85

I have to concede with Morgana and Dan there is definitely Darjeeling in here and though I like a good Darjeeling I normally brew them lighter and I feel this one adds a bitter dryness at the beginning and this is after lowering the time and temp. Packet says India, China and Formosa. The Formosan is likely an oolong and I think it has the notes I like at the end of wine and butter. Not sure if the China black is Keemun or Lapsang, I get the pepper and hint of smoke but there is something that reminds me of other British blends I don’t like. All in all the tang and butter at the end is not making the dry front worthwhile. It was something I was just curious about trying so not terribly disappointed. It’s just meh with cream and sugar.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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Druid, artist, poet, mum, lover of tea, ritual and myth. I grew up on Celestial Seasons herbals but fell in love with straight loose leaf tea working at my local Teavana for a year. I am grateful for the introduction and the experience, but have moved on.

I see tea as an experience for the senses, I like to imagine tasting the land and the weather as well as the effect of sun, air, fire and the human hand. I have a soft spot for shu pu’er, yabao, scented oolongs, wuyi oolongs, taiwanese tea as well as smooth naturally sweet blacks, creamy greens and surprisingly complex whites.

I began ordering lots of samples from Upton to educate myself on different varieties of tea we didn’t have at work and have fallen head over heels for the unique offerings from Verdant Tea. I am learning things I like: buttery mouthfeel, surprising sweet or spice notes, woodiness, mineral notes, depth and complexity and things I don’t: astringency, dry and sour notes.

I collect tea tins and am in danger of collecting pots, though I am trying to restrain the urge due to current lack of space. I brew mostly in a glass infuser mug or a tea maker, only using cast-iron for company now (still need to get a gaiwan) and tend not to sweeten my teas unless they are British or fruity and iced, which is not often.

As far as ratings, I lack a definite system and haven’t been assigning numbers lately, wanting to spend multiple sessions with a tea first. I usually only log a tea once, unless it is a new harvest or I have significantly different observations, but will go back and edit or comment if I find something interesting or new.

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Baker Street, Berea, Ohio

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