Chun Mei Green Tea (Zhen Mei)

This tea tastes for all the world to me like someone made tea out of nori (the stuff sushi is wrapped in)- it’s kind of vegetal and kind of oceanic in a way that manages not to turn me off despite my loathing of all things seafood. In some ways it’s a really typical green tea, and the most reminiscent of Japanese greens among the Teavivre varieties that I’ve tried.

There is no doubt about it. I have become a Teavivre groupie. Not only do all of their teas have delicious and outstanding flavors, but they are also fascinating and fun. Some come in little tea cakes that incredibly expand while steeping, others have unusual flat leaves, some are hand rolled into little pellets that unfurl during brewing, and still others appear as flowers that “bloom” during the brewing process. Teavivre also does an expert job with packaging to ensure that your tea arrives from China undamaged and fresh.

The Chun Mei Green Tea carries on this tradition by requiring the shortest brewing time that I’ve experienced so far – less than 30 seconds! If you think that half a minute can’t be enough time to coax satisfactory flavor from this tea, you are as wrong as I was.

This is another splendid green tea. The flavor is somewhat grassy with sweet undertones. The color is a surprisingly vibrant orange-yellow. The taste is extremely steady and full. There is no weakness or bitterness to it. A very pleasant sweet aftertaste remained on my palate after each sip.

A long time ago, whenever a new record album by The Beatles was released, I would just buy it without listening to it, because I knew it would be great. This is now how I feel about Teavivre teas. Any tea that Teavivre wants to throw at me, I will be willing and ANXIOUS to try. I am confident that, just like The Beatles, Teavivre won’t let me down. I love you Teavivre, oh yes I do (yeah, yeah, yeah)!

Oh this is so good. I thought by steeping it for such a short time it wouldn’t taste like anything. But it’s so flavorful! It’s savory, sort of nutty, and then it’s definitely sweet, and I love the dryness of it. It’s definitely got a bold flavor. On the second steeping, there is a toasty flavor going on.

I think I have one of those problems where I’m like “this is my favorite!” and it turns out everything is my favorite.

Mmm, this tea reminds me of a gunpowder with some floral notes to it.

I haven’t quite yet figured out how to steep Chun Mei in a way that I really like. Haven’t figured out yet if it’s that I am not a Chun Mei fan or if I just haven’t found the right steeping parameters. For a Chun Mei this is good, it just keeps coming out a bit too dull and bitter for me. I’ve reached the end of my sample so it might be a while before I figure this one out.

(This sample was generously provide to me by Teavivre. Thank you Angel and the whole Teavivre Team.)
Dry Leaf: Has a vegetal aroma slight sweetness to it with a slight smokey aroma.
Wet Leaf:Has a vegetal aroma think maybe boiled spinach.
Liquor: Has a yellowish green broth.
Taste: I get a vegetal flavor with a plum after taste but can even see someone saying smokey. A very slight bitter touch that does leave a slight dryness in the mouth. The broth feels rich or thick in the mouth not watery.
Overall Opinion: I give this a 86. You will have to play with amount of tea and water and time of steeping. I feel this tea gets quit bitter after 30seconds so be careful. This tea would be good on a hot day because it is refreshing. It has a smoothness to it. I would recommend this tea to Gunpowder Green Tea fans in my humble opinion.

Updated on 1/4/2012

Experience buying from Teavivre http://steepster.com/places/2857-teavivre-online—

Age of leaf: advertised as spring 2011. Received fall 2011, brewed up days later.

Appearance and aroma of dry leaf: similar in appearance and smell to other Chun Mee teas I have had before: small chopped and tightly curled leaves, with a grassy and somewhat smoky aroma.

Brewing guidelines: Based on two different steeping sessions; I used a little hotter temperatures than the standard parameters for my green teas call for due to Teavivres web directions. Loose in glass Bodum pot. Stevia added.
2 tsp, 2 cups of water (4 tsp, 4.5 cups)
……….1st: 180, 1’ (187; 1’)
……….2nd: 180. 1.5 (178 trying it cooler; 1.5’)
……….3rd: 185, 2’ (185; 2’)

Color and aroma of tea liquor: cloudy, light honey color, mild vegetal aroma.

Flavor of tea liquor: standard vegetal green tea flavor; minor astringency on the second steeping.

Appearance and aroma of wet leaf: Looks and smells fresh.

Value: Roughly a $1/ounce, and you can’t really beat that for fresh green tea anywhere.

Overall: My wife and I changed our mind on this one after the second session: the flavor is not as good as the flavor during the first session. I am not very taken by the flavor (too astringent, or something). It did hold up with the flavor it had through three steepings. Nothing else really notable about it other than that it is fresh and inexpensive.

Sipdown! (22 | 299)

Another Teavivre sample down. Now that I’ve amassed many more with my recent order… (facepalm)

This isn’t my favorite type of green tea. I find it similar to gunpowder in that it’s quite earthy and mineral with smoky notes. But I do get a bit of a more roasted feel from this tea, and a pleasant nutty quality. And then underneath everything is a pile of hay, straw, and dry autumn leaves. There’s some pleasant bitterness, and perhaps a touch of wood as well.

I noticed the description mentions plum, and I do get a bit of a stonefruity note at the very end of the sip. I would probably describe it as apricot, but I think plum is more accurate. It’s accompanied by a bit of astringency as well, maybe that’s why I’m reminded of a fuzzy apricot.

Anyway, it’s a bit too “rough” to be something I would want to drink on a regular basis. The earthy, smoky notes are pretty in-your-face, and tend to overpower the softer, mellower flavors. That being said, it does seem like a high-quality example of the type.

Water: 8oz

Leaves: Tiny rolled leaves

Steep: 1m,2m,3m

Aroma: Sweet Vegetable

Color: Deep golden yellow

Taste: The aroma of this tea was great! I haven’t had loose green tea in quite some time, I need to practice at getting the water temperature correct. This time I decided to go with 5 steeps to see how this tea would last. As for steeping I’ll update this as I go. 1m I didn’t get much of a aroma from the cup of tea it self as i did the leaved. The taste was light with a hint of bitterness that later subsided, i think this was due to the water being too hot. 2m I let my water cool this time for a minute longer than the first, It was the same shade of golden yellow but lacking in any flavor the, 3rd steep revealed the same flavor profile. I stopped here short of my original 5 steeps planned b/c i felt it wouldn’t make a difference. Overall i found this tea to be quite plain.

Some quick notes on this one while I listen to music tonight, currently have Nirvana – Bleach playing.

Scent is toasted and floral though subtle.
Flavour is toasted with hay, flower and sweet wood tones. Some astringency with a sour quality. Tastes like an Oolong rather than a green tea, or at least that’s what I found. Like a toastier version of a Cloud Mist green.

Another cup brings out the savoury flavours, resembling a blend of baked broccoli and asparagus. Also the sweetness seems to have increased somewhat.

These meant to be quick notes but I got carried away with the music, moved on to Avenged SevenFold – Beast And The Harlot now. It was a nice green with Oolong qualities that had enough flavour and character to be pleasing, though I don’t think I could drink it all the time. Husband was surprised this was a green tea too.