I wanted some unflavored straight green tea this morning and a generous sample from my benefactor QuiltGuppy filled the bill. The aroma before steeping was rich and almost tobacco like, not an ultra dried cigarette tobacco smell, more like a fine pipe grade. The color is a deep golden green that glows in my glass cup. Each sip is dynamic. At first there is a subtle, light, feel then the flavor accelerates to vegital and a little on the grassy side. This slowly diminishes as the tea goes down. A hint of butter and a very slight slipperyness are also present. I enjoyed this very much.
Organic Cloud & Mist
Green Tea by Red Blossom Tea Company
Harvested late March 2010 from Fuding County, Fujian Province. In a season of devastating frost and endless rain that saw drastic declines in the availability of green and white teas, it’s remarkable that we found a tea as wonderful as this.
Each leaf is hand-picked, then roasted with a drum roaster – a more traditional method of green tea crafting that predates the pan firing methods commonly used today. The dry leaves are dark green, each wiry twisted strand only about 2.5 centimeters long. The aroma is slightly floral with an underlying note of roasted macadamia. In water, those strands unwind and turn a creamy green, revealing tender leaves and buds. The infused tea is surprisingly sweet and bright, with a hint of butter and grass.
We were able to get a surprising 5 brews using only 2.5 grams of tea leaves in our gaiwan – though we’ve also enjoyed Cloud and Mist free-steeped in a tea bowl or cup.
Water Temperature: 175°, or when very small bubbles appear on the water’s edge.
Brewing Instructions: Use 1 tablespoon (double for a medium sized pot). Rinse tea for 1 second. Discard rinse water. Steep for 1 minute. May be infused multiple times.
