Phoenix Yunnan Gold

LOVE! This was part of the Steepster Select box this month, and it is SO GOOD. A lovely Yunnan! Peppery, sweet, and full-flavored. Robust. This one’s a keeper!

I really do like this tea. I was not sure at first when smelling it, but it has a warmness to it. The description to me is right on the money. Although I get more spicy citrus then I do honey citrus. It is very smooth an not a kick in the face black tea. I would love to have this with a dessert. Like an orange chocolaty cake.

The first infusion down and the second to go..

I have never heard of this tea shop, or this tea. When I read the title I thought it would be long golden strands. This is why I love Seepster Select I gives me tea I would have never have thought of.

This has a zing to it. It definitely does not taste like a “standard black”, to me. I don’t get the sweetness that others mention, but I do get something that reminds me of peaches… again, not a sweetness, but the peach taste without, if that makes any sense. Say, more of the skin of the peach than the flesh.

It has a very warm, cinnamon-colored flavor up through the nose.

The finish is very short.

Something that, pleasantly, puts me in mind of soap, too.

Odd tea. Very good.

I’ve not yet reviewed 2/3 of the tea in the Steepster Select box I won months ago, so I thought I’d get on that. Phoenix Yunnan Gold is a hard one for me, since I’ve never had this type of tea from another brand and black teas are, in general, harder for me to pick out specific tastes from than greens. Ah, well!

The appearance of this tea is nothing special, and the smell of the dry leaf, while distinct, isn’t really for me. I’m definitely getting a bit of a honey-esque scent, and some kind of nonspecific spiciness. I have a feeling that would make some people very happy, but not me.

When I sip, it’s still honey, but a weird, less sweet honey. This tea is naturally sweet, mind, but real honey is sweeter. (I wonder how this would taste with honey added? I don’t know if I have any at the moment.) The second steep reveals more of a spiciness, but I have to search for it. I’m not very impressed overall — it doesn’t seem much different from most ceylons I’ve tasted — but I don’t think it’s a bad tea, it’s just not exciting to me.

I notice the steeping time here suggests one minute, but I went for the 2:30 suggested on the package. Will definitely try the one next time; it doesn’t taste oversteeped right now, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the flavors changed for the better.

Due to a previous Yunnan Gold tea I had, I wasn’t sure that I would enjoy this tea. However, there is a subtle gentle earthiness to this tea along with a crisp clean finish that is making this a perfect after lunch pick-me-up. A solid tea that I would recommend.

Didn’t see the notes on 1 minute steeping time until after I made, but the longer steep did not impair the flavor.

Had with a bit of milk and sugar, tasted superb, great flavor, will be keeping this one on restock list.