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drank The Chens' New Garden, Medium Roast by Song Tea & Ceramics
1649 tasting notes

Still some prominent floweriness despite the roast. Viscous and sweet, complex chestnut and toasted rice flavor soup with a brisk tannic quality. Extra-strong aftertaste lingers though sometimes it can lean a little too drying like a greenish banana. Returning sweetness develops from the throat, like the Maillard reaction and sugary toasted coconut chips. I feel my ears and sinuses open up with cooling sensation. Seamless.

I chuckled a little at Song Tea’s galangal descriptor. After sitting here a while with the aftertaste, I think it’s apt. Not the sharp heat and pungency of ginger, but something more mellow and earthy, piney. I will say I don’t enjoy the tea as much with their recommended parameters, so I’m glad there is versatility with this leaf.

Flavors: Banana, Brisk, Burlap, Caramelized Sugar, Chestnut, Cinnamon, Coconut, Drying, Earthy, Floral, Fruity, Gardenias, Ginger, Honeysuckle, Mango, Oily, Perfume, Pine, Plumeria, Rice, Sweet, Tannin, Toasted Rice, Viscous, Walnut

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 0 min, 15 sec 5 g 4 OZ / 110 ML
4 comments
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Leafhopper
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I’ve been meaning to get to these Song teas. Would you suggest bowl steeping or gongfu? I feel bad putting all my leaves in one teapot, so to speak. :)

derk
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Gongfu for sure.

Leafhopper
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Good to know. I’ve been eyeing that Different Ruby 18 for a while.

derk
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Incredible candied mango aftertaste when steeped short. Oily. This tea feels really good.

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Comments

Leafhopper
Delete

I’ve been meaning to get to these Song teas. Would you suggest bowl steeping or gongfu? I feel bad putting all my leaves in one teapot, so to speak. :)

derk
Delete

Gongfu for sure.

Leafhopper
Delete

Good to know. I’ve been eyeing that Different Ruby 18 for a while.

derk
Delete

Incredible candied mango aftertaste when steeped short. Oily. This tea feels really good.

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This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. Yet I persist.

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.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Georgia, Japan, and Nepal. 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, possesses off flavor/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 puerh, I likely think it needs more age.

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Sonoma County, California, USA

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