81 Tasting Notes
Another great tea and helping cup, this time its Golden Monkey! Its very much like Yunnan type black teas with a complex and layered flavors that seem best to come out during multiple steeps and playing around with temperature. It has a distinct flavor almost near to Assam which explains the sweet potato flavor with the amount of slight sweetness without it being to brisk on the palate. I can taste however the Yunnan qualities that works well with this tea, it gives a soily, maybe woody body, with smooth almost chocolaty on the back end of the palate. Just perfect!
Preparation
So I got me some samples courtesy of Teavivre(with many thanks)and enjoyed it profoundly! I have had many varieties of Keemun tea all of which I found to be either lacking in balance or really just lacking in characters(possibly bad luck). This particular type of Keemun by Teavivre fits what most consider a true Keemun tea! Smoky, rich, alomost vlevety, piney with undertones of sweet and possibly flower character that goes great with a rich overtone.
The first brew at five minutes yielded a flavorful tea with much of the smoky, piney , and undertones associated with Keemun. Its not at all too smoky, nor too piney, does not go bitter when over brewed, and smooth of the palate without drying it out. The second brews and beyond have a less but still prominent character that yields a slighty tannin and slightly astringent taste towards the 4th and 5th steep. The tea itself can handle the usual milk and sugar but also a plain cuppa can be much of an experience and a good introduction into smoky teas! What a great tea this is!
Preparation
At long last and patience rewarded with most gracious gifts of generosity from
this lovely company! Words cannot describe the immense quality of the leaves and the brew that comes afterwords…Its just heavenly in my opinion! Highly flowery with the jasmine goes really great with a light and smooth taste of white tea. The flavored is exactly balanced while not interfering with its woody, almost nutty and vegetal flavor, brews well and multiple times before becoming slightly tannin but not bitter. Its ambrosia indeed!
Preparation
This tea also came with another sample of spring Darj today! I knew I was in for a treat and knew that as much I enjoyed Darj this tea would make me day! It Has! The little sample was a mere 3 grams but comforting and full in every way. The smell of the tea is of a light smokey with a touch of boiled vegetables, the liquor tasted of (again)boiled vegetables much like dark green vegetables, with hints of ginger and soil. Bottom line: A tea that is fulfilling and worth every penny for those in deeply in love of rich, full bodies teas. A tea that won’t disappoint at all!
Preparation
I’ve been waiting for nearly three days for this tea to arrive and nearly a lifetime(not really) to actually taste genuine Darj! Its a welcome relief from the tasteless and tannin knock-offs or the “quality” and pricey Darj sold in a nearby Teavana. Yup! Those days are over and I could of wish I stuck with Adagio than Teavana… Anyways the tea has much of the floral and grassy smell and taste normally associated with Darj, yet this tea has a vegetal quality like steamed vegetables and a hint of citrus blossoms. In retrospect….its eerily similar to the Darj found in them wicked Teavana stores but without the tannin and the vague origin of the tea itself(which to my conclusion is a blend from different estates). A nice tea overall!
Preparation
As advertised, it has the flavors describes with as much potential now with the prices low enough to buy in bulk quantities! As usual, I got a sample of this so called “Dragonwell” and practically fell in love with the flavor as I am quite a fan of all things nutty and vegetal! I brewed it in the usual 180 degree(maybe 175) for the usual minute or two, the first steep was alright of course but when it comes to the second or third its plain mute and tannic:( I suspect for this tea sold for 10$ per 2oz is expected for its appealing price than the usual 18 dollar per 2oz “quality” (not that it would make a difference)! The tea is honestly above average compared to any brand name teabags in the markets, but downsides of a soon to be uber priced and nonrenewable tea is certainly not making its way into my pantry anytime soon!