74

Followed MST’s parameters, using 5g, 100mL, 195F, rinse followed by 6 steeps of 30/45/60/70/?/??s

The dry leaf had a faint aroma of honeyed brown toast, red plum and rose. Warming and rinsing released notes of brown sugar and hints of cream and pear. Light liquor aroma. The taste was a little stronger than the aroma, mellow with notes of brown toast, honey, plum, raisin, persimmon sweetness and faint cinnamon and rose. Later, the toast turned into barley and malt, the sweetness turned more toward turbinado sugar and some very light butter and wood presented. Aftertastes and texture were also quite light with only a hint of astringency. Toward the end, I did notice some waxiness lining my tongue.

Overall, I found this to be a very mellow, unfussy tea. It didn’t strike me as being exceptional in any way, nor did its Alishan provenance stand out. One thing I did appreciate was the lack of any overpowering lingering flavors from the roast. I would recommend this tea to somebody looking for a daily drinker roasted red oolong.

Something more exciting than my opinion of this tea — my motorcycle caught on fire. Luckily it was just in the driveway being worked on and there was no damage at all to the bike but I did rip some fingernails in the process of trying to access a fire extinguisher. Also luckily my friend put out the fire with a water hose so I didn’t have to clean up any nasty extinguisher powder. I’m looking forward to getting this old girl running again and going for a day ride along the cheese trail.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 0 min, 30 sec 5 g 3 OZ / 100 ML
Mastress Alita

Okay, my car has been an absolute pain recently (five trips back to the machanic all during the last month) but at least — to my knowledge! — it never set itself on fire. I’ll consider that a win.

derk

Geez, I hope all the issues with your car are now resolved. I won’t get into the details of what caused my bike to catch fire because I’m sure that’s all boring mechanic speak but it went POOF! and then I was like OH SHIT. I went through so much work moving it to my new home and thought ‘It ain’t gonna end like this.’ Had a hearty laugh at the expense of my friend after the fire was extinguished.

Mastress Alita

I honestly am not sure if Cargate is done yet or not. My Dad thinks I should get a (new) used car, but I don’t have all that many miles on my current one and worry about getting screwed badly by shady salesmen because I know nothing about cars, the way I obviously got screwed by the mechanics. Sigh.

Well, as long as you are both laughing about it and there isn’t another California fire started by a motorbike… I’ve only ever combusted things in my microwave with my complete lack of culinary skill. :-)

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Mastress Alita

Okay, my car has been an absolute pain recently (five trips back to the machanic all during the last month) but at least — to my knowledge! — it never set itself on fire. I’ll consider that a win.

derk

Geez, I hope all the issues with your car are now resolved. I won’t get into the details of what caused my bike to catch fire because I’m sure that’s all boring mechanic speak but it went POOF! and then I was like OH SHIT. I went through so much work moving it to my new home and thought ‘It ain’t gonna end like this.’ Had a hearty laugh at the expense of my friend after the fire was extinguished.

Mastress Alita

I honestly am not sure if Cargate is done yet or not. My Dad thinks I should get a (new) used car, but I don’t have all that many miles on my current one and worry about getting screwed badly by shady salesmen because I know nothing about cars, the way I obviously got screwed by the mechanics. Sigh.

Well, as long as you are both laughing about it and there isn’t another California fire started by a motorbike… I’ve only ever combusted things in my microwave with my complete lack of culinary skill. :-)

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Bio

This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. And thus I step away.

Eventual tea farmer. If you are a tea grower, want to grow your own plants or are simply curious, please follow me so we can chat.

I most enjoy loose-leaf, unflavored teas and tisanes. Teabags have their place. Some of my favorite teas have a profound effect on mind and body rather than having a specific flavor profile. Terpene fiend.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Georgia, Japan, Nepal and Darjeeling. While I’m not actively on the hunt, a goal of mine is to try tea from every country that makes it available to the North American market. This is to gain a vague understanding of how Camellia sinensis performs in different climates. I realize that borders are arbitrary and some countries are huge with many climates and tea-growing regions.

I’m convinced European countries make the best herbal teas.

Personal Rating Scale:

100-90: A tea I can lose myself into. Something about it makes me slow down and appreciate not only the tea but all of life or a moment in time. If it’s a bagged or herbal tea, it’s of standout quality in comparison to similar items.

89-80: Fits my profile well enough to buy again.

79-70: Not a preferred tea. I might buy more or try a different harvest. Would gladly have a cup if offered.

69-60: Not necessarily a bad tea but one that I won’t buy again. Would have a cup if offered.

59-1: Lacking several elements, strangely clunky, possess off flavors/aroma/texture or something about it makes me not want to finish.

Unrated: Haven’t made up my mind or some other reason. If it’s pu’er, I likely think it needs more age.

bicycle bicycle bicycle

Location

California, USA

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