818 Tasting Notes
I think I messed up my parameters on this one. I was really excited to try it as I love a good chai. The dry leaf smelled like vanilla chai. Yum! I steeped it for 3 minutes and added a little sugar and a splash of almond milk. Unfortunately, I think the milk muted the base tea. So, I did a second steep without milk and found it tasted more balanced, but I still think I under leafed it. Hmmm. Soooo, next time, I’m going to add more leaf and skip the milk. The spices are delicious, though. Very spicy and nicely balanced. I just want that base tea to come through more. I also got a buttery taste which was interesting. I’ll reserve final judgement until next time!
Dark, thick, smooth, vanilla, caramel, cocoa yummy-ness!!!
When I got home late last night and I opened this, I had a feeling it was going to be great. It smelled so good! Well, it tastes amazing too! Uh oh, this is bad for my tea budget! ;)
Got back really late last night from a quick work trip to Arizona and found my BF/CB teas had arrived! It was a nice sight to see after a flight that was delayed three hours. Ugh! Anyway, still not sure where I’m going to put everything, as my cupboard is exploding now!
I have a bit if a scratchy throat, so didn’t want to try anything too complex, this Shou really hit the spot. These little cubes are convenient and are very clean and smooth-tasting. The tea page mentions a clay taste, and I think I get that in most ripe puerhs. It was evident here, but the flavor was nice and uncomplicated, and sweetened upon further steeps. It steeps out fairly quickly. Overall, it’s a great everyday Shou.
I decided to try the little gold foil-wrapped ones and I have to say, they’re not my favorite. My usual brewing parameters for shu resulted in a very bitter tea. These pack a punch in the second steeping you gotta be ready for! It was like bitter chocolate/cedar. :P I added a little sugar, which helped to tone it down, but ya, I’m not sad there’s only 1 more of these in the variety pack.
I think this is what the gold foil wrapped ones are. I am currently drinking it myself. I know it has been a year but I know I always appreciate the info so I figured I would share. :) http://steepster.com/teas/yunnan-sourcing/51650-2012-lincang-gold-ingot-ripe-pu-erh-tea-mini-tuo
I had a really long gong fu session with this today, and you know what? I think I like it better brewed western! It was nice and potato-tasting throughout the session, and it lasted like forever, but I think the flavor is better when brewed western style. Anyway, it’s yummy. :)
Cheri had this one recently, so it prompted me to enjoy it a second time. It’s funny how steepster can influence what you drink from day to day! I had a really really long session with it yesterday. It is so clean tasting, a bit citrus-like, and the late steepings have this wonderful caramel taste. Yum! Oh, and I got to use my new scale that I got for my birthday to measure out 5 grams for my also new easy gaiwan! Yay! So fun! And I love this tea!
Mmm, this is so good! I get a lot of cocoa notes from this one. It’s like I drank all three of the golden teas I ordered in order from lightest to darkest, potato to cocoa. Pretty funny, actually. They are all awesome. The tea leaves are absolutely beautiful. As I was warned by MzPriss, I think this may be a new addiction. Uh oh! ;)
I got my first EVER Yunnan Sourcing order in the mail yesterday! Woo! I’m swimming in golden black teas! I didn’t have time to sit down and enjoy a cup, but I wanted one so bad, so I made some and threw it in my timolino for our drive to lunch. This tea was very yummy. It’s similar to the yunnan Dian hong golden tips from TeaVivre, (which I also restocked on Black Friday!), but seemed sweeter. I think there’s a sugar sweetness, and maybe some fruitiness, in this I don’t get in golden tips. It has that wonderful sweet potato malt flavor, but is light and airy. Yum! I definitely want to gong fu brew this one next time!
Had a fabulous T-day yesterday with family, and also a belated birthday celebration, in which I received teaware! Definitely one of my best birthdays! Between my mom and my grandmother, I now have a scale, a travel gaiwan set, and some adorable spoons for afternoon tea. :) I also brought over all the Lupicia tea I picked up for them, including this one, of which my mom gave me a sample. So this morning I’m trying it out.
This tea has such a mysterious description you really don’t know what you’re getting. It smells like tropical fruits. When steeped, it tastes more like peach, I think, with a hint of the peppercorn. It’s nice, but I’m not blown away. Fun for a relaxing Friday.
I definitely recommend this one without milk or sugar :-) give it a try straight with the directions on the bag. There is much balance in this blend ;-)
i tried it both ways and i really like it without milk but tiny touch of maple syrup, just a drop
Ohh that sounds good boychik!
Ohhhh boychik, queen of the maple syrup. :D
Cameron, i also like condensed milk ;D what i like abt maple it doesnt change completely, doesnt make sickly sweet. but you know me, i can drink without anything pu, Lapsang Sauchong, spicy teas.
@boychik – I’ll have to try that! It’s weird for me to not put milk in chai, but I think i could get used to it.
Tealizzy, do you normally put milk in Chinese black tea? I don’t . I tried first this tea with milk and sugar like any other chai. Milk muted the base.
boychik- I have to admit that I do add milk unless I’m steeping it gongfu-style. I usually only add a little splash. ☺️