Yunnan Golden Strand Jinggu Spring 2011

Are you really missing Verdant’s Golden Fleece? (edited thanks to Kittenna!) Never got to try any and fear you may never get to? Then get some of this!!!
Its not the exact same tea, and there are noticeable flavor differences but this is as close to it as you are going to get in my opinion!
Stone Leaf Tea is quickly becoming a new favorite tea vendor for me. They have excellent customer service and quality teas!
Granted nothing will replace my love for Verdant or their much desired Golden Fleece but there is no reason we can’t spread the love around!
This is a quality black tea!
There is a slight bit more astringency here than GS but it is not bitter.
I love the flavor notes of pepper, olive, and I also get a buttery mouthfeel.
Its quite pleasing and I plan to keep it around!

Thank you Azzrian for sending me some of this tea! I’m glad I’m finally feeling healthy so that I can start trying some of these marvelous teas you’ve sent me!

Oh this is good! I do love a good Golden Yunnan and this one is certainly just that. The sip begins sweet, with notes of caramel, cocoa and grape (yes grape!) that seem to intertwine to create a taste that is so very pleasantly sweet. By mid-sip, the sip transitions toward a more savory taste, with hints of pepper that prepare the palate for a freshly baked bread kind of taste … but not just any freshly baked bread. Imagine one of those artisan loaves, with the olives baked inside? Yeah… that! It tastes so rich and savory, and that hint of olive is so surprising and delicious.

Throughout the sip there is no sign of bitterness, and there is very, very little astringency (as in, it’s difficult to notice any at all) to this cup. This would be a great tea for those who generally avoid black teas for fear of bitterness or astringency, because well… there’s next to none. Just delicious, rich, smooth flavor. Amazingly good.