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This is my first time trying a Korean tea, and as far as I know, this is the first one Distinctly Tea has had in stock. It is a bit different from what I’ve tasted in Chinese and Japanese green teas, which is what I was hoping for. It tastes like a sencha but without much astringency and a strong nori seaweed flavour. I imagine that might turn some people off, but it really is quite drinkable.

Not a very good Yin Zhen. A mainly stemmy taste that only has a fraction of the aromatic punch you’d expect. It’s not a bad introduction to white teas, but every other Yin Zhen I’ve had has been much more impressive.

Grassy and vegetal, with a more savoury acidic, almost salty flavour I can’t put my finger on. Not quite my thing, but tastes good. Yellow liquor.

The sweet, roasted flavour of the puffed rice dominates the taste of this tea. Not bad, but some more tea leaves or less rice would have made for a more even flavour. Pale yellow liquor.

Dark, malty, and sweet, although not as malty or flavourful as higher grades of Keemun. Still, very pleasant for an everyday Chinese black tea.

I don’t taste the darjeeling flavours myself, but there’s definitely some maltiness. Other than that, it has the body of an Indian or Ceylon black, with a bit more sweetness. Tasty, for what it is, but I was expecting more flavour given the tea’s grade.

Poor grade of pu erh. Some earthy flavours, but they’re overshadowed by a strong fishy stench. Distinctly Tea doesn’t seem to have a good selection of pu erh teas, and after trying this one, I think I’ll try a store that has a wider range for pu erh.

Edit: Over the past year or so, Distinctly Tea’s selection of pu erhs has been expanding. No sheng pu erhs yet, unfortunately, but I think there are some better shou pu erhs there now.

Honey, roasted grain, and roasted nut flavours. Yellow to orange liquor, depending on steep time. This tea can take relatively long steep times for an oolong, developing more body with a bit of bitterness. Doesn’t have the flavour complexity one would get from a higher grade of ti kuan yin, but still quite pleasant.