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I’ve just found a sample in my fridge and looks like it’s been there for a while. Though I actually do like Thurbo Estate FF Darjeelings, this one I would pass on. I can’t taste any of the described tropical fruit sweetness. My sample on the contrary is astringent, with a bitter and dry aftertaste.

High on price and weak on flavor. For me the rich nutty roasted rice flavor is the indication of a good quality Genmaicha. Here I can barely taste it, with the astringency and grassy notes from the tea leaf being quite overwhelming. I stick to Genmaicha Satsuki instead which is usually much better balanced.

Similar to Adagio’s Fujian Jasmine Pearl from Master’s Collection. Refreshingly floral with sweet aftertaste. Jasmine is prominent but not overpowering.

Do I have the same tea as the rest of the people here? I don’t know. But mine doesn’t taste anything like flowers, or honey or fruit, all I can taste is rubber, burnt rubber… I tried different water temp ranging from 190F to boiling, varied time from 1 min to 3 min, still rubber no matter what I do.

I bought a sample of this expecting “a superior gunpowder experience” but got a superior vegetable broth instead. There is no familiar gunpowder smokiness in this tea, at all. All you get is an ultimate vegetable flavor like broccoli and asparagus soup with a little bit of sweetness. The leaf is high quality, the brew is fragrant but the taste is just not working for me.

This is actually my blend and I’m reviewing it here not to promote but because I love it. I wanted to create a refreshing tea but not slap-in-your-face refreshing, more of a soothing tea at the same time. I think I really hit the nail on the head here: the brew is very smooth, easy to drink, with light citrusy taste backed up by a hint of mint and lemon grass.

Also it turned out to be a great thirst-quenching remedy after rich and heavy meals.

I had a 2010 Before the Rain sample. The tea is similar to Adagio’s Anji Duet but lacking in flavor in comparison. It is mild, refreshing, not too grassy but feels watered down. Probably would not repurchase.

I got a sample from the new batch and it is much better than the previous I tried some time ago. It is sweet, light and has a distinct mushroom scent and flavor that I’m looking for in silver needle. As it stands now this tea is going to be my everyday choice for silver needle.

I’m a big fan of White Peony overall but this tea didn’t impress me. The brew feels watered down, very light on flavor. There are definitely some fresh grassy notes present with a little bit of smokiness mixed in. That’s pretty much it… Drinkable, but wouldn’t repurchase.