Mark T. Wendell
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I first encountered Nilgiri tea on a visit to the Kerala area of the Blue Mountains in India. I collected some Nilgiri tea there, but when I saw this one on MTW’s site I had to give it a try. This is a really fine tea with nice citrusy notes and something I can’t describe, sort of a plum taste. A medium bodied tea that lends itself to drinking without the need for milk to cut the tannin. I am not a fan of using milk in tea so this one suits me fine. I’ve had it for seven mornings not consecutively, and I really enjoy it’s beautiful difference.
Preparation
Hu Kwa is purported to be the top-notch Lapsang Souchong from Taiwan. Steeping one cup at a time, I use one teaspoon of leaves per cup, and I steep the tea for five and a half minutes in just-boiled water, as per Mark T. Wendell Tea Company’s website. The dry leaves have a very strong smokiness to them, as is normal with Lapsang Souchong. However, with this one, there is a slight undertone of sweetness that can be noticed in the dry leaves. The aroma of the steeped tea is also quite smooth. Past experience with Lapsang Souchong has exposed me to some that were so rough as to suggest that perhaps one should be sitting outside on the ground around a campfire while drinking them, not sipping this noble drink in a more civilised setting.
The five and a half minutes is up, so I decant the tea to remove the leaves and allow the tea a minute or so to cool slightly (scalded taste buds do not make for accurate tea tasting). Heavily smoked is a good descriptor of the taste, but not overly smoked. That strange line of sweetness that went through the scent of the dry leaves is still present in the tea itself. The smoothness of this tea made it quite enjoyable to drink. Smooth and not thick. This tea deserves an 87/100 on my personal enjoyment scale.
Preparation
Incredible tea. I love the lack of grassy flavor and overall complex sweetness this tea offers. It is rich in green flavor and is an acquired taste that is easy to acquire, if you know what I mean. It feels great in the mouth, and it goes down smooth.
Preparation
If you brew this tea long and hot enough, about 4 minutes at 200 degrees, you get some great, sweet notes in the back of your throat. It has a great mouthfeel, a bit astringent, and is quite sweet and floral in its aroma. I enjoy it very much.
Preparation
Sturdy but smooth today! See previous notes…
I have been lucky to have this once or twice at a friend’s house and found it to be a really nice tea. I don’t much about the South Indian teas, but to me it tasted wonderfully smooth and definitely “Sturdy” as you noted. Brings back good memories! :)
I’ve found that I really enjoy Nilgiri from most companies. :) Glad you enjoyed it!
Tried a Nilgiri Tea years ago and didn’t care for it—too lemony for me. I’d try a sample (possibly) just to see how I like it. My tastes have changed since I cupped that tea so long ago
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My teas tastes tend to change a lot :)
Thanks again to Geoffrey for sending me some of this tea.
I really do love this tea. It has a beautiful flavor – very rich and flavorful. I love the warm spicy undertones and the hint of sweetness that hits around mid-sip. It is not quite as bold as an authentic Keemun, but, that’s OK… sometimes different is good, and in this case that’s very true. A very pleasant, deep, complex flavor that I’m enjoying immensely.
I have Geoffrey Norman to thank for sending me this tea. Thanks!
This tea confuses me! The appearance of the dry leaves remind me of a Formosa Oolong, and even the brewed liquor smells like a Formosa Oolong. And it tastes more like an Oolong to me than a typical Keemun.
Nevertheless, I am liking it! It has a warm taste to it – not just temperature, but a subtle spicy undertone – and a pleasant smoothness. No bitter taste and very little (as in practically no) astringency. A very pleasant cup.
I think I want to try this one again before I start rating it.
Finishing off the last of these pearls this evening. I do love Jasmine Pearls!
Here’s my full-length review of it, written some time ago but my feelings for this tea haven’t changed: http://www.teareviewblog.com/?p=17616
This smells a little herbally but it seems to have a SMIDGE of berry aroma hiding somewhere, too. The spices are very subtle…very light. Once infused I can smell the lemongrass and the spice is just underneath the lemon-aroma. The taste is very different…there is a cinnamon powder type taste paired with the lemongrass on the tongue and that’s on top of the stereotypical green bean or fresh pea type taste I have been associating with Guayusa. Not bad. Very different from what I expected…but not bad at all!
Yet another surprise! Just when I think I can predict a flavor of a tea – I am dead wrong – but in cases like this – I LIKE THIS! I LIKE being WRONG! :)
This has a very masculine black tea aroma and taste. It’s very rich and bold. It has hints of pepper and earthiness to it. An even smaller hint of smoke, too.
I really like this because of how different it ended up being! YUM!
See how my tastes have changed for this gem!
http://sororiteasisters.com/2011/05/12/indonesian-from-mark-t-wendell/
upping rating…
