Tao Tea Leaf

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Recent Tasting Notes

I took my sample of this along to work and made it there. I’m regretting not saving it for more ideal conditions, though. It was a nice, standard Dan Cong as far as I could tell; I didn’t manage to taste much more of a nut/almond note than from any other Dan Cong I’ve tried.

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86

first off, i believe i updated the tea info correctly for this excellent blend… it took some digging on tao tea leaf’s site, but if it’s wrong feel free to lecture, lol.

the description for this tea is bang on… it’s a sweet souchong, for which i am hugely grateful. a number of us have been discussing allergies on here tonight and one of my many is smoke. incense, cigarettes, the oven being cleaned. i think as a result i dislike/can’t tolerate smoke in tea. to my delight this one was just the right mix of sweet and smoke.

thank you so much scribbles for this great little baggie of surprise. i am enjoying it as we speak! lovely with cream and sugar (i do smoke creamed, lol)… i will try it all by it’s lonesome another day. today i crave my standard comforts. it has been another looooong medical day.

scribbles, is tao tea leaf giving you an extra discount or a stipend at all? because i will buy this one in future. xoxo

steep 2: less sweet but no increase in smoke. takes on a marine tone, but not unpleasantly so… like a sweet mild version of seaweed. there is also an echo of puerh in it… again, very gently. just a hint.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 5 min, 0 sec
scribbles

Next time I go to Tao, I’ll pick some up for you.

TeaLady441

I think you said somewhere that the image uploads don’t work when editing teas? I’ve found that if you update it, save it, and then JUST upload the picture (and upload – don’t link it), it’ll work. I just did it for this one: http://steepster.com/teas/zen-tea/38921-shui-hsien-organic-oolong

JustJames

thank you cavocorax, i’ll do that next time!

scribbles my dearest, do not spend Your tea budget on Me. you are lovely, but i can buy my own tea, LOL.

there is something winging its way to you by the way =0P

scribbles

Too much!! :)

JustJames

hah! too bad! xo

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93
drank Da Hong Pao by Tao Tea Leaf
1040 tasting notes

I spent the day at work enjoying this tea. I’ve had it before, and I don’t think I appreciated it as much the first time around. This is a top shelf oolong. I’ve been drinking several different versions of this lately and this one is hands down my favorite. It is really pricey, and I know that shouldn’t factor into it, but somehow it does. Is this twice as good as others I’ve tried (it costs twice as much as some), I’m not sure, but it is really good. If you want to splurge on an excellent oolong – this would be a good choice. I’ve upped my rating a little bit and I would probably rate this even higher if it wasn’t for the cost.

scribbles

Am so happy you are enjoying their teas!! I agree…pricey, but tasty…when off hiatus in next month you can expect more…will pm you before I visit their shop.

Dexter

LOL thank you!!!! – NO – you don’t have to do that. Spend your money on tea for you!!! What I would like is a catalog. Can’t wait for their new web site to get up and running. See what else they have. I think what is currently listed is only some of the amazing stuff they sell.
This is my favorite Red Robe style oolong. Jin Ping Gong Fu is my favorite black. Their tea is just amazing. Some of the others I thought I really liked just don’t compare. Thank you for introducing me.

JustJames

this was lovely…

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93
drank Da Hong Pao by Tao Tea Leaf
1040 tasting notes

I received this from the amazing scribbles. Thank you so much.
I’ve been drinking the Tealux version of this tea for most of the evening and was quite enjoying it.
Then I tried this one (thank you scribbles for sending both samples so I could compare side by side). This is a much better tea. I didn’t understand that the other one was rough around the edges until I tried this. This is not as metallic, smoother, nicer. This is a really good oolong. It’s just easy to drink, everything a Big Red Robe oolong should be – at least in my world.
Thanks again scribbles for letting me try these two great teas.

Edit: I spoke too soon. :(( This was really nice on the first and second steep. Steep 3 was starting to get astringent and has that “such the moisture out of your mouth” feeling that I don’t like. This is the better tea on the first steep, but quickly looses that smoothness. I won’t be doing a fourth steep.

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92

I just want to start by saying that I received this tea today in the most amazing mystery swap box from scribbles. Thank you so much for sending me some amazing teas that I can’t wait to try.
This is a pu’erh lovers pu’erh. It is not for the timid or the meek. This tea is big, bold, dark, in your face pu’erh. I like it. It’s more woody than earthy. It is a tiny bit astringent, but that’s ok in the bold flavors. The astringency increased as the tea cools, I liked it better really hot, than later in the cup. The mini-tuocha breaks apart in the first steep, the leave just float up off of it. It’s beautiful to watch. I did think that it was a bit thin – not sure how to explain, it wasn’t thick enough on the tongue. I know I’m talking about the texture of flavored water, how weird is that, but that’s the only way I can explain it. For the big bold flavors, it needed to feel thicker in the mouth. I don’t think this is the most complex or refined pu’erh I’ve ever tasted, but it is just fine for a Wednesday evening.

graceatblb

Sounds delicious. And I totally get you about the mouthfeel. Shu should have a thicker texture like thinned out maple syrup. I often feel disappointed when the flavor doesn’t match up to the mouthfeel.

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92

I am on a tea reviewing roll today!!

I LIKE this a lot!!! Probably because I do drink coffee, and the sronger the better! This brews up to a dark espresso colour, which did not scare me a bit, although I knew I needed to add cream to it.

This is so smooth, mellow and nutty. I’m on my second steeping and no flavour has been lost. I will get another steep out of this, as for a fourth? Yet to be determined. Yeah, I’m done reviewing. I’m just gonna sit back and enjoy this one.

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65

this tea evolves with distinct changes from bag opening to sipping.

-when i opened the bag i smelled roasted coconut with some oolong in the background.
-once the water was added the evolution began, but not in a way i would have predicted: the colour didn’t deepen much but took on a milky hue AND the smell went from a fierce coconut to a lesser coconut with undefinable florals.
-a 6 minute steep because i like a robust tea and this one stayed quite pale.
-cream and sugar because it is the common way i take all but greens.
-on the tongue: i taste coconut and a VERY light oolong, no bitterness, with a refined floral smell at the same time.
-the sip is smooth, as is the caffeine (as opposed to sticky on the tongue).

nicely done tao tea leaf! and a thank you to scribbles for sharing this little gem!

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 6 min, 0 sec

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21

much thanks to scribbles for this tea experience!

i really do enjoy puerhs, overall, but this one (to my surprise) was too much for me!

within about 30 seconds of steeping the water in my cup went the colour of coffee and i couldn’t see through the sides of the cup. total steep time was maybe a minute?

very heavy, very dense, heavy stick of caffeine on the tongue. i say this WITH cream in it! as i finished the last few sips i discovered there was an accumulation of syrup about 1/2 centimeter thick at the bottom.

it occurs to me that possibly the cooking process that takes place to form puerh bricks changed the nature of the tea that i usually enjoy so much. this tea company is also very young by my standards, having been established in 2009.

afraid i can’t give much of a taste reference other than the word ‘heavy’…. actually ‘HEAVY’ is more accurate. not sweet. not fruity. no liquor that i could pick up and the nutty flavour that normally accompanies puerhs was also undetectable.

again, not sure if it was the cooking process or the tea quality with one.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 1 min, 0 sec

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68

Sipdown tea #5! Thanks goes to yappychappy!
This pu erh is a little bit different from what I was expecting. It has more of a sweeter, fruity note to it. There is a bit of a smokey note to it, too. It almost reminds me of the fruity pu erh from The Tea Grotto. I liked it but it’s not my favorite.

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82

Oh buttered sweet vegetables how good you are. Okay this is by no means my favorite oolong but it was very nice. As I now know Baozhong/Pouchong is between oolong and green tea and the taste of the tea definitely reflects that. Resteeped well. Taste on the light side.
Met the owner at the Toronto Tea Festival and he and his employees were amazing. Their stand was definitely the best there and they had ~10 teas set up.

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 0 min, 30 sec

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86

A new favorite. Lovely fragrance and taste.

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 2 min, 0 sec

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87

I thought this tea showed all the flavors one wants from a well-made white tea. I was sorry when the sample Tao sent me was steeped out. I will order this from them if it shows up online.

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 2 min, 0 sec

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92

Aw yeah! second steep of this was so smooth.
I’ve tried it before, and it was a little meh. But the first cup was nicer than usual and I figured it’d be worth a shot, despite my sample being bought eons ago (at the boyfriend’s, totally forgot it was here).
The latest batch I have at home isn’t nearly as balanced. Ah well. C’est la vie

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92

I bought 25g of this even though my cupboard is woefully bursting, and I barely drink one or two cups a day (due to time constraints in this temp job), so when I do indulge, I feel kinda guilty. but it’s soooooo good! Now that I’ve lost my taste for assam, temporarily I hope, this blend has edged right in there.
It doesn’t help that I tend to throw a handful of teas in my bag and whatever it is I’ve brought, I drink for pretty much that week, or atleast a few days. So I really need to sit down, organize my stash, and suss out the samples that can be drunk down quick. I’m getting antsy without any sipdowns lately… and more on the way at Sils place right now… oy…

Oh, also, I added some Mate Guayasa and it barely made any difference. I can taste a hint of the earthiness in this second steeping. Yup, I’m sure I can find a more suitable way to use up the rest of my small sample!
Now if only I could find a way to make the Chinese Breakfast last longer. I’m done almost half the packet.

On another note, does anyone remember the Twinnings Chinese Breakfast that Tim Hortons used to offer, years ago? A friend of mine fell in love with it, and I’ve been trying to find her a suitable replacement.
Sooooo, I bought her some of this Chinese Breakfast and some Jasmine flowers to add a pinch of, from Tao’s. Apparently it’s quite good that way (not for me, I hate jasmine) but there is still “something” missing. Nevertheless she is happy with what I’ve come up with but I thought I’d put it out there to see if anyone remembers the original from Twinings, and can give me some pointers? I vaguely recall it myself…

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92

Wow. Queen Catherine? I am sorry but you have been struck off my shopping list.
This tea will do just fine as an alternative! It’s just the right amount of bold and malty, with a teeny pinch of smokiness.
I’m not sure of which specific teas are in here, but I can pick out some yunnan, pu-erh, and probably lapsang. A masterful combo!!
There was also a hint of that abrasiveness I find in some Asian black teas but I don’t care! I drank this bare, sans sugar or dairy, though it would do exceptionally well as my morning breakfast tea as well.
When (yes… I said WHEN!) my cupboard is manageable again, this is going on my must have at all times list.
Thank you Tao for the cup!! I really appreciate it!

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88

Heaven. Heaven in a cup, seriously. I need to get more of this, if there is any left.
It’s different today, fresher tasting, but then I think the shorter steep time made a difference. (two min)
This is one of those teas, like that thread mentioned, that is going to haunt me til I get more. I could mainline this stuff.
Edit: forgot about the second steep! first one is A+, and the second one… D+!
It’s… milky and has a soft mushroom taste. I once loved mushrooms but seem to have lost my taste for them. So… I am lowering the rating. Will see what a third steep brings :)
Edit again: third steep is a bit better. I added 1/4tsp sugar and it’s now a sweet cloudy tasting (clear liquid!) tea. The essence of mushrooms is hanging in the background though it is overshadowed by the sweet breadiness I’ve come to love in pu-erhs. Also, I am loving this much more when cooled. Bumping rating back up, slightly.
Fourth Steep: Sweet and clay like. Some bread notes, but mostly clay. Or was this the fifth steep? I lost track!

Bonnie

OK, WHY?! What does it tast like…not just feel…you have me wondering while you’re wandering!

Sil

We’ll just package some up and send it to you Bonnie, so you can experience it yourself lol. I’m pretty sure this is one of the local tea shops Inidigo frequents :)

Ze_Teamaker

I wonder if this is that really interesting tea called, Yue Guan Bai(Moon Light White). It mainly comes from the region it mentions and looks just like that one from another site. What they are not telling you is that supposedly when this tea is dried, instead of drying in the sun it drys when the moon is out; though it is mostly just done in complete darkness or at night time. So it sorta oxidizes it from the inside-out then vice versa.

Here is the link:
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/2012-Spring-Imperial-Pure-Old-Tree-Yue-Guan-Bai-Moon-Light-White-Tea-100g-EU-standard/802721_620710664.html

Indigobloom

Bonnie, see my first note :)
Sil, yep I picked it up on our tea date!

Indigobloom

Ze_Teamaker, could be! but the guy I bought it from, he sources it himself from the farmer so it might just be a similar tea if not the same. Also, it steeps up a mild hay colour and isn’t dark or red.

Ze_Teamaker

That’s true, I didn’t think about that….

Indigobloom

If I remember next time I see him, I’ll ask! :)

Bonnie

That would be Grrrreat! (channeling Tony the Tiger!)!

TeaBrat

sounds great!

Mark B

I’ve not had much luck with Pu’erh tea, but this one looks fascinating.

Indigobloom

LOL Bonnie, I love Tony! :P
Amy: It IS! Hopefully I can get my hands on more next season.
Mark B, what do you dislike about them?

Mark B

I just find them kinda earthy and flat, but then again I don’t have much experience with them. I’ve been trying to open my eyes up a bit by ordering a few samples. From the description I thought I’d enjoy Verdant’s Xingyang Golden Leaf 98 Shu Pu’er, but didn’t find it very satisfying. I have another from Teavivre called Fengqing Raw Pu’er from 2006, but haven’t gotten around to it yet.

Indigobloom

hmmm I think you might like some of the menthol-ish pu-erhs then. I haven’t got any of those on hand but I’ll keep my eye out for you! :)

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88

Yes please!! wow. It’s been a loooong time since I liked a Sheng. Uncooked is usually too light for me. I prefer the heavy stuff!
But this… was so good! The first infusion was amazing, with so many notes to it I know I’ll miss some.
First off, it was very sweet, and bready. but not like any bread I can name. Something about it was familiar, I just cannot pinpoint how!! agh, drives me nuts. I’ve been trying to figure it out all day. It had a certain depth to it as well, that I really enjoyed.
My fave part though, was the menthol. Oh yes, it was very refreshing and yet mild. Highly enjoyable.
Tao tells me that this is a limited edition, aged since 2007 so I feel very lucky to have tried it. Esp since I almost put it back when I saw that it was uncooked!
Thank you Tao for sharing your favourite tea!!
Anyhow, I must try the last of this in a Gawain. It deserves a Gawain. Seriously folks.
Rating: 96

On a side note, I’m still grinning from my tea date with fellow Steepsters yesterday… but I’m also a little freaked out by the motorcycle accident that happened right in front of us. Spun out swerving to avoid a turning car maybe fifteen feet from us and bounced on the pavement like a rag doll. The rider was ok, he got up and walked around, nothing broken and only a scraped knee. Still, my heart was on overdrive for almost an hr after. See, 20+ years ago, my cousin, passed away because of just such an accident and ever since, those machines have given me the creeps. Even now, I can’t shake the feeling that it could have been SO much worse. The motorcyclist had excellent reflexes and did just what he was supposed to do based on what friends who drive have told me… and yet here I am imagining all sorts of terrible scenarios. and today… I am missing my cousin.
Sorry for the essay. I just had to get that off my chest. Anyone who drives, please be careful!!

Daniel Scott

So sorry for your cousin! My uncle used to ride a motorcycle, but he finally had to give it up when he developed MS. Kind of a silver lining to the Dx, if you ask me…he does have a wife and a son…

Question, why are so many people now writing the rating into their reviews? Are the rating scales not working for some people, or is this a mass revolt against Steepster?

Indigobloom

thanks Daniel. I’m so glad your Uncle gave up the motorcycle. I’m sad to hear he’s got MS though. I hope he finds some meds that staves it off for a long time.
For some reason my browser doesn’t allow me to rate anymore. There is no happy face to drag across!

Bonnie

Oh dear! Poor Bloom! And yes…what’s with the rating being hidden?

Indigobloom

thx Bonnie. if I ever figure it out I’ll let you know! but I’ll tell ya one thing… my ratings have been more honest this way. I don’t feel any remorse over rating a tea I shouldn’t this way! (ie if I dislike it for reasons other than tea quality) it doesn’t lower the rating.

Daniel Scott

Thanks, Indigo. He seems to be doing pretty good. Apparently, California weather helps him a lot, so that’s where his family moved! We don’t see them in person much anymore, and it’s usually only his wife that comes up to Canada to visit, but we see a lot of their “backyard pool party” pictures on Facebook. You almost end up jealous, really. LOL.

Indigobloom

that makes sense! if I ever get MS, I’ll be sure to move to Cali :)
I love pool parties :P

TheTeaFairy

I can just imagine the trauma of witnessing that accident, knowing you lost a family member this way… I lost a dear friend this summer to a motorcycle accident, luck was not on his side. Glad the guy you saw was ok…

ashmanra

Oh, so sorry you saw that! When I see a motorcycle, I position my car to “protect” them from people who may not see them! Usually they take off and weave in and out of traffic, being smaller and more agile than most cars, but when I am near them I keep my eyes glued to them and do what I can! I guess it is partly because my hubby loves long distance road bicycling and i feel like he is vulnerable on those country roads that are 55 miles an hour!

Indigobloom

TeaFairy: I’m so sorry you lost your friend. That is so sad :(
Ashmanra: thanks, it was not something I’d want to relive. Tell hubby to stay safe!

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100
drank Da Hong Pao by Tao Tea Leaf
52 tasting notes

An incredibly fragrant tea, I feel like I’m sitting in front of camp fire or smelling the scent of wafting marijuana. Great mouth feel as well. I love this tea and my husband loves it even more.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 1 min, 0 sec

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86

Hrm. Not exactly the pu-er I was looking for(been trying to get tea high for the longest time now, though I did enjoy it very much.
I think my fave steep was the first one, out of the four.
Rich and smooth, reminded me very much of coffee. It had a deep hay scent to it, and tasted the way I’d imagine earth to be… only I’m sure it doesn’t taste “good” at all. It just that when I think of soil, a certain flavour profile pops into my head, even though I know it must be horribly inaccurate. Of course, the flavour was only a top level type, and never really reached down to that happy place. Besides that, it was slightly bready, and mildly sweet.
Anyhow, not very descriptive but there you have my first steep.
In the second through fourth steeps, it became progressively less earthy/sweet and more savoury like. Brothy, and salty I’d say. A touch too salty to be honest.
Next time I’ll add some sugar and see if that brightens it up a bit!

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90

When I pulled this out, I thought it was going to be an oolong. I mean, “Bai Chai” just sounds like an oolong-y sorta name. Surprised me that I was looking at a needle-thin green tea. I should read more.

Anyway…the liquor was clear and the taste alternated between grass and grape. Very close to Long Jing, methought.

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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86
drank Keemun Gongfu by Tao Tea Leaf
1759 tasting notes

This was the sample I took home from Saturday’s tasting. Now I regret not saving it for a gaiwan experience. Or maybe a true gongfu, as I think it really is meant to be brewed that way.
This time, I think I used too much leaf and not enough water. The first few steeps were intense!! strong and bold! So much that I had a hard time distinguishing notes. But… I did find a heavy sortof malty cocoa, it reminded me of wheat in some ways as well. In later steeps (I made it to 5!) the cocoa started to emerge more, and balance itself out with the malty wheat part.
Overall, I quite enjoyed it. I was a little surprised at how different I found it from their version of Golden Monkey!

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96
drank Silver Needle by Tao Tea Leaf
1759 tasting notes

This was my favourite out of all the teas I sampled today, and sadly also the first. WOW!! I wanted to take some home with me… but it was absurdly expensive and so I settled for something else instead. Until I drink down the rest of my teas there really is no justification in spending that much money on one tea.
Anyhow, the tea…
Tao brought out two varieties. One of them fresh, and the other from a 100 yr old bush, and then the leaves were aged. It was similar in flavour, if not a little more robust and less smooth.
The taste was sweet and deep, not laying on top or in the middle. I mean, the sweetness seemed to permeate the entire sip but not in an overwhelming way, but more balanced… it was a light tea after all. The sweetness lingered afterwards as well.
Such soft downy leaves! and that aspect seemed to translate into the tea somehow. It tasted soft, and round as well.
Second infusion was the best, a little sweeter and rounder and just oh so soooo very tasty.
Now I’m wondering if I should have just put it on my credit card… sighs

Bonnie

Soooo glad you had a wonderful time!!!

Indigobloom

thanks Bonnie! I have a feeling you would adore this shop :)

Bonnie

Mostly if we were having a tea time together my friend!

Indigobloom

awww Bonnie!! <3

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