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derk drank Laoshan Green by Whispering Pines Tea Company

1548 tasting notes

This Laoshan green arrived from White Antlers in a pinecone-stamped mylar-lined brown paper pouch with the tea name handwritten. It must be an old’n, older’n my first order with Whispering Pines maybe 4 years ago.

Small yellowish grey-green-brown curls of leaf smell like sweetgrass and maybe violet? Pale yellowish green liquor with a lightly sweet and umami aroma that reminds me of cooked beef and onions. While it may sound strange, that aroma is what really drew me in to a different company’s Imperial Laoshan Green. It stimulates my stomach rather than being off-putting. The taste, I imagine, has suffered from the years. It reminds me of a sweetgrass incense braid and very lightly sweet mineral water with hints of nuttiness, umami and violet. The mouthfeel is nothing noteworthy but I was taken by surprise with a moderate sugarcane returning sweetness. Body-warming.

I’m sure this tea was better in its prime. It was nice to try another Laoshan green despite its age. Laoshan produces probably what is my favorite type of green tea.

Flavors: Buffalo Grass, Leeks, Meat, Mineral, Nutty, Sugarcane, Umami, Violet

Preparation

175 °F / 79 °C 1 min, 0 sec 2 g 7 OZ / 200 ML

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tea-sipper
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YES Laoshan green is the best green.

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tea-sipper
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YES Laoshan green is the best green.

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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.

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