New Tasting Notes
While I am a die hard Oolong guy, I must confess that in the depths of winter I look for very robust tastes, unlike the delicate oolong.
This mornings tea comes from the amazing folks at TeaGshwender – if you are here in Chicago, this is the best source for teas locally – and one of the best mail order sources as well. http://www.teamerchants.com is there link.
I brewed up in my Miracle (also available from TGsh) some of their Assam Mokalbari Garden 2nd Flush SFTGFOP1. 1.5 teaspoons per 8oz boiling water for 3 minutes. Burned Red/Orange in the cup, with an awesome malty nose. Complex taste – toffee, brown sugar, nuts, with a spicy after, and just enough astringency to make the next sip refreshing. Almost creamy mouthfeel.
I find myslef savoring and analyzing each sip. One of my freinds stated that after drinking this, there is no point in drinking other Assams, as they are just mere mortal knockoffs. I usually drink most blacks with a splash of milk to hold down the astringency – but this is one I can drink without, or with a touch of sugar, or practically any combo. Excellent, I highly recommend this one.
Earl Grey is the first tea I ever really fell in love with. I don’t drink it too too often, but it takes me back to such a specific time and place – a time when I realized how soothing and delicious tea could be. This is an excellent Earl Grey. The vanilla is creamy without being overpowering, and the bergamot is lively and fresh. This is great.
I will admit, while most consider Darjeeling the “champange” of teas, it has taken me a long time to appreciate them. Part of it was just my tastes lie elsewhere (Oolongs!!) and coninue to evolve, part of it may be the hype some darjs get never lives up.
So when I went tasting/shopping at Wittard of Chelsea a couple of weeks ago in London – I was suprised that I walked out with mostly darjs. This one is from the Tukdah estate, a 1st flush super grade, whole leaf masterwork. The loose teas itself looks more like a full green or an oolong, and has that sweet/vegetal smell of short fermented tea. 1st flush = 1st picking of the year, and these are the tenderest, most delicate buds and leaves – usually that need short fermenting, and moderate drying.
A bright yellow green in the cup, with a delicate perfumey/tangy nose common to darjeeling, but also a light grassy green hint. The taste is soft, tangy, brightness – floral in the warm spring morning way. After has just a hint of astringency, with a light mouth feel. This is why Darj heads wait for spring 1st flush – this is pure heaven in a cup, and begs your finest bone china, and cucumber sandwiches and a dear friend to drink it with.
4tsp tea (this is a very loose teas) in 16oz boiling water 4 mintues in my “good” teapot.
The folks at Rishi teas have done a great job of making affordable vareitals availible – in this case their “china breakfast” whole leaf. this is a Yunnan red – a style that gained huge popularity in the west in the early 1900’s and for a long time was the basis for English “brekkie” blends until cost/politics drove them to more heavy assam/ceylon blends with less “Red” & Keenum.
Red Yunnan is more fermented than golden yunnans, both from the same base trees that also make Pur-eh’s I think goldens are fired less and rless as well.
Brewed 4 min with boiling water in my Miracle – This is red copper in the the cup, the big malty nose of yunnan, and I associate with “brekkie”. Malt and dark chocolate taste, with a little sour after prevelent of most Yunnans. Full body mouth feel, very little astringency. I like it with a touch of milk in the morning. This is a good brekkie.
I am playing with blending a little of this with some keenum and some assam and ceylon to get a full leaf “North side” brekkie.
Just started out blending with my collection, and haven’t yet ventured into blending my straight blacks. I have mostley China and Ceylon blacks, with some preblended brands that include assam and darjeeling. Any favorite brands of blacks that hold up to black blending well without getting lost, or over-powering?
There is certainly a wood or earthy-smell to it. The coloring is a medium brown-ish red almost. I thought this would be a really strong earthy taste but it evened out nicely. It has an interesting aftertaste tho…reminds me of something…just not sure what exactly. It’s pretty good.
The scent prior to steeping was pure peach. After steeping Peach and almost a hint of twig. The coloring is neat…a nice light brown. At first sip you get the peach taste but it’s not overpowering…towards the end you can get a bit of twig-taste, but just a hint. I would suggest this one to someone who is new to Oolong and enjoys the scent and undertone taste of peaches. A Delight!
The Vanilla aroma is that of a Vanilla Bean and not some average imitation flavoring. It is very strong…before, during, and after steeping. The coloring is wonderful. Since I am not usually a vanilla freak I was a tad afraid of what this would taste like based on the scent. After tasting…I have discovered that I LOVE it. Nicely done, Adagio!
I had this on the train home from my parents’. I had a 1st class ticket which means access to free coffee and tea. I’ve had a sampler of Kusmi teabags before and found the brand largely overrated. I haven’t changed my mind. It’s better than your average cheap teabags, but it doesn’t really live up to what people have said of it. Even this one, that is merely a blend of Darjeeling and Assam has a synthetic sort of hint to it. Could be from being stored right next to some bags with a jasmine tea in it, but with each bag sealed in an air tight foil satchel I kind of doubt it.
I don’t know whether to give it a thumbs up or thumbs down. I don’t hate it, but I wouldn’t buy it for myself.
Upon first sniff it’s true “chocolate covered strawberries” as described. During/After Steeping the “chocolate” scent is subtracted quite a bit. Strawberry scent is more prominent. But when you taste it with the taste and smell combined it’s like a “smoked” chocolate with a hint of strawberry. I really like it, tho. A good blend. Closer to a black tea than a flavored blast which I like. Worth a try, indeed!
