8 Tasting Notes
I was out of town and I drank a lot of this over the weekend. Compared to many other teas it doesn’t hold a candle, but I still prefer it to coffee. Steeping and brewing times I left blank because really…who cares with this one? You drink it because it’s there and that’s all. I give it points for being there when I need my tea fix. That’s all I can say for it.
This is my first 100% rating on a tea yet! I absolutely loved everything about this tea. The smell of the dry tea leaves, the brewed leaves, the liquor, and (of course) the exquisite flavor! It’s like drinking a calorie-free almond cookie. The cinnamon flavor is not overwhelming and it allows the almond to stand out more prominently. This is my new favorite tea (for now. Haha!).
Preparation
To be perfectly honest, I do not know that The Tea Emporium was the true distributor of the Orchid Oolong that I tasted because I got this tea on the run at a local tea shop. Nevertheless, this is hands down the worst tea I have ever tasted. It had such a strong flavor of wheatgrass that it was barely palatable for me. I am sure, however, that my displeasure with the tea is not related to the quality, steeping time, or other brewing procedures. I just didn’t personally care for the flavor. Even with the addition of sweetener it was just plain nasty.
Wow! I didn’t have high expectations for this tea because the aroma of the dry tea leaves was only moderately appealing to me. However, once I smelled the brewed leaves, I knew that something yummy was sitting in my cup! I really like how the flavors in this tea balance each other nicely. One sip tastes mostly of cinnamon, the next gives you a strong dose of cardamom, and so on. Oh so satisfying!
Preparation
I don’t know what to say about this tea other than that I liked it just fine. I didn’t make it myself. I simply tried it at a tea and coffee shop, so the best brewing and steeping times are still unknown to me. Anyway, I will be purchasing this tea soon and I plan to give it a more thorough evaluation then.
I really enjoyed my experience with this tea today! I was very careful to follow the instructions provided to me by a professional source and I made a great effort to adhere to ideal steeping and brewing procedures. The overall flavor of the tea was a bit better than when I was more negligent in my steeping and brewing. I was also pleased to discover that Jing provides quality Silver Needle buds. Yes, I found a leaf or two in the bag, but I won’t hold it against them. Haha.
Let’s talk aromas and flavors. Aroma: mostly earthy smells like hay and jasmine, but with some light sweet undertones. Flavor: like water (at first, of course), but the delicate sweetness comes through. The finish is not very strong, and why would it be? Everything about the flavor, body and liquor is light and subtle. In sum, it’s a very pleasant tea. However, I would not turn to this every morning. I need more poignant flavors to wake me up than Yin Zhen can provide. :)
Preparation
I steep mine at 3 as well- the flavor really pops! But 165? will have to try that. What’s your source?
Harney and Sons Guide to Tea.He actually recommends 175 for this tea, but he also mentions that white teas are generally good in water from 160-190 degrees. I shot for a lower temperature to avoid scorching the tea. Maybe those extra 10 degrees make a big difference in flavor, though. I don’’t know.
Oh ok. I normally do 180. I’ll try lowering the temp.
Let me know what you think. If it’s better higher, I’ll raise the temp a bit.
This is generally considered an exquisite white tea, from my understanding. I enjoy this tea most when I am not in the mood for anything too overwhelming (in terms of flavor and body). I definitely recommend this to anyone interested in experimenting with white teas. Tomorrow morning I plan to drink this tea “correctly” by implementing the ideal brewing and steeping procedures. I want to approach this tea properly in order to do it justice.
