Additional notes: I’m going to try to write newer tasting notes for my 2018 Teavivre samples, because at this point, I haven’t written notes for years about most of them, even if I’ve been enjoying most of them without writing notes. I’ve been trying to drink the varieties of Yun Nan closer together (and then I’ll work on the Keemuns, etc) and it really is amazing that most of these Yun Nans have such different flavor profiles. I originally stocked up on this one because it was similar to the glorious Nonpareil Yunnan Dian Hong Ancient Wild Tree that I love so much: tangy/plumy notes in the harvest I stocked up on a couple years ago. Though the tangy/plumy notes were definitely less noticeable in this tea than the Nonpareil. This harvest, it’s even less noticeable than before. The 2018 tastes like a lighter Assam tea, with that malty flavor with hints of fruitiness. The flavors aren’t as distinct as I wish they were. It looks like my steeping parameters were close to the other tasting note. I’m going to drink my older harvest soon to compare. So this tea might have lost some of its special qualities that I was noticing before. Instead of stocking up on this one, I’d rather choose to steep up the Nonpareil for special occasions or just go with the more affordable Yun Nan. Even the cheapest Yun Nan is delicious to me. The rating now might be an 86 for losing the tangy plum.
Steep #1 // 2 teaspoons for a full mug // 16 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // 3 minutes after boiling // 3 minute steep
Harvest: 2018
This is You :-D
Profile
Bio
Hi! I love tea and trying new ones – it adds a bit of variety to my day! Books, music, TV & movies are my thing… and tea, of course.
Some of my favorite tea shops (still operating):
birdandblendtea.com
teavivre.com
52teas.com
svtea.com
whisperingpinestea.com
justea.com
harney.com
Dammann Freres
fusionteas.com
Javateaco.com
Lupicia
Octaviatea.com
Davidstea
eco-cha.com
what-cha.com
singleoriginteas.com
teasenz.com
tealyra.com
Mandala
verdanttea.com
Favorite tea shops (RIP):
butikiteas.com
steapshoppe.com
steepcityteas.com
aquartertotea.com
dellaterrateas.com
zentealife.com
angrytearoom.com
theteamerchant.net
joysteaspoon.com
tealiciousllc.com
Rivertea
Specialteas
My icon photo is Richard Mayhew from the graphic novel ‘Neverwhere’ by Neil Gaiman, Mike Carey & Glenn Fabry.
Most of the teas listed in my cupboard are actually sample sizes. I don’t really have 2,000 ounces of tea around here! Many of my teas have only one teaspoon left… maybe two. But I like keeping them in my cupboard list for reference to what I could be sipping. Usually, I write tasting notes once for each tea. I’m still drinking them, just not writing tasting notes each time!
I’m always in search of: Hattialli, Qu Hao black, Jin Jun Mei, teas using marshmallow root.
My dislikes: hibiscus, ginger (unless in chai), turmeric, bee pollen, charcoal type flavors
My ratings:
95-100 – Super awesome deliciousness favorites – cupboard essential
80-95 – Also pretty delicious
65-80 – Pretty good
50-65 – Okay
1-50 – Probably won’t want to sip it again
I’m planning on being a Steepsterer as long as there IS a Steepster, so if you’re not hearing from me, that means something happened to my health… if you know what I mean. (Or as evidenced by the great computer hiatus of 2019, something happened to my computer… I have a dumb phone so can’t access internet on that. As of 12/20/21 my wifi might start getting unreliable.)
Happy sipping!
Location
USA
Nice :) I have this but haven’t got around to trying it yet. Still working on sipdowns on my opened teas. I really look forward to it now.
I hope you like the Ancient, Kawaii :D