2093 Tasting Notes
A sipdown! (M: 2 Y: 67)
A perfect refreshing cuppa, even when I drank it hot. As gmathis wrote, it is very hibiscus forward, but lime tastes natural and is very refreshing.
I think it could be a blast iced; but this was a last tea bag, drank on rainy afternoon.
Preparation
I took a chunk of this puerh as it seems I have quite lots of it, still from Michelle and Rich; and prepared it stronger today — I have used 7 grams instead of 4, that I used last time; long time ago.
It was intended to fulfill sipdown prompt, but I have still too much to call it sipdown, or close to sipdown — definitely at least two sessions worth.
I have to admit, it was much better, as there were stronger flavour profiles, though I agree with past self about the flavours. It has been somehow chocolately, thick and peaty at first sessions, later ones were with hints of red fruits and woody; but still definitely and distinctly flavourful.
Yes, the aftertaste was still a bit short for my liking, but it is creamy and mellow.
I am definitely raising the rating from 74.
Preparation
A sipdown! (M: 1 Y: 66) prompt: A tea you hoard
Da Wu Ye Dancong 2017 (Probably) by Chaozhou Tea Grower / Wudong Tea
I have this tea for soooo long. It was back then when I was pretty much active on r/tea IRC and one member offered sending me a few teas. This was one of them, because back then I had a Dancong oolong by white2tea and liked it. I believe I could have it from 2019 or so.
Well, yes, it was a hoarded tea. And now I am finishing it. Gongfu, remaining almost 5 grams, boiling water, flash steeps (as instructed).
Either it has faded, or I am not so focused today; but I just can’t picked up any aroma notes. It is a pretty much mellow flowery oolong, with hints of astringecy and if steeped longer, there is a creeping bitterness.
But, sipdown is a sipdown; with a filling prompt (well, who cares it is a February prompt, right?) and I have moreless enjoyed it.
I mixed Cranberry of Basilur (a sipdown!) and Lime Flowers by Sonnentor. The latter one I have hoped to make it a sipdown too, but I had too much; so last cuppa remains. Also the latter one have a great chance to repurchase.
It smells quite funky. Flowery (lilac? how?) and tart cranberry / plain hibiscus. But it tastes better — it brings fruity cranberry with nice floral and sweet notes, so it isn’t that tart, as plain fruity element of this tea.
I wouldn’t blend it like this always; afterall the cranberry tea I preferred to have with black tea; but it works together fairly well.
Hey Martin, if lime flowers smell anything like orange flowers, I could understand the similarity to lilac. I grew up in the middle of orange orchards and adore the fragrance of their blossoms! Not sure about the combination with cranberry, though I’d be inclined to toss in a hibiscus element to complement, and then dose it with a ton of sweetener and sip it iced. Is there ANY C. sinensis in your blend? I agree that a strong black would do well. Perhaps a Ceylon and maybe even one from the Uva highlands, having those minty notes. Or maybe a Keemun with a touch of spearmint added!
Lime… in this case it is linden :) — maybe a little bit lost in translation. Sometimes it is translated as lime.
As of cranberry — sadly this blend from Basilur is really tart to me; and I usually mix it up with some other tea. There wasn’t any C. sineisis in my blend; but Uva tea would be a great pairing.
I think linden is referred to as lime tree in British English. In French it is tilluel, I believe. It isn’t a well known thing among most people in America, except perhaps those who are in wellness teas and tinctures.
Ah-hah yes. I have heard of Linden, but forgot it was sometimes referred to as lime. I have no idea what it’s blossoms smell like!
For me it’s a little bit honey-ish, chamomile like
A sipdown! (M: 6 Y: 64) prompt: April 22 – Earth Day: drink an earthy tasting tea
Two days late! Also it fits better prompt: “A tea with a long name”
But who cares? Sipdown is a sipdown!
Well, this one from derk isn’t much earthy. Thanks anyway. Whopsy daisy. It’s rather mineral. Astringent and herbaceous. Musty mint.
Longer steeps are even more herbaceous — musty mint notes. Sadly, not so earthy as I have wished for to fill the prompt. Fine for mindless drinking though. I had better shengs.
Were 6 grams for my 125 ml gaiwan too much? Who knows…
Preparation
A sipdown! (M: 5 Y: 63) prompt: A tea with a long name
Well, it may not be longest name in my stash, but… well it has got its former name; and if you write in the words the year and number of the blend, it can be quite long, right?!
Anyway, prepared last 5 grams as last time, in a tea pot, shared with family members. Flavours seems to be very same like last time — forest honey, malt, caramel and stewed fruits with floral notes.
It just needs a lots of water volume and big strainer it seems. As in the pot it was a whole different story than mug brewing.
A sipdown! (M: 4 Y: 62) prompt: April 4 – Qing Ming Festival: drink a Chinese tea, preferably an early spring green
I have sipped this tea on April 4 too; but it wasn’t a sipdown back then. Now, 12 days later it is a proper sipdown.
It is a Chinese green tea, so it fill the prompt just perfectly. I don’t expect it is early green though, but it is lovely enough. The colder water than recommended 90°C was a bit better. Jasmine had just right level of it.
A sipdown! (M: 3 Y: 61)
6 grams were remaining and wait for their time that has come today. Decided to gongfu them, using 95°C water. Steeps were short at first; around 10 seconds, quickly followed with longer, those were around 30-45 seconds each.
This sheng has a great flavour profile that I liked. It was like dried apricots most of the sessions; also it was very smooth. Sadly, on the other hand, mouthfeel wasn’t too long and it was “over” quickly. It lasted only 5 or 6 infusions and steeps after were just a thin, slightly astringent, cups.
On the other hand, considering it is a Vietnamese Pu Erh, so definitely not a terroir famous for compressed tea; it’s not bad and I would gladly accept a cup if offered. I will keep rating on 86, because maybe when it was fresher, it was tastier. On the other hand, I have also used different steeping method, so it is not really comparable.
Preparation
A sipdown! (M: 2 Y: 60), prompt: a tea in a sachet
A year ago, or so, I have received (among others), 3 pyramid sachets of this tea from Kaylee — thank you!
It says Jasmine Triangular Original Tea Bag with origin in Taiwan and Sri Lanka; Manufactuer written as Jemmy Tea Ltd. and search of which brings no results to me.
And I have to say it is perfectly easy-drinking jasmine tea, with nice base (I wonder if that comes from Taiwan). Grassy green tea and no hay and old tea notes; instead it was fresh tasting and enjoyable. Yes, this last sachet was a bit worse (but also a few days past best before date). But, as I wrote, a good daily-drinker to me, if I had to seek jasmine tea on daily basis.
In Missouri, we are very close to “I don’t care how it tastes as long as it is wet and cold!” season. It was so hot Wednesday (we were on the road and had been doing heavy labor at my mom-in-law’s), I voluntarily drank bottled sweet tea.