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derk drank Korea Dong Cheon Daejak Semi-Wild Green Tea by What-Cha

1548 tasting notes

Thank you M. What-Cha for the May 2018 sample! I’ve never had a Korean tea outside of glutton-sessions at the KBBQ.

Nice, light green tea made for a quick polishing off of this sample. Brewed western, 2 tsp to 8oz at 160F for 3 short steeps was a little drying with corn/husk, an oat creaminess and a lingering, superficial almost stevia-like sweetness in the back of the mouth.

Gongfu brought out the nuances. 4g, 150mL, 160F, no rinse and didn’t keep track of steeps (6?). Leaf after first steep smelled of anise, almond, seaweed, toasted corn. In the mouth, I could taste the oat creaminess again, grass, lettuce, minerals, nectar sweetness, white pepper (strangely well defined), corn, blanched almond and a hint of malt. Faded away pleasantly throughout the steeps and was less drying than western.

Somewhat delicate and easy-sipping that would make an excellent palate cleanser.

Flavors: Almond, Anise, Corn Husk, Creamy, Drying, Grass, Lettuce, Malt, Mineral, Nectar, Oats, Pepper, Seaweed, Sweet

Preparation

160 °F / 71 °C

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This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. And thus I step away.

Eventual tea farmer. If you are a tea grower, want to grow your own plants or are simply curious, please follow me so we can chat.

I most enjoy loose-leaf, unflavored teas and tisanes. Teabags have their place. Some of my favorite teas have a profound effect on mind and body rather than having a specific flavor profile. Terpene fiend.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Georgia, Japan, Nepal and Darjeeling. While I’m not actively on the hunt, a goal of mine is to try tea from every country that makes it available to the North American market. This is to gain a vague understanding of how Camellia sinensis performs in different climates. I realize that borders are arbitrary and some countries are huge with many climates and tea-growing regions.

I’m convinced European countries make the best herbal teas.

Personal Rating Scale:

100-90: A tea I can lose myself into. Something about it makes me slow down and appreciate not only the tea but all of life or a moment in time. If it’s a bagged or herbal tea, it’s of standout quality in comparison to similar items.

89-80: Fits my profile well enough to buy again.

79-70: Not a preferred tea. I might buy more or try a different harvest. Would gladly have a cup if offered.

69-60: Not necessarily a bad tea but one that I won’t buy again. Would have a cup if offered.

59-1: Lacking several elements, strangely clunky, possess off flavors/aroma/texture or something about it makes me not want to finish.

Unrated: Haven’t made up my mind or some other reason. If it’s pu’er, I likely think it needs more age.

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