Mellow Monk
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Oh! Mellow Monk – among my favorite MONKS :)
I got this in the mail today and what an experience! WOW!
First, let me start by saying this is a black tea made from green tea varietals! Ahhhhh!
This has a sweet tomato-soup-like flavor to it with a gentle smoke almost like a bisque type note underneath. As the sip progresses the smoothness increases! It’s really special!
This is completely warm and comforting without spice. It’s not bitter or astringent – it’s sweeter and it’s lovely!
Groovy!
Please educate – what does this mean, “black tea made from green tea varietals”?
Here’s some more info I found on their website:
Crimson Grove™ is black tea (kocha, or “crimson tea” in Japanese) made from the leaves of green tea varietals grown in the pristine foothills of Mt. Aso. Gently harvested leaves are lightly fermented, for a smooth, smoky taste uniquely combined with a mild sweetness not found in ordinary black teas.
OR
Crimson Grove™ is a special presence in the world of tea — a black tea made with lightly fermented leaves from the same tea plant varietals used to make traditional sencha. The flavor is brisk and clean, with a green-tea-like sweetness and a black-tea-like smoky, nutty taste, finishing with overtones of nutmeg.
Packaging. Crimson Grove™ Black Tea comes vacuum-sealed for freshness in resealable, standup foil packets. Each packet contains 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of tea, enough to make 40–50 cups of brewed tea.
How to brew. Use 1 teaspoon of tea leaves for an 8-ounce cup or mug. The water temperature should be close to boiling (about 100 degrees Celcius or 212 degrees Fahrenheit). (Be careful when handling hot water.) For the first steeping, let the tea brew for about 2 minutes. For the second and third steepings, let the tea brew for about 30 seconds to 1 minute. CAUTION: After steeping, allow the tea to cool before drinking.
When I first bought this tea few months ago, I was skeptical because the price was quite cheap. However, I wasn’t disappointed with the taste at all. I love the grassy smell and taste since this is what I want to taste in my green tea – Chinese green tea is out of question since it is roasted. When brewing according to the instruction, I don’t get any bitter taste at all. I’ve tried other sencha from other brands, but I’m not quite as happy as I am with Monk’s Choice. Today, I just received my order for Mellow Monk’s Top Leaf and Harmony Tea, and I can’t wait to try them :)
Preparation
Dry aroma: sweet, toasted notes, hints of spring clover and cut melon
Wet aroma: sweet cream butter, nutty, clover and baby spinach
Appearance: deep green jade hue, folded-slightly twisted leaf and wabi sabi hints of curled leaves and blond threads. Moderate leaf length implying spring pluck and new growth pick.
Cup: Pale, ghostly green luminescent liquor; clear, bright, translucent. Clean, vegetal sweet flavors, creamy mouth feel, with hints of pistachios. A silken astringency slides against an elusive body that seems to call to mind spring clouds. Hints of melon and fruit are ethereally present against the creamy, nutty layers. Wonderfully balanced, in all of its characteristics, dancing somewhere between a gyokuro and quality shinriku sencha.
Brewing: 3g in 8oz porcelain gaiwan, using 168 degree water and steeped for 3 minutes. Managed to get 3 consistent extractions.
This tea won the North American tea championship in the green tea division in 2010. The service was swift, courteous, and enclosed note had a personalized touch. Overall, a very lovely tea.
Preparation
I love green tea(and drink it every day) but sometimes have a taste for black or it happens to go better with what I am eating. This tea is a very happy blend of both worlds. Has a very nice aroma and love the bit of sweetness and smokiness.
Preparation
This green tea is the best. My Japanese husband thinks so, too, and his mom is a tea ceremony teacher, so there you have it. It’s pricey, but worth it. We get it every once in a while and buy the less expensive ones in between. A nice treat, and you don’t need much to make a flavorful pot.
This is a very nice tasting genmaicha. The roasted brown rice flavor is perfectly balanced. It even looks different than others I’ve seen. The rice is a deeper, caramel-y color and doesn’t look “dead.” Don’t be mislead by the review from the lovely white dog. Genmaicha is a very traditional way to drink green tea in Japan.
I love Mellow Monk. All of their teas are great, and this one is no exception. It packs a potent bitter quality, which makes it a nice after-meal drink. I enjoy it enough to order it again, but not enough to keep it in stock considering that the Top Leaf steals the show, and gives me everything I need. It was quite special.
Preparation
As always, I love Mellow Monk. This tea is delicious! It has a stronger, more refined flavor than the Top Leaf. It’s more vegetal, and has mild berry notes, which I love. It’s buttery, and has a creamy texture. The color is a beautiful, and deep shade of green. I would definately order more of it, and keep it for those special times.
::Edit:: I just decided to try this in my gaiwan, instead of my kyusu, and wow! If I’d known that tea could taste this good, I would’ve been living off the stuff! I had to bump the rating up, and edit the preparation details. This is a truely special cup of tea.
Preparation
This is my favorite! I love this like no other. I also love the company. Their customer service is awesome! I love how they use the personal touch. Their shipping is fast, and inexpensive. I especially love how they listen and respond to, not only their own customers, but also the tea drinking community, in general. They are very in-touch. They are also a green certified company, and all of their teas are organic.
Top Leaf is my top choice. It is sweet and berry-like, and has that slightly citrus tangy lip smacking quality. There’s also a hint of sweet butteriness, like corn on the cob. I love the smell of the dry leaf, too. It smells of sweet mellon and honey suckle. The color is quite beautiful. I always order a lot, because I drink it down, fast. It leaves me feeling centered, clean, and relaxed. I crave it all day long.
Preparation
Wow, I must say you got me interested in this tea company. I’m a big fan of flavored tea, but I have turned to good quality natural plain tea lately. However, I don’t have much luck with the greens so far, I have yet to find one I really do enjoy. I’m adding this one to my next purchase list, cause I never heard of a «sweet and berry-like» green tea before :-)
A big THANKS to Geoffrey for sending me some of this Matcha. Thanks!!!
This has a strong vegetative presence. Yes, most Matcha is vegetative, but this one seems a bit stronger than others that I’ve had. This gives it somewhat of a bitter mid-note, but then finishes sweet. Smooth and creamy.
Mellow Monk’s is a really great company, they are very attentive and are now giving part of their profits to help those in need for Japan. This is an after lunch tea for me. I make it a little on the strong side and it is buttery and almost syrupy. I steep it for 2 min. 30 seconds in about 170 degree temp. After I steep it I pour it in a travel cup and keep it on my desk and sip it. I would say it has a lilting flavor, nice clean veggie aroma and a sweetness that makes me pick my head up and enjoy.
Preparation
I dug the heck out of this Japanese black tea (or “kocha”). It reminded me more of a Taiwanese black with a kukicha consistency and a mild fruit note. What I greatly appreciated was the lack of black tea astringency and/or a bitter foretaste. It was all honey and metaphorically reminded me of sweet tree sap in texture. Quite good.
Full Review: http://www.teaviews.com/2011/03/06/review-mellow-monk-crimson-grove/
