. (Shame that…)

Autumn Hearth 2012-08-16 14:17:53 -0400

Yay Azzrian! Angrboda, none to speak of but I’ll listen for it in the later infusions, I’m on six and it just picked up a buttery note :)

Angrboda 2012-08-16 14:25:23 -0400

I think you would be past it by now if it was there. I got it at the very beginning of the cup when brewed western style and then it went away as it cooled. I can only think that there must be something off in my brewings. The small pot was definitely better than the large, so it may have to do with how much leaf I use. I can’t try short steeps until I get a new small pot.

Autumn Hearth 2012-08-16 14:32:04 -0400

Gotcha! Yes, this one was particularly recommended in small quantities and short steeps: 4oz of water, less than 10 secs. I have another Wuyi from Adagio to brew, I don’t think it will really compare to Verdant’s but I’m planning on using the same parameters (which may actually use all the leaf in the tiny tin). I tried it in the shop western style and there might have been a lemony note, so we’ll see.

Helena 2012-08-16 15:31:22 -0400

I’m jealous, I’m still waiting for mine :D oh well maybe it will come this week :D

Autumn Hearth 2012-08-17 14:50:11 -0400

So comparing this to a couple other Wuyi’s (Adagio’s Fujian Rain which is also a Shui Xian and their Da Hong Pao:Big Red Robe) this takes the cake and is actually cheaper ($1.25 cheaper than Fujian and whopping $22 cheaper than the Da Hong Pao). And I just noticed Verdant is offering their teas in 7g quantities now!

Azzrian 2012-08-17 15:10:26 -0400

Wow 7g that is interesting – how long have they done this? COOL!

Scatterbrain 2012-08-17 15:12:41 -0400

That’s great. Now I’ll be able to try a lot more teas from them.

Spoonvonstup 2012-08-17 15:50:35 -0400

The 7g samples must have just started, because I didn’t notice them yesterday morning… fun!

Spoonvonstup 2012-08-17 15:57:22 -0400

Also: I agree, this is a killer Shui Xian- very exited that we get to stock up on this.

Helena 2012-08-17 18:39:48 -0400

I just got my order and I am just waiting for it to cool down. It said to rinse first and steep time of max 10 seconds :D

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Druid, artist, poet, mum, lover of tea, ritual and myth. I grew up on Celestial Seasons herbals but fell in love with straight loose leaf tea working at my local Teavana for a year. I am grateful for the introduction and the experience, but have moved on.

I see tea as an experience for the senses, I like to imagine tasting the land and the weather as well as the effect of sun, air, fire and the human hand. I have a soft spot for shu pu’er, yabao, scented oolongs, wuyi oolongs, taiwanese tea as well as smooth naturally sweet blacks, creamy greens and surprisingly complex whites.

I began ordering lots of samples from Upton to educate myself on different varieties of tea we didn’t have at work and have fallen head over heels for the unique offerings from Verdant Tea. I am learning things I like: buttery mouthfeel, surprising sweet or spice notes, woodiness, mineral notes, depth and complexity and things I don’t: astringency, dry and sour notes.

I collect tea tins and am in danger of collecting pots, though I am trying to restrain the urge due to current lack of space. I brew mostly in a glass infuser mug or a tea maker, only using cast-iron for company now (still need to get a gaiwan) and tend not to sweeten my teas unless they are British or fruity and iced, which is not often.

As far as ratings, I lack a definite system and haven’t been assigning numbers lately, wanting to spend multiple sessions with a tea first. I usually only log a tea once, unless it is a new harvest or I have significantly different observations, but will go back and edit or comment if I find something interesting or new.