Bi Lo Chun

I ordered a sample of this to try side by side with the Teavivre version. For more details see my note on that one. I really like this! There is a lovely orange flavor laid right over the top of this, not added flavor but possibly a natural scenting of the leaves from the orange blossoms that are all around the plantation, according to Harney and Sons. This is full of flavor and very enjoyable, but if it cools there does appear a tiny touch of bitterness. Just reheat if you don’t like that.

The Teavivre version is more oat-y, while this one is more citrus fruity. So both were excellent this morning, they are just so different. Instead of apples to apples, I feel Ike I am comparing oats to oranges! Really, though these have the same name and come from the same region, you may have a strong preference for one or the other based on what you are looking for in a Bi Lo Chun. They taste like completely different teas to me.

Edited to add: Teavivre’s description of their tea matches the taste of Harney’s so maybe I didn’t use enough leaf? And Teavivre’s is far less expensive at $10.90 for 3.5 ounces, while Harney’s is $20 for two ounces.

I got a sample of this yesterday and am enjoying it greatly. This is a light tea, both in color and flavor, and the pale liquor has the faintest floral aroma- so faint I thought at first that I was imagining it. I like the subtle flavors- they force me to quiet down and pay attention to fully enjoy it. This will probably become my “meditation tea.”

My sample, purchased in October, 2012, cost $4.00.

This tea, in my opinion, is one of the little treasures in life. There’s something about it. It both tastes and smells great and also makes me feel great as well. As for the taste, it has sort of a full body which I think is contributed by the down that covers the tea. It coats the back of your throat as it goes down and leaves a nice and light aftertaste. This tea is fresh and I can smell notes of oranges. It is slight, but is definitely there. Perhaps those who say they can’t notice this are those who have an older crop or one that is not as fresh or maybe even aren’t using the right water. Also this tea puts me into a state of general well being. I feel like there are no worries in the world and feel well nourished and satisfied after I finish a cup of this. It also lifts my mood. It’s the small things in life, like this tea, that mean so much to me. Also, I can always count on Harney and Sons to bring tea of top shelf quality. Some other vendors may have counterfeit Bi Lo Chun or even one of a lower grade. Thanks for taking the time to read my review.

Experience buying from Harney & Sons http://steepster.com/places/2779-harney-and-sons-online-millerton-new-york

Age of leaf: Lot #11196 (brewed about six weeks after receiving sample).

Dry Leaf: Sample size (roughly four generous teaspoons); a mixture of light and dark green, curly, and somewhat fuzzy, small leaves. There was a very thin sprinkling of ‘down’ on the spoon I used to measure it, and on the walls of the small glass jar I temporarily stored it in. Strong, roasted, vegetal, sweet smell.

Brewing guidelines: Glass Bodum pot with metal strainer/plunger. Four
8-ounce cups of water used. Stevia added to compliment flavor.
Steepings: 1st: 172, 2’
……………..2nd: 175, 2.5’
……………..3rd: 178, 3’
……………..4th: 182, 4’

Aroma: Mildly vegetal.

Color of liquor: Pale yellow.

Wet leaf: Dark green, fresh appearance; smells slightly roasted. Lots of nice-looking small buds and bud-sets. No fragments. A few dark shriveled pieces.

Flavor: Mild and pleasant (somewhat similar to the H&S Anji Baicha I had recently). Slightly roasted taste which comes out more when cooled. No astringency.

Value: Good for a sample ($2). Their price for two ounces ($20 USD) seems to more reasonable compared to at least one other vendor I know of who stocks it (Seven Cups).

Overall: My wife and I both thought that this was a pleasant tea enjoyed without any typical green tea astringency. Flavor held up through four steepings (flavor very mild on the 4th). What I will most likely remember most about this tea is the fine downy covering left behind on anything the dry tea came in contact with, a subtle testament to its authenticity (which I believe is due to its being harvested in early spring).

Hill snuck in a last minute brew of this before closing up shop. We got it just off the boat 3 days ago, super light and sweet. Mmm..