There’s something whimsical about this tea. The dry leaves look so pretty and unusual, I’ve never seen this rolling method, very different from oolong.
Before they go for a swim, I take some in the palm of my hand to observe them… they look like little silver grasshoppers about to jump!
I’m always in awe of the craftsmanship that goes into hand rolled tea. I can’t help thinking about ancient times and how luckily for us, some traditions are still anchored and necessary, too extraordinary to die…
They smell very sweet, promising a real treat when infused.
I’m using about 3 gr in a small clear glass gaiwan.
I won’t be describing infusion time cause as I’m getting more experienced with gongfu brewings, I have developed a sense of knowing what’s best for me, so I increase time as a «feel and smell» technique rather than a fixed time parameter. The purists might say I have this all wrong, but it works great for my own tastebuds! However, this method would have been such a disaster on my first gongfu session a couple of months ago :-)
The first steep renders a delicate sweet and floral taste, paired with a «not in your face» grassiness. What a nice morning buzz that is! Unlike oolong, the leaf almost opens up immediately, eager to reveal its splendor to the world!
Second infusion is a little more grassy and crisp, but still sweet . It’s delicate it every possible way, but yet, it gives such burst of flavour. The leaves are now fully opened, I think they are the most perfect leaves I have ever seen. No trace of discoloration on ANY of them… Full, beautifully twisted and unbroken, tender uniform green color, that’s got to tell you something about the way this tea is cared for when harvested…
The later steeps added more bite to the taste, tickled my tongue just a little :-)
I come to the conclusion that this embodies everything I love about green tea in one package. Like a fusion of my 2 favorite greens…
… Pssst…trying not to alert the Paparazzi Tea Press, but I think Mr Dragonwell got married to Mrs Sencha and harvested this Curled Dragon…mmmm, really wonder who it got its curls from!
People who liked this
Comments
LOL i love your last comment :)
well written and you are right to brew this your way
@Sil: It’s just tea gossips :-)
Nice! I love the kind of tea that reminds you of several others. I have to review one that I got recently. It feels like it has a mix of Bi Luo Chun, Dragon Well and Silver Needle. Confuses/Amazes me how the same plant can produce so many flavors.
Bonnie, it’s strange, but ever since I started to relax about gungfu brewing, I get so much more out of it! I used to do this almost like a science project, it became stressful! Then I decided I had to just enjoy and learn from my mistakes instead of trying to reach perfection. Now I have no idea if I do it «right», and I don’t care, cause it works for me :-)
JC, it’s like a bonus round, right? Getting a two for one deal or something… But a trio is even better :-) Camellia Sinensis does work in mysterious ways…
I’ve always played with my tea.First I follow the suggested brewing because I believe in respecting the hard work that goes into bringing tea to the consumer.(it’s an art) However, afterwards game on and I might steep longer or shorter,with more or less leaf,or by a different method (config,western..or with additions).
Very true @ TheTeaFairy. And I agree with you Bonnie. Besides trying the tea different ways seems like the real ‘gong fu’. Gong fu is about making the best tea you possibly can with the given leaf. So constricting yourself from enjoyment just to follow a ‘rule’ is ridiculous. I have found some that traditional gong fu is the way to go, and others that western cup is where it is.
the word config was gong fu but my kindle fire was kind enough to think that I couldn’t spell and changed it for me…haha.
mais où es tu passée, Mlle la fée du thé ? tu nous manques ici ! :) Hope to read your new reviews soon
Ysaurella, what a sweet heart you are! Unfortunate events I’ve had to deal with lately kept me away…I really appreciate your concern, I also miss you all! Hope to be back soon, take care :-)
LOL i love your last comment :)
well written and you are right to brew this your way
@Sil: It’s just tea gossips :-)
Nice! I love the kind of tea that reminds you of several others. I have to review one that I got recently. It feels like it has a mix of Bi Luo Chun, Dragon Well and Silver Needle. Confuses/Amazes me how the same plant can produce so many flavors.
Bonnie, it’s strange, but ever since I started to relax about gungfu brewing, I get so much more out of it! I used to do this almost like a science project, it became stressful! Then I decided I had to just enjoy and learn from my mistakes instead of trying to reach perfection. Now I have no idea if I do it «right», and I don’t care, cause it works for me :-)
JC, it’s like a bonus round, right? Getting a two for one deal or something… But a trio is even better :-) Camellia Sinensis does work in mysterious ways…
I’ve always played with my tea.First I follow the suggested brewing because I believe in respecting the hard work that goes into bringing tea to the consumer.(it’s an art) However, afterwards game on and I might steep longer or shorter,with more or less leaf,or by a different method (config,western..or with additions).
Very true @ TheTeaFairy. And I agree with you Bonnie. Besides trying the tea different ways seems like the real ‘gong fu’. Gong fu is about making the best tea you possibly can with the given leaf. So constricting yourself from enjoyment just to follow a ‘rule’ is ridiculous. I have found some that traditional gong fu is the way to go, and others that western cup is where it is.
the word config was gong fu but my kindle fire was kind enough to think that I couldn’t spell and changed it for me…haha.
mais où es tu passée, Mlle la fée du thé ? tu nous manques ici ! :) Hope to read your new reviews soon
Ysaurella, what a sweet heart you are! Unfortunate events I’ve had to deal with lately kept me away…I really appreciate your concern, I also miss you all! Hope to be back soon, take care :-)