90
drank Morning Sun by Mandala Tea
2816 tasting notes

Still raining in San Francisco so I had to make some of my own Morning sun!

I liked the shape of these rolled leaves and have had good luck in the past with these spiral sort of shapes from China. The aroma of the wet leaves is very robust and almost smoke like and it’s amazing to watch them unfurl!

I decided to steep mine for 3 minutes basket style although this tea will need to have some gong fu experiments from me soon. :)

I am definitely getting the sweet flavor, kind of honey like with a bit of roasted sweet potato or carrot like starchy/thickness… it is reminiscent of a golden monkey to me, except bolder and more assertive. I’m getting a touch of smokiness, tobacco flavor here in the flavor as well. I tried this plain but then I ended up liking it with soymilk because the creaminess blends nicely with the other flavors. I liked this although a bit on the assertive and bold side for me so I think a shorter steeping time will be worth pursuing. I just gave my sweetie a sip and he says it smells very smoky and tastes like miso… I like miso actually. :)

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec
ScottTeaMan

I’m all over miso. :))

ScottTeaMan

China blacks are awesome!

Garret

Thanks, Amy! We have a local coffeehouse that we source this tea for. We restock them every week on this one as they go through so much of it. They are doing 1.5 minute steepings. @Scott – You’re right! China blacks are awesome!!

TeaBrat

I like China black but most of my favorite black tea is still from India & Nepal (aside from puerh, of course).

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Comments

ScottTeaMan

I’m all over miso. :))

ScottTeaMan

China blacks are awesome!

Garret

Thanks, Amy! We have a local coffeehouse that we source this tea for. We restock them every week on this one as they go through so much of it. They are doing 1.5 minute steepings. @Scott – You’re right! China blacks are awesome!!

TeaBrat

I like China black but most of my favorite black tea is still from India & Nepal (aside from puerh, of course).

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Profile

Bio

My profile pic is of a pink dahlia at Golden Gate Park.

Hobbies include: tea, making art, animals, vegan things, buddhism, nature, creativity, books, writing, cooking, meditation, yoga.

I am a fan of many different teas but my favorites are blacks and oolongs, chai, also like darjeeling and pu-erh. I’n always learning and expanding my horizons!

Dislikes include: bergamot, jasmine, highly tannic or bitter teas, overly judgmental and bitter people. :)

Live in San Francisco, I’m a SINK (single income, no kids) and love the urban life, but traveling out to the middle of nowhere is always fun too.

I tend to not drink things I know I will hate so a lot of my tea ratings are on the higher side. Here’s my rating system, sorta

95-100 I love this tea and would like to keep it around

94-90 An excellent tea which I may or may not repurchase

89-80 Pretty good, above average

79-70 Acceptable

69-60 Mundane – Will probably drink it if I have it

59-50 Ick

49 and below Nasty

Location

San Frandisco

Website

http://sanfrantea.teatra.de

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