Yuan Dynasty Golden Tips Black

A recent business trip to Chicago allowed me to make my first trip to a Teavana store, a small, quiet place with no hard-selling employees, contrary to my expectations. I was drawn to this selection because of my love for golden-tipped Chinese teas and after the first sip, I knew I had made a good choice. Much of the flavor profile echoes the Yunnan rare grades I love so much, but with an alluring orange flavor that is missing from the more chocolatey, creamy, malty Yunnans. I was pleasantly surprised that a chain tea store could provide me and others with such a satisfying tea that has its own special niche among the Chinese black teas I own.

So I found this tea via Teavana’s ‘Tea of the Week’ in their newsletter. I usually ignore those due to not having one close by, but since the store finally opened in my area, I was able to go and being what I hope will be a tradition of getting a cup of the ‘Tea of the Week’.

This week it was the Yuan Dynasty Golden Tips. What a mouthful! My first impression of the tea was brewed a little too hot but had, at first sip, a really spicy sort of bite to it. After it cooled just a bit though, I found its flavor to be VERY similar to the ‘Snowy Peak Downy Tips’, which while a good tea, is one I already had.

I don’t think I will be buying this tea until my Snowy Peak runs out.