44 Tasting Notes
Outstanding tea and certainly a keeper! The first impression on my palate was strongly of nutmeg and basil, however such sensation did not mask the original tea taste, rather lifting it to a higher level. It is exotic tea no doubt, yet it is excellent for every occasion. I was offered a sample and this was truly most welcome surprise. The depth and complexity are just unbelievable. The tea taste changes little even after 3-4 steeps, only mellows revealing additional earthly notes, but these are not ordinary, rather like a forest after the rain presenting a whole new aromatic spectrum.
I am going to give it 5 stars!
Preparation
The second brewing added mellow depth to the tea. Reminds me much of Bailin Gongfu tea from Teavivre, less chocolate notes. I can smell osmanthus flowers and burnt sugar. Quite a sensation!
The more I drink this tea, the more I fall in love. And the price is astonishingly affordable. I am beginning to think that more expensive not necessary means better when it comes to teas.
The tea can be brewed at least 5 times. Stays beautiful to the very end.
Preparation
This is certainly not a tea to be drunk hot. May make a good iced tea depending how it is brewed. But I was not looking for an iced tea. So, my first review stands. The tea is overrated and overpriced. The quality is superficial. Already at second steep the tea tastes and smells like a dirty wet rag. Interesting impression, but this is all.
Preparation
Very good tea! I did not expect much from the Ebay vendor, but the price was right and I thought to myself ‘why not’. I was nicely surprised. What a tea! Extremely fragrant, with complexity of flavors rarely seen today. The first brewing produced nice orange color and aroma reminiscent of aloes wood. Quite a treat. Must buy more! But let’s see first what happens at the next steep.
Preparation
Aw man I have that one too. It blew me away the very moment I took a first sip. It’s somewhat pricey though.
Not really, the price from Rebecca is quite low. It is really a nice tea and the best for the price. The secret is not to use too hot water, but just below the boiling point. I wait about 3-5 minutes to allow for cooling. Another thing is never to steep too long, or the tea becomes bitter. But you probably know all this. Rebeca also auctions 1oz. bags starting at $1. If you are lucky you can win a nice sample for few dollars.
I did bid often and still have a few unopened packs somewhere around, but just recently Rebecca told me that she doesn’t ship to Bosnia anymore…bummer. I have an unopened bag left so I’ll try it gongfu style – so far I was brewing it with boiling, 3 min, single steep, so it’s expensive for my standard, unless I’m trying to win low in auctions.
Yunnan perfection! The taste is smooth, sweet. Beautiful peach fragrance. Steeping in zisha teapot makes it even better. Such complexity is rare in Yunnan teas. Fruity, zesty, honey sweet, not flat even after many steeps. This is an ideal tea for every occasion. Clay teapot strongly recommended. Do not use boiling water. Wait at least 3 minutes for water to cool down. Pour vigorously over the leaves. This is a keeper for sure!
Preparation
First impression is that of a chamomile tea. Nice taste, but it was not supposed to be an herbal tea. After 10 minutes on the warmer, the juice begun to taste like a cough sirup. Less sweet of course. No, this is not the most pleasant sensation. I have tried the tea in my new zisha cup and also in a glass. Zisha makes the tea more bitter, it tastes better when drunk from a glass cup. The second steep made the tea much better. Now it is grassy green, fragrant, minty. It also tastes better upon cooling.
I will try again tomorrow. Another container, perhaps longer brewing time and less hot water. So far, I am not overly impressed.
Preparation
Beautiful tea like a finest perfume. Smells indeed like peony flowers. Perhaps someone could use it for making perfume. I have tried this tea just once from the sample I received from Teavivre, however I was instantly impressed. The taste is gentle, not grassy, and the sweetness stays on a palate for a long time.
A+ for this one!
Nutmeg and basil! Very interesting. I really need to try more Taiwanese oolongs.
How many steepings did you end up getting out of this one (and was this in a pot/gaiwan)?
Also- how was your experience buying from Zhi? I’ve looked at their site a few times, but my parents actually live in Austin TX, so I’ve been thinking about visiting Zhi’s location the next time I go down.
I was able to get 4 good steepings. I would probably get more, but I do not like to get to the point where I have to taste the base notes. This tea was so surprising! I did not expect it to be so strange and at the same time so quickly addictive.
Often exotic tasting teas do not hold too well when it comes to a second or third steeping. But this was was an exception. There was no nutty notes which are usually a signature of cheaper teas ( the nutty taste is due to the oil residue left from mechanical processing ). This tea instantly became my favorite. And the price is right too.
Regarding my experience with Zhi teas: very good. The tea arrived very fast and I had no problem with communication. I will certainly return to buy more tea.
But I am also looking to find good suppliers in China. It is not easy, but not impossible.
About gaiwan: I do not use gaiwan, but brew tea directly in my zhisha teapot using infuser which I remove after few seconds or when the right potency is achieved. I have individual teapots for each tea.
Interesting! I’ve never heard of someone using an infuser in an yixing pot. Is the pot very big? I’m also not sure what you mean when you say, “I do not like to get to the point where I have to taste the base notes.” I want to hear more about what you mean by that. Personally, I feel like good teas are just getting started on their long journey around steeping four! But my favorite part of drinking tea is seeing it change as I drink it gong-fu-style over an hour or two.
Thanks for the Zhi Tea recommendation. I will have to visit their shop to see if they are as nice to me in person as they were to you online.
Hi, I use a tiny or a very small teapot without infuser when brewing tea only for myself. When for the guests or family, I use iron tetsubin teapot with infuser. Otherwise, what is also my standard, I use larger zisha teapot with the infuser and drink my tea from to a cup after I remove infuser with the leaves to reuse it later again. I have a collection of small zishi teapots to drink from them directly