75

Here’s a black tea sample that I got from Upton, I was curious to try based on their description of it. This is a black tea, though they may call it a red tea in China. Another congou to try.

The directions said to steep this for 3-5 minutes so I went for 4 in the end. I got a very smooth, dark black tea with virtually no astringency. There is a nice sweetness about it. I agree it is very clean and mellow. This is a very easy one to sip on plain, which I am enjoying. It’s definitely nice to have a few black teas which I don’t feel the need to take with any additions. Perhaps a slight bit of maltiness in the finish. I am sure I will happily finish this off but will probably not need to buy anymore. I do have a full tin of a panyang congou which is probably enough for a while!

Unfortunately I left my infuser in the teapot when I went back to get a second cup and now I am getting the bitter, ooky quality I think Jen was describing in her note. This is not a tea you want to oversteep.

I know I am weird but I was half hoping for something spicy in this tea since it’s from Sichuan province. hee hee! I enjoyed trying it though.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec
SimplyJenW

It is funny because I am often lead to resample this based on the reviews on Upton. And then I remember this was the tea where I was the weirdo one who did not really care for it. I am sure my steeping technique has improved, but not that much! ;)

Scott B

Spicy is exactly what I though of when I saw the name of the tea.

TeaBrat

Jen – I don’t blame you for not wanting to try it again!

Doug F

I tried this in the past and it was solid but there are so many great Chinese black teas that I didn’t feel motivated to buy it again.

TeaBrat

@Triumph – yeah I feel much the same way. Good but missing the “wow” factor for me personally

ScottTeaMan

I have a sample of this somewhere…….if I can only find it! :-//

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Comments

SimplyJenW

It is funny because I am often lead to resample this based on the reviews on Upton. And then I remember this was the tea where I was the weirdo one who did not really care for it. I am sure my steeping technique has improved, but not that much! ;)

Scott B

Spicy is exactly what I though of when I saw the name of the tea.

TeaBrat

Jen – I don’t blame you for not wanting to try it again!

Doug F

I tried this in the past and it was solid but there are so many great Chinese black teas that I didn’t feel motivated to buy it again.

TeaBrat

@Triumph – yeah I feel much the same way. Good but missing the “wow” factor for me personally

ScottTeaMan

I have a sample of this somewhere…….if I can only find it! :-//

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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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