89
drank Sinharaja by Golden Moon Tea
2036 tasting notes

Golden Moon sample No. 31 of 31. I just looked back at the note for sample No. 1 and I started this journey 28 days ago. So almost a month here, too, Ewa. This seems like a really nice tea to end on, as it has a lot of love here on Steepster. It’s one of the ones I’ve been most looking forward to trying.

It’s probably not the best idea for me to be drinking this at 9:30 p.m., but at least it should keep me awake to finish my workout, which was interrupted earlier today at about the 1/3 mark.

I love the look of Ceylon leaves, that twiggy, delicate, dark brown bird nesty thing they have going on. The only other pure Ceylon I’ve had is the Samovar, and like that one, the dry leaves of this one smell a little tobaccoey and a little fruity. But I’m getting an interesting mocha-java note too.

Wow, what a beautiful color! It’s not that different from a black “tea colored” liquor really, but it has a rosey hue to it, like someone dropped a few drops of cranberry juice into it. I want a sweater this color!

The aroma is totally nommy. I get the molasses in a big way, but underneath the sugary sweetness is something else. Something that smells like that red color in the liquor, but that I can’t give a name. I think it is what the company describes as berry. The more I inhale it, the more I realize: it’s raspberry, and I don’t have to throw my mind out of focus to find it as I did with the Samovar.

Taste: I like. Lots. This seems to be among the fuller bodied Golden Moon black teas, the opposite of my experience with the Samovar Ceylon, which I found to be less deep and rich than the other Samovar black teas I’d tried. It’s smooth, and it has a character that reminds me of a lighter red wine. I get the toastiness, and some sweetness, but not too, too much. Despite its depth, it still manages to have a freshness to it without being astringent.

It was indeed a special way to conclude my voyage under the Golden Moon. Now, I must go place my order, the one I grandfathered into my lockdown by virtue of starting this trip almost a month ago.

It’s not goodbye, Golden Moon. It’s hello, again.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec
malomorgen

wow u finished them all? that was fast :D just went through ratings you gave them. and its really high in average. looking forward to my delivery from the states…

Adham

Congratulations on getting through them all – I just got my Golden Moon sampler pack last night, so I’ll be making a similar journey soon…

RachanaC (Rachel)-iHeartTeas

I got my sampler yesterday and have already started enjoying the goodness.

__Morgana__

You guys are going to have a great time!

Lainie Petersen

Yes, this is a delicious Ceylon. I need to get more.

Ricky

Congrats! Isn’t it so sad to see the samplers go. Perhaps another tea company will follow in GM’s foot steps and offer a sampler as well.

__Morgana__

That would be awesome, Ricky.

RachanaC (Rachel)-iHeartTeas

I agree very awesome!

Azzrian

I just tried this and I have to agree with this tea log – everything she said!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Comments

malomorgen

wow u finished them all? that was fast :D just went through ratings you gave them. and its really high in average. looking forward to my delivery from the states…

Adham

Congratulations on getting through them all – I just got my Golden Moon sampler pack last night, so I’ll be making a similar journey soon…

RachanaC (Rachel)-iHeartTeas

I got my sampler yesterday and have already started enjoying the goodness.

__Morgana__

You guys are going to have a great time!

Lainie Petersen

Yes, this is a delicious Ceylon. I need to get more.

Ricky

Congrats! Isn’t it so sad to see the samplers go. Perhaps another tea company will follow in GM’s foot steps and offer a sampler as well.

__Morgana__

That would be awesome, Ricky.

RachanaC (Rachel)-iHeartTeas

I agree very awesome!

Azzrian

I just tried this and I have to agree with this tea log – everything she said!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Profile

Bio

I got obsessed with tea in 2010 for a while, then other things intruded, then I cycled back to it. I seem to be continuing that in for a while, out for a while cycle. I have a short attention span, but no shortage of tea.

I’m a mom, writer, gamer, lawyer, reader, runner, traveler, and enjoyer of life, literature, art, music, thought and kindness, in no particular order. I write fantasy and science fiction under the name J. J. Roth.

Personal biases: I drink tea without additives. If a tea needs milk or sugar to improve its flavor, its unlikely I’ll rate it high. The exception is chai, which I drink with milk/sugar or substitute. Rooibos and honeybush were my gateway drugs, but as my tastes developed they became less appealing — I still enjoy nicely done blends. I do not mix well with tulsi or yerba mate, and savory teas are more often a miss than a hit with me. I used to hate hibiscus, but I’ve turned that corner. Licorice, not so much.

Since I find others’ rating legends helpful, I added my own. But I don’t really find myself hating most things I try.

I try to rate teas in relation to others of the same type, for example, Earl Greys against other Earl Greys. But if a tea rates very high with me, it’s a stand out against all other teas I’ve tried.

95-100 A once in a lifetime experience; the best there is

90-94 Excellent; first rate; top notch; really terrific; will definitely buy more

80-89 Very good; will likely buy more

70-79 Good; would enjoy again, might buy again

60-69 Okay; wouldn’t pass up if offered, but likely won’t buy again

Below 60 Meh, so-so, iffy, or ick. The lower the number, the closer to ick.

I don’t swap. It’s nothing personal, it’s just that I have way more tea than any one person needs and am not lacking for new things to try. Also, I have way too much going on already in daily life and the additional commitment to get packages to people adds to my already high stress level. (Maybe it shouldn’t, but it does.)

That said, I enjoy reading folks’ notes, talking about what I drink, and getting to “know” people virtually here on Steepster so I can get ideas of other things I might want to try if I can ever again justify buying more tea. I also like keeping track of what I drink and what I thought about it.

My current process for tea note generation is described in my note on this tea: https://steepster.com/teas/mariage-freres/6990-the-des-impressionnistes

Location

Bay Area, California

Website

http://www.jjroth.net

Following These People

Moderator Tools

Mark as Spammer