This is my 400th Review on Steepster!!!
First I want to thank Verdant for this sample that came with my last order. I saved it for this 400th review. (You like the red?!)
This tea is from the Fugian County of Anxi.
From the moment I snipped open the foil packet of tea, I knew I was going to be taken along on a fragrant journey. The tea leaves had a strong floral aroma that reminded me of having pancakes with berries and powdered sugar in a garden filled with flowers.
I chose a tasting bowl and cup set so that I could do small infusions. (My goal was to do the whole 18 rounds of Steepings!)
All through the rounds the color of the liquor changed very little. It was a pale yellow-green and faded slightly towards steep 16.
The fragrance of the leaves were very floral with a slight vegital tone in the beginning which began to reverse as the steepings continued. There was always a good floral scent.
So, how did this tea taste?
I’ve been sitting for hours thinking about this tea and the 16 steepings that I poured (all of which I will gladly repeat again).
I want to write about the flavor but the experience was more than a straight up flavor review with a list of steepings.
As I began the first few tastings, (which were the most floral) I was distracted, as is the case most times, by the newness of the tea. I ask myself, “What is this flavor here, is it juicy, creamy or astringent?”
It takes a few rounds before my brain and my mouth catch up to each other and I begin to hear the tea speaking. At that point, I have to step out of the way. The mind chatter has to calm down.
When I became quiet inside, I was able to enjoy the tea more, and remembered a time sitting on the beach in Half Moon Bay just listening to the waves crash on the beach. I always stopped to buy flowers from the growers along Highway 1. That area is known for flowers running all over the hills next to the Pacific Ocean. Star and Asian Lilies, Tulips and Mums. I bought flowers from that area at the Farmers Market every Friday by my job in Foster City.
This tea reminded me of those fragrant oceanside flowers rolled out like a carpet in the warm sunshine but cooled by the mist from the sea.
The same area was a growers haven for green beans and Asian vegetables. So, there it was. The flowers and sweet vegetables swirled together harmoniously like the flavor of the tea.
One more thing I must mention.
There was the most delightful creaminess, which I thought at first was butter because it was so thick. Then I changed my mind and said it was thick fresh cream. (I smacked my lips!)
The feeling isn’t the one you have after eating an ice cream, but the one you have after the first bite of a cooked pudding when it coats your mouth.
The tasting notes on the Verdant website are much more detailed than mine. Worth reading. Mine are simpler today.
I’m feeling a wee bit nostalgic. Eight months have gone by and I’ve made so many friends on Steepster. If you are like me, the little personal messages and encouragements that go on in the comments and behind the reviews are what floats this boat. This is all about tea and more isn’t it!
THANK YOU
People who liked this
Comments
Way to go Bonnie!!! :) Keep the great review and stories coming!
Happy 400!
Yay for 400!
Happy 400th review! :D
I am impressed! Red and 400 notes! Teach us how – you can’t leave us hangin’ like this!
Congrats Bonnie! Here’s to plenty more!
That is the most interesting tasting note I’ve ever read! Wow! I ordered this tea earlier this week, so I’m super excited now :)
Yay! And yes I agree I’m slowly getting to know the people I follow and I love the little notes and comments that have started. I love reading your reviews!
Congrrrrats!
{color:red} Great!
Oops! LOL! I did something wrong!
Maybe it doesn’t work on iPad?
Congrats!!!
http://redcloth.org/hobix.com/textile/
link to all the directions for all the doo dad’s
The link isn’t working for me and now I’m determined! lol
400! Congrats
THANKS!
let’s try
YAY!
congrats Bonnie!!! love the red ;)
YAY!
Congrats on 400!
% then {color:red} then whatever word(’s) you want then % again (you have to have those { things and write out the words color:red or whatever color you want.
Is there olive ?
YAY!
Congratulations !!!
Congrats Bonnie! Even though I’m new to the hood I too gain something from the comments and PM’s. It’s great feeling connected to all these wonderful people eh.
Congrats! I think peoples’ stories are just as (if not more) interesting than the teas themselves. Here’s to another 400 :)
Happy 400!!!
great way to celebrate 400 reviews
%{color:fuschia}neato!!%{color:fuschia}
%{color:purple}neato!!%{color:purple}
neato!!
ugh why can’t I get it… lol
take out the last {color:purple} part
this is kind of fun!
yay!!!! way to go!!!
Oh Bonnie, happy 400th!! Thank you for entertaining us, but mostly, thank you for sharing your life experience with stories such as this one….
P.S: what’s going on here?? people are getting sooo crafty!! Having just learned how to insert bold characters, adding colors is quite overwhelming for me, even with instructions!! I won’t even try, sorry guys… as I’m also using an iPad, I look at Ashmanra’s comment and it it doesn’t seem to be such a successful experiment :-)
Bonnie… I tried that, and end up with a neato that wasn’t coloured lol
% then {color:red} then a word then %
congrats on 400!
Hope this works!
wahooo!!!
bonnie we all love you and your reviews you just keep up the post because i think you are able to describe much better than any of us and you truly give us an honest evaluation of any tea you try! we are all in your debt for your tasting notes and sharing your life experiences with us! i am sure this will receive a bunch of likes,but it is all due to you and your honesty and your love of tea and all of us that you associate and follow on this site. god bless ya girl!!!!
Put a ring on my finger mrmopar…oops yer taken already ;(
You’re a sweetheart Thanks! (Matches your car)
I Tim we can get to 400 comments lol. May there be 400 more notes at least from you Bonnie :)
Ugh Tim = think. Stupid auto correct
Congrats {color:red]Bonnie on the 400!
I always look forward to reading your reviews and getting swept away into a memory with you!
oops Thanks
I enjoy your posts! Keep writing
Congrats.
Congrats on 400! I love reading your reviews. :)
Great review, Bonnie! % {color:blue}Congrats on 400}!!
dang… I forgot the last %
%{color:blue} Congrats on 400!} %
oops…now I added an extra }
% {color:blue} Congrats on 400 %
Congrats on 400!
Yeah!
You rock!
You are so funny Terri!
Way to go Bonnie!!! :) Keep the great review and stories coming!
Happy 400!
Yay for 400!
Happy 400th review! :D
I am impressed! Red and 400 notes! Teach us how – you can’t leave us hangin’ like this!
Congrats Bonnie! Here’s to plenty more!
That is the most interesting tasting note I’ve ever read! Wow! I ordered this tea earlier this week, so I’m super excited now :)
Yay! And yes I agree I’m slowly getting to know the people I follow and I love the little notes and comments that have started. I love reading your reviews!
Congrrrrats!
{color:red} Great!
Oops! LOL! I did something wrong!
Maybe it doesn’t work on iPad?
Congrats!!!
http://redcloth.org/hobix.com/textile/
link to all the directions for all the doo dad’s
The link isn’t working for me and now I’m determined! lol
400! Congrats
THANKS!
let’s try
YAY!
congrats Bonnie!!! love the red ;)
YAY!
Congrats on 400!
% then {color:red} then whatever word(’s) you want then % again (you have to have those { things and write out the words color:red or whatever color you want.
Is there olive ?
YAY!
Congratulations !!!
Congrats Bonnie! Even though I’m new to the hood I too gain something from the comments and PM’s. It’s great feeling connected to all these wonderful people eh.
Congrats! I think peoples’ stories are just as (if not more) interesting than the teas themselves. Here’s to another 400 :)
Happy 400!!!
great way to celebrate 400 reviews
%{color:fuschia}neato!!%{color:fuschia}
%{color:purple}neato!!%{color:purple}
neato!!
ugh why can’t I get it… lol
take out the last {color:purple} part
this is kind of fun!
yay!!!! way to go!!!
Oh Bonnie, happy 400th!! Thank you for entertaining us, but mostly, thank you for sharing your life experience with stories such as this one….
P.S: what’s going on here?? people are getting sooo crafty!! Having just learned how to insert bold characters, adding colors is quite overwhelming for me, even with instructions!! I won’t even try, sorry guys… as I’m also using an iPad, I look at Ashmanra’s comment and it it doesn’t seem to be such a successful experiment :-)
Bonnie… I tried that, and end up with a neato that wasn’t coloured lol
% then {color:red} then a word then %
congrats on 400!
Hope this works!
wahooo!!!
bonnie we all love you and your reviews you just keep up the post because i think you are able to describe much better than any of us and you truly give us an honest evaluation of any tea you try! we are all in your debt for your tasting notes and sharing your life experiences with us! i am sure this will receive a bunch of likes,but it is all due to you and your honesty and your love of tea and all of us that you associate and follow on this site. god bless ya girl!!!!
Put a ring on my finger mrmopar…oops yer taken already ;(
You’re a sweetheart Thanks! (Matches your car)
I Tim we can get to 400 comments lol. May there be 400 more notes at least from you Bonnie :)
Ugh Tim = think. Stupid auto correct
Congrats {color:red]Bonnie on the 400!
I always look forward to reading your reviews and getting swept away into a memory with you!
oops Thanks
I enjoy your posts! Keep writing
Congrats.
Congrats on 400! I love reading your reviews. :)
Great review, Bonnie! % {color:blue}Congrats on 400}!!
dang… I forgot the last %
%{color:blue} Congrats on 400!} %
oops…now I added an extra }
% {color:blue} Congrats on 400 %
Congrats on 400!
Yeah!
You rock!
You are so funny Terri!