Hit me with some of your favourite teas!

Clicking around here reminded me of another suggestion, related to getting into teas from different countries in the past year. One of my favorites I’ve tried this year is the Wu Mei oolong from Toba Wangi, which What-Cha carries for sale (maybe not in both the US and UK, but easy to check on that). I also loved their White Beauty (Toba Wangi’s), roughly in a Bai Mu Dan / Peony white-tea style, but not exactly typical as those go (but close enough to Chinese versions it would give you an idea where that type is going). Well prior to that I was into Vietnamese teas, and I loved the Red Buffalo mid-roasted oolong from Hatvala (which What-Cha also carries). It seems my preference is shifting in another direction a little, so although I still like that tea I love it less now.

In general terms lighter oolongs seem a natural starting point to me but I love mid-roasted types that are often oxidized slightly more as well (no need to sweat all that though; oolongs are usually light or dark or in the middle). I really love softer, fruitier black teas as well, but I’m sort of typically chasing the versions to get to a best balance for clean flavors, not coming across as astringent, or too “dry” or earthy, or too sweet, etc. I think better black tea is a general range lots of people could really appreciate, perhaps broken into whether those are typical of Assam / Ceylon (astringent and earthy), or not, with a lot of variation in more typical, softer, fruitier Chinese styles. Darjeeling is really something else but those are nice, or at least can be.

For green teas I mostly just love Longjing / Dragonwell. Even just a decent version of those can be so nice, and in slightly better versions lots of depth of cool aspects come through, a nutty taste or toasted rice range, and a freshness, all in a profile that doesn’t include grassiness or taste like vegetables (which can be ok, some bell pepper or whatever as part of a tea, even spinach or seaweed). If someone loves seaweed then checking out Japanese teas would make sense. That’s not intended as an insult; seaweed includes a valid range of nice tastes, and that aspect is not a great description of type for all Japanese green teas but the general association still sort of works.

I really like this Oolong from yunnan sourcing. http://steepster.com/teas/yunnan-sourcing/72611-competition-grade-tie-guan-yin-oolong-tea-of-gande-village-star-autumn-2015

It is the best Oolong I have ever had, even if you brew it at a higher temp. It had perfume smell, and light nutty/buttery taste to match. Amazing!

Have you ever considered trying a loose leaf tea subscription box? I offer one with fair-traded loose tea made by small family farms, but there are many boxes available. I was thinking that way, you will have different same sizes arriving in your mailbox every month!

OK, so some actual favorites:

Golden lily (whispering pines) will be in stock soon I hope. Tastes like tropical fruit

Any Fenghuang dancong (jingteashop.com) really delicious dancong. Fussy but decadent

Rui gong sheng (chadao.de) expensive but my favourite sheng.

(Yunnan sourcing) too many to mention. Zi Hong Pao, various hei cha, wild arbor assamica, Bai tea cakes, golden needle white lotus, loads of gushu sheng too much to mention

(Teaurchin) peacock or snake blends, bang Wei (so strong qi it sent me to sleep)

(Imperialteasoflincoln) ancestor mountain & honey mountain oolongs

Light Zhangping mini cakes (what-cha) heaven..

I’ll try to think of some more. Sort my reviews by score, anything 85+ is pretty good imho

Current favorites:

Pineapple Oolong
Cookie
Sakura

All by Lupicia

Due to lack of finances, havn’t been able to try new teas lately:( With exception of samples that I still have.