TeaSource

This maybe a fermented tea, but it’s unlike any pu-erh I’ve ever tasted. That being said, I really liked this tea. It tasted like roasted grass to me, and unlike any Hojicha. I get the mahogany notes too. Not really tasting the grapes or much sweetness. The tea is complex and different from black or pu-erh teas.

I’d agree with the description of TeaSource’s site that it’s “sweet, smooth” although I don’t detect the citrusy or spicy note. In fact, my major complaint with the green teas I ordered this time (their House Green and Double Yunnan Needle as well as this one) is that they don’t seem to me to have much personality. In that sense any of the three might make good introductions to green tea—they’re not too grassy, they’re drinkable, and they’re … inoffensive. But none impressed or would have me ordering them again. I like this one slightly more than the other two, but not as much as several other green teas I’ve tried from TeaSource.

The description on TeaSource calls it “herbaceous” and “smooth.” It’s mild and not grassy. My aunt calls it “watery” (and no this didn’t have more water or less tea than usual) but this is a very light tea and to me doesn’t have much personality—not one I’d order again given I prefer several other green teas from TeaSource.

I had a very different impression of this tea than that in the other tasting note. I don’t taste the vegetal/broccoli note—which for me is a good thing. I did find it astringent, even bitter, and I steeped it at a lower temperature than the other reviewer, at 160 F, the low end of what was recommended, rather than 190, which is the temperature more for an oolong or Darjeeling. But really, a higher temperature and longer steeping time should make it more bitter, not less. It’s drinkable, and my aunt liked it, but among the several green teas I’ve tried from TeaSource, thjs is no favorite and not one I’d order again. Among their unflavored Green Teas I prefer Houjicha, Iccha Kariban , Clouds and Mist and Pi Lo Chun Imperial.

We did enjoy this tea, but I feel mixed about recommending it, since we didn’t love it, prefer other Darjeelings, and don’t intend to order this again. But that might be more about my tastes and my aunt who I share the teas with than this tea itself. Our favorite tea is a Darjeeling, but it’s a Summer flush. This is a spring flush, and definitely on the oolong rather than black side of Darjeeling: light, rather flowery, fruity, honeyed, mellow, but with a bit of astringency compared to most oolongs.

This was a wonderfully light, sweet tea. Almost tasted like I had added a touch of honey to it. It’s now one of my favorites. And it is fun to see a tea that visually looks a little different. Instead of shredded leaves, this is small, silver bud tips. I ordered a pound of it and will share with friends. I’m trying to get a dedicated group of tea drinkers started in my area so we can meet and try teas and talk about teas…a tea club.

The dry leaf smells like a spice shop. I smell spearmint and caraway seed. The moss green colored leaves look naturally dried with nothing else done to them, minimal processing.
The liquor didn’t gain color until around 4 minutes at 165F. The tea is like white tea, a very light color tint to the water. A very light yellow green.
The flavor is spearmint with a touch of caraway seed just like the leaves smell. I like this because it is subtle. I do not detect the roasted corn notes that Tea Source did so I would be interested in what temp they used because their brew suggestions say between 160-180. I bet they went lots higher than I did. I will try higher temps next time.
Nonetheless, I’m glad I brewed this low and slow because it tastes very nice!! Similar to a mint touched white tea and a good one for the cupboard.

Second Steeping — Kept it at 165 and brewed 5 minutes. There are just small amounts of mint now but still light, cleansing, and refreshing. I am getting a bit of tannin to my tongue now. I think a second steeping is all I would do for this leaf.
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7/25/14
Had a little of this today. Very mild and light. Like a green tea in scent and appearance and touches of white tea qualities. Flavor is mostly vegetal I guess but it is so light and subtle.

This is my first pu-erh ever! And I really liked it – my favorite from the Steepster Select box besides the roasted buckwheat tea. The tea tastes complex and balanced, not too earthy. Even the first steeping has a lot of depthy. I like the grape notes and the gentle astringency.

I love the special day they pick this tea and how prized it is.
The dry leaves smell minty , not vegetal. I think this might be my first Shincha so I only know how Gyokuro is and they look very similar with the grass-like thin strands.
It has the light spring-green colored liquor that is my favorite color. The wet leaves look like chopped green spinach or herbs.
The liquor has a faint scent of vanilla then lima bean and green spring pea come in stronger.
The flavor is really excellent. It has the slightest vanilla flavor as well with lima bean, pea, and a buttery mouth feel and note. There is an umami end with a salt note. This is Springalicious!!!!!!!! An excellent one for my cupboard.
This tea is exactly as described by Tea Source which I like. I like to know that I can trust the tasting notes and will buy from them again some time.

I read about Shincha and it means “new tea” and is the first picked, that it is that year’s earliest tea, and is timely and seasonal.

I steeped this first for 2 minutes then after the leaves opened up, all my other steepings were short as 1 minute or less to keep the tea from being burned or bitter.

From my Steepster Select box March 2014. You’re gonna hate me for saying this, but all oolongs taste alike to me. WELL…all GOOD oolongs taste alike to me. I don’t notice a difference between this guy and the Iron Goddess we sell at Tea Hugger. Mayhaps the Fuijan Provence is steady in its water/soil quality so teas out of that region are similar. Mayhaps tea is complicated. Mayhaps I should have tasted our Iron Goddess side by side with this little Orchid. (Though “should” is the dirtiest of dirty words there is, y’know.)

Anyway, my tips are:
Don’t oversteep
Add a sprinkle of sugar to bring out the sweetness of the leaves

This was my favorite in the March 2014 ship of Steepster Select. My husband agreed – it really did live up to the tasting note it came with: “Silky mouthfeel with fruit and honey overtones.” Wow! The instructions said it can be steeped up to 5 times, but I thought it lost all the flavor by the 4th brew. But still, it had a lot of flavor.

This was one of my top two in the March 2014 shipment of Steepster Select. It had a beautiful floral note in the first brew, with a bit of melon, and a slight licorice in the after taste. It lost flavor fast though – it did not have any flavor left by the third brew. Still worth it for the first two brews!

The dry rolled balls have a subtle scent of dried cherries, a nice natural sweet smell.
The brew instructions had a lower temperature range (155-165F) for this than I’ve ever used for a white tea so I went with 160F because that’s as low as my kettle goes.
The leaves did not unfurl as much as I thought they would probably because of the lower temp. They appear to be chopped and then rolled. The brewed leaves look like chopped cooked frozen spinach. They have not unfurled all the way so they are still in balls that are falling apart. I am gonna give this one a second steeping because more flavor is rolled in there.
The liquor has the distinctive white tea champagne color and this one is a golden and darker white tea.
The flavor is good. It is subtle sweetness and mainly tastes like honey with a tiny hint of dried cherry.

Second Steeping – kept it at 160F for 2 minutes. The leaves have mostly fully unfurled now and the liquor is a deeper champagne color. The flavor has evolved to include a very interesting note. I had to get into my spice cabinet and start smelling because I could not figure out what that note was. It was closest to sumac and blue poppy seeds. A sweet spice note mixed with the dried cherry note. The second steeping turned this into a different tea because the first was devoted to the outside of the balls and then second brought out the surprise of the inside of the leaves.

I really enjoyed this tea experience and a white tea pearl type (non-jasmine) must always be kept in my cupboard now!!!!!!!

6/2/14
I brewed this today in a different pot than I did last time. Still Western but a 22 oz ceramic pot. Flavors are the same and there is definitely a sumac note to this tea. A sweet note too which makes it good!

Got this in my Steepster Select box this month. Oh joy!!! I’m typically a black tea drinker, by my day has been made by this special little white pile o’ fuzz. The buds look like pussywillows! Steepster recommends you use the whole amount they give you for one cup and I think they’re right. I only used about 2/3 of the envelope and wish I would have used the whole thing. My internal tea clock tells me I brewed it for about 4-5 minutes. As soon as the tea starts steeping, you can SMELLLLL the sweet floweriness of this cup. The flavor is the same—sweet flowery happiness.

If I had it to do all over again, I’d do 3tsp in my mug and keep the brew time around 4-5 min.

This tastes rather one dimensional to me.
It isn’t until it starts to cool that you start to get any floral or fruity notes.
This is not a bad tea, but certainly not great either.
I prefer to begin sipping my tea hot…While it did not deserve to hit the drain,
It is undeserving of accolades…JMHO

The first steep was flowery and had a nice caffeine punch. Second steep had a bit of honey sweetness added, and the third steep was just a bit too diluted for my taste. I’m not a big fan of white tea, too delicate, and too much caffeine to drink a whole lot without getting jittery. That being said, I did enjoy this cup.

What a lush and decadent tea
This feels like silk in your mouth and the fragrance
of the tea when your are drinking it is a subtle, floral, Heaven .
This has a divine, but not overpowering fruity flavor
with hints of honey.
The entire experience of my nose in the teacup inhaling deep & slow…
to holding the liquor in my mouth savoring each mouthful,
is delicate, yet intoxicating.
This is a Truly Exceptional tea.
Highest recommendation ;-)

oh this tea is a delightful surprise!
first brew: 6 oz of water at 160. very subtle, but very flavorful, if that makes any sense. it’s got a lot of flavor, but like, the volume is turned way down.
second brew: 6 oz of water at probably 180 ish, a little longer. ooooh, flavor turned up a wee bit! delish!
third brew: 6 oz of water at just off boiling – about the same as second steep, although flavors have changed from “YUM” to “huh, now it’s a lot less sweet and perhaps a little … salty?”

overall, really like this unusual tea – definitely one to linger over, not to try to slam, as the quietness of the flavors are conducive to a slow exploration, not a wham bam thank you ma’am slurping. the dry leaf is crazy looking (and beautiful!), but smells rather MEH which is probably because it’s the gentle steeping that finally draws out the flavors. i recommend this tea, although i don’t believe i’d re-stock. not that i’d say no if someone sent me some.