Look at this gorgeous tea! That’s right…….I said it. Beautiful black tea with curly, furry leaves. It reminds me of a Black Bi Lo Chun. Not only does it look great it smells great yo! Chocolate notes abound & fill my senses. I was all intent for a fun, yet serious review. Sometimes things don’t work out as planned.
My niece is here from Oregon, and it is great to have here visiting. So, here I was with my tea and ready to get everything right, when she decides to throw trail mix in my Zhen Qu. I said, “NO Brie, don’t!”…….“Stop Brie, you’re ruining my tea!” Of course she continued to fill my tea with various nuts, cranberries, chocolate bits, etc. In the end, I gave up my protest, and eventually laughter filled the air. So I will call this Brie’s Nut Blend tea!
Black tea base was very noticeable….a good quality China black with tremendous nut flavor…actually a pretty good blend. Oddly the liqour transformed from black to milky brown right before my eyes. This blend is alot like Brie…….Fantastic and one of a kind! Like her this blend encompasses lots of spirit. It deserves a very special rating of 86.
Tea drinking can be serious and contemplative. At times, like today, it should also evoke fun and laughter! :)) I’m glad for Brie’s visit here, and the times we’ve shared. She’s leaving soon (Wed), and I’ll miss her dearly, but I’m thankful for the memories!
To be continued…….
Cupped & reviewed: Friday, December 9, 2011.
Off to have another cup of Zhen Qu this late Saturday morning.
OK….lots of chocoloate aromatics in the dry leaf….wet leaf smells of deeper & darker chocolate notes. Nice small, steeped whole leaf. Medium to dark brown in color, the liqour smells so sweet. Mouth feel is full and sweet, with yes, chocolate notes! I really like this tea. It has lots of sweetness with no bitterness…….so delicious!!
Cupped & Reviewed: Saturday, December 10, 2011.
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I have only had the one from Southern Season, but it is fabulous tea. It is the first fine tea at Sandy and I drank together, and one of the first I learned to love with no additions. Sadly, I have run out. Gladly, my son now lives minutes away from Southern Season and is willing to pick up tea for me!
You mean they have Zhen Qu there? Is this the Southern Season you are talking about? :
http://www.southernseason.com/default.asp
Looks like such a great place to shop. Can you sample tea there?! I’ve only seen it a couple places, and here is where I bought mine.:
http://www.stashtea.com/Stash-Tea-Zhen-Qu-Black/dp/B005WKZG7U
It is really a great tea, and I think it is worth the price.
That’s the place! I love it. There is also a fantastic shop, very eclectic, a few stores down that we love called Night Gallery/Branching Out. A trip to Chapel Hill is a big date day for hubby and me, and we get to go soon because we are almost out of wheat! Hooray! We buy that in Wake Forest, but close enough!
I think the Zhen Qu at Stash costs less. Next time I get some I will send you a bit so you can compare the two.
You can see what they sell by clicking on Daily Tea and Fine Tea at the bottom of the list on the left on their home page. It will pull up the PDF of the price lists. Also, if you click on Coffee and Tea about halfway down that first list on the home page, you can find the monthly specials. They always have a special on a fine tea and a daily tea.
Oh, Thank you! It looks like a really great place. I could get lost for hours in that place! :))
Amazing! I used to go to A Southern Season in the 1980’s when I lived in Raleigh and worked in Carrboro. They had the best selection of coffee and teas in the Triangle area, and I am so glad to see that they are still around.
The Zhen Qu sounds great, and reminds me of the Morning Sun black tea I have on my wishlist from Mandala Tea. So many teas, too little time! :)
So true.
I have only had the one from Southern Season, but it is fabulous tea. It is the first fine tea at Sandy and I drank together, and one of the first I learned to love with no additions. Sadly, I have run out. Gladly, my son now lives minutes away from Southern Season and is willing to pick up tea for me!
You mean they have Zhen Qu there? Is this the Southern Season you are talking about? :
http://www.southernseason.com/default.asp
Looks like such a great place to shop. Can you sample tea there?! I’ve only seen it a couple places, and here is where I bought mine.:
http://www.stashtea.com/Stash-Tea-Zhen-Qu-Black/dp/B005WKZG7U
It is really a great tea, and I think it is worth the price.
That’s the place! I love it. There is also a fantastic shop, very eclectic, a few stores down that we love called Night Gallery/Branching Out. A trip to Chapel Hill is a big date day for hubby and me, and we get to go soon because we are almost out of wheat! Hooray! We buy that in Wake Forest, but close enough!
I think the Zhen Qu at Stash costs less. Next time I get some I will send you a bit so you can compare the two.
You can see what they sell by clicking on Daily Tea and Fine Tea at the bottom of the list on the left on their home page. It will pull up the PDF of the price lists. Also, if you click on Coffee and Tea about halfway down that first list on the home page, you can find the monthly specials. They always have a special on a fine tea and a daily tea.
Oh, Thank you! It looks like a really great place. I could get lost for hours in that place! :))
Amazing! I used to go to A Southern Season in the 1980’s when I lived in Raleigh and worked in Carrboro. They had the best selection of coffee and teas in the Triangle area, and I am so glad to see that they are still around.
The Zhen Qu sounds great, and reminds me of the Morning Sun black tea I have on my wishlist from Mandala Tea. So many teas, too little time! :)
So true.