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This tea is just ok, not a bad cup, but not very complex either. The wet leaf smells a bit like cinnamon, and it brews up to a nice coppery color. The first steeping was smooth with a bit of a metal tang, but overall, I’m not getting spice or other tastes. It’s like the tea has been smoothed of all it’s rough edges, including copper or astringency. Although it’s quite drinkable, I’m not sure I’d reach for it in the morning, maybe for an afternoon pick me up? I did use a bit more leaf than suggested, and I got some sweeter notes on the second steep, maybe a bit of that cinnamon taste is coming through. The third steep has faint echoes of both metallic tang and slight sweetness.

I brewed this stronger than suggested on the bag, and was happy with a stronger taste than the other teakruthi teas I have tried. The wet leaf smells like orange peels, I didn’t expect that. The first brew is tangy and metallic, but not in a harsh way. It reminds me of an Assam but a bit more complex. I’m not getting the orange I smell in the wet leaf, the first brew is all sharpness and tang. The second brew is softer on the metal tang and I am getting floral honeysuckle notes. The third brew is just weak tea with a copper aftertaste.

The dry leaf for this tea is light and fluffy and has a slightly nutty oolong scent. I brewed this western style, pretty weak for the first brew. I added more leaf for the second steeping and it’s a deep coppery color, but a delicate copper taste. It’s a smooth light metallic taste, a good afternoon pickmeup. Not something I’d reach for early in the morning as it brews nice and dark, but doesn’t taste very robust. I don’t think I’d seek out a tea this light for purchase, it’s just not very complex.

I was very happy to get some new tea to try, thanks for the samples, Lasith. This one has a definite metallic taste, not quite coppery but a sharpness to it. I think I could brew it stronger, I may try that with the next cup. I brewed western style with a tablespoon like the instructions said. There’s a bit of a harshness to this tea, maybe I’m used to mellower black teas from Yun nan. It did soften the metallic taste a bit when I put it in my go cup. I probably wouldn’t purchase this tea unless I wanted to blend it with another to smooth it out.

Got this one as a sample. It was roasty and smooth, not anything to make it stand out from other Wuyi Oolongs. I bet this would go well with grandpa style brewing. I might stick with big red robe which is usually my Oolong of choice and was in my order from Mandala. This tea was just ok for me. The third steep was a lot less flavorful than the first two.

This was my first order from SF Herb Co. and I was amazed at their low price per pound, and a bit dismayed at the shipping charge. This is not a company to be getting samples from, their minimum sizes are 1/2 pound or a pound. I was looking for some cheap drinkable tea as I have calculated in my head that I drink upwards of 10 pounds of tea a year and would like to lower my overall tea cost but still buy new or favorite types of expensive tea.
This Keemun is just ok. I expect a Keemun to be velvety, chocolate, hopefully with other flavors too, and there are hints of this in the first steep(western brew), but any cocoa taste is long gone by the second steep. I find myself using twice the leaf I normally use, and still I don’t get a lot of flavor in this one, and the second steep is more astringent than any particular flavor.
I am glad I tried this Keemun, I did get a whole pound of it, so I may end up blending with other tea or herbs to make it more palatable.

So I thought I had done a good job of sipping down my teas before I moved to Wyoming, but I found an unopened 100g bag of this today. Like finding an Easter egg! I have never thought I needed a tea inventory spread sheet, but now I’m reconsidering. But maybe that takes the fun out of finding and old/new tea in your cupboard (or bin).
It tastes like velvety cocoa with honey undertones, I think I will like drinking the rest of this tea. There is a bit of a coppery metallic aftertaste, but it’s not unpleasant. It’s certainly smooth enough for keeping for special occasions, and to me seems a cup to savor or try gong fu.
I don’t see it available on the Vahdam web site, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will never sell it again :)

This is not a subtle or in your face smokiness, but a very balanced in between. This one is a great candidate for grandpa style brewing as I’ve never gotten any bitterness from brewing too long or too strong. I don’t get a whole lot of maltyness, I was surprised it was an Assam. It is a mild, smooth, smoky cup of tea. Maybe even a good introduction tea to those who think all tea is strong and bitter.

This is a good tea to introduce coffee lovers to tea. It has enough caffeine kick for coffee lovers and is smoother than most coffee, I think. I like the hints of vanilla, and coco. I find myself reaching for this tea when I need a jolt in the morning.

Another sample from the Beginners puerh box. The first three steps were lovely, smooth tobacco smoke flavor, no bitterness. If Lapsong is like campfire smoke, this is your grandfathers soothing pipe smoke. Subsequent steeps had too much bitterness that overwhelmed the dwindling smoky taste. I’ve added this to my wish list because I am wondering how it will age in the next 5-10 years.