Silver Needle tends to be just that bit too delicate for me, but every so often I take another shot at it. The result is the same again this time: too delicate and too dull for my tastes.
265 Tasting Notes
It’s somehow been three months since I last drank this tea, which is a shame, because it’s a good one. Smooth to taste, with just a touch of (welcome) astringency in the aftertaste. There’s also a tiny hint of something that’s more like a black tea in the flavour. Steeped for three minutes at 80C.
I haven’t had this tea for a while, and when I tasted the first steeping I wondered why I’d ever liked it at all. But the second steeping was exponentially better, and I remembered just how good this tea can be – and that’s pretty damned good. Now I’m on the third steeping. Great procrastination fuel. g
Revisited this old friend last night. This was one of the first flavoured green teas I ever tried, years ago, and it still has a place in my cupboard. The honey sets off the sencha really well, giving a sweet, smooth flavour, and makes this tea more forgiving than unflavoured sencha if you happen to steep it for a minute or two longer than intended.
This is one of my two favourite fruit oolongs, both from Lupicia. Great balance between the pineapple flavour and the flavour of the tea.
And oooh: niiiiice facelift, Steepster! I’m really pleased to see the comment feature.
Another favourite. This is a delicate tea that manages to be anything but dull. Complex and very distinctive in flavour.
Working my way through some favourites this week. When a fruit flavoured tea misses the mark, it tends to really miss the mark. But when it works, it’s… this.
I’m not a big fan of black teas, but this one is mild enough to suit me. Good flavour without being overpowering and works well with a little honey added. Brewed for four minutes with water just under boiling point (95C).
Only a few teaspoons of leaves left, and I’m not buying any more tea before I go overseas in a couple of weeks. I’m really going to miss this one once it’s all gone!
Teas with this many elements to them can be iffy, but this one turned out to be beautifully balanced. The aroma is sweet, but not overpoweringly so, and the mix of green and white tea with all the other flavours results in a subtle, complex tea. Steeped for about three minutes at 85C.
Not bad if you’re in the mood for a gentle minty green tea. The spearmint stands out from the other flavours, and it also lingers the most. I steeped this for two minutes at 80C this time, but I’ll think I’ll leave it a fraction longer next time and see if I can draw a little more flavour out of it.
Trying this again, still at 55C but steeping for only one minute this time. Well, that’s got rid of the astringency that started to creep in after the extra half a minute, but it’s also lost a lot of the flavour. It’s produced a cup of tea that’s pale and weak instead of delicate and rich. I’m really disappointed in this tea and won’t be buying it again.
Was in the mood for something a bit sweet last night, and this tea was the perfect fit.
Back to this one today. I actually paid attention to what I was doing and got it right this time. Mmmm.
Sweet and soft but with plenty of jasmine in both scent and taste. I haven’t found a better jasmine tea than this one.
This tea was on my mind all afternoon, so it was my evening tea tonight. What a hardship. Wonderful tea.
I haven’t had this particular gyokuro before. I used my usual method for brewing gyokuro – two teaspoons of leaves steeped for one and a half minutes in water at 55C – but it didn’t turn out as well as I’d hoped. Quite good, rich and flavoursome as gyokuro should be, but a little more astringent than I like. I left the second steeping for only one minute but it was significantly more astringent than the first. I’ll have another try at getting this one right before deciding to go back to my usual organic gyokuro from teas.com.au.
A first class Taiwan oolong. Steeped for two minutes in water at 90C. Great tea.
Gah, got hit by a migraine this morning, so having some of this to take the edge off the headache. Two teaspoons of leaves, steeping in water at 85C for three minutes or so, produces a smooth and smoky-tasting cup of tea. An old favourite.
Just a nice, easy-drinking Chinese oolong. Dark gold brew with a slightly malty taste.
Interesting looking twisty leaves that produce a pale yellow liquor. First steeping was as directed, two minutes at 70C, but I was a bit underwhelmed by the result. I expected this tea to be delicate, and it is, but I also found it a bit dull and lacking in flavour. I left the second steeping half a minute longer and this allowed a bit more flavour to come through, along with a very slight astringent note, which also helped. Not bad, but it misses the mark with me. I find that a premium grade dragonwell delivers a lot more when I’m in the mood for a good Chinese green.
Nice aroma, not bad sweet-ish, creamy flavour. Went really well with a Tim Tam, but I don’t think I’ll attempt the Tim Tam Suck with this tea. g
Brewed at 77C instead of 70C this time – because I wasn’t thinking about which tea I was making – and there’s a bit more astringency than I like. Still a good cup of tea, but not as good as it should be.
Had this last night and again today. One of the more expensive teas in my cupboard, but totally worth it. The perfect oolong, imho.
