Do you feel the chestnut notes in green teas?
Some people do recognize green teas blind because they distinguish a common chestnut note in all green teas.
For them it is simple: if it tastes of chestnut it is a green tea, otherwise not.
They never fail.
I do not identify green tea with chestnut, but over the years I developed a sort of sensitivity towards greens. I can tell them apart from white and low-fire oolong, and most of the time even from yellow teas.
However, I don’t know how to properly describe that “green” taste. Any suggestions?
And for those of you tasting the chestnut notes, what does the greens recall you of? The smell and taste of roasted chestnuts? Or those of boiled one? or what else?
To make it short: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE UNIQUE TASTE PROFILE COMMON TO ALL GREEN TEAS?
Chestnut, I’d say is not in all greens. I’m thinking of a marine salty Korean green – there’s no chestnut in that.
Admittedly, I’ve been out of touch of greens lately (on a pu’er and black kick at the moment), but when I think green tea it has elements of vegetal, grassy, hay, corn/grain/barley, fruity and marine.
Taste notes can vary for sure in greens. The one I’m drinking right now has canteloupe, roasted chestnut, floral notes and spice, with some hints of bitter greens.
I have had some that most remind me of hay both clover or alfalfa, some that are very floral, and some that are nutty, and others that are grassy or marine. Sometimes the chestnut is more in the texture than the flavour but at times it does have that taste of just from the shell warm chestnuts off a grill ( memories of chestnuts and new wine in Italy:-))
Sure, Korean green can be different. I had Chinese greens in mind when I wrote the post.
Thanks a lot for your description, inspiring!
yyz, may I ask you which tea were you drinking when you wrote your post?
I’ll go for a Biluochun or a ganlu tonight; let’s see what they will remind me of.
http://www.aliexpress.com/snapshot/6162894347.html
It is a spring harvest Rizhao Xeuqing style green tea. They have quickly become my favourite greens:-)
Interesting, I didn’t hear about Rizhao Xueqing before. Not a famous one, so it should be possible to find it for a reasonable prize, right?
The pictures you showed remind me of Jin Shan Shi Yu, another fairly unknown green, not expensive but with character!
http://www.nannuoshan.org/collections/green/products/jin-shan-shi-yu
Rizhao has been producing standardized green tea since the 60’s. It is not as expensive as Laoshan teas are and some of the famous types in China but it is not a cheap tea compared to others available in China. It seems to be grouped under districts within the growing region. The teas are mostly produced in a xueqing style or a flat bladed ‘longjing’ style. I was trying to find an older less brand focussed source I have bookmarked on another computer but I can’t find it, however these two sources do have some good information as a start. It is often also sold as sunfall or sunshine green tea.
http://www.rizhaogreentea.com/index.html
http://www.rizhaolvcha.org
Login or sign up to leave a comment.