Freebie with my latest order — thank you!

I don’t remember much about this either. I followed Song Tea’s brewing parameters for this tea and it flattened all the high notes. It was smooth, sweet and a little dry-roasty. Overbrewed yet pleasant. I would need more and prepared with my own parameters to see how I feel.

Flavors: Dry, Fruity, Malt, Red Fruits, Roasty, Smooth, Sweet, Thin, Wood

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 2 min, 0 sec 5 g 5 OZ / 150 ML
Leafhopper

I’d be interested to hear what you got from Song. Did you buy more of that Ruby Eighteen? I was also very intrigued by their White Dragonwell, which is a blend of Longjing and Anji Bai Cha.

Sakura Sushi

FWIW, Song’s Eighteen is my absolute favorite unflavored black – there is nothing you can’t do with that tea: hot, iced, milk, straight, gongfu, western, it always comes through. I just went out to San Fran last month and visited the storefront. They didn’t have Eighteen, but I picked up “A Different Eighteen” and “Ruby” which they had brewed up in the shop and was delicious. Neither of these are Eighteen, and the names can be confusing, but I would vouch for getting your hands on some Eighteen once it comes out.

Leafhopper

Oops, I was actually talking about A Different Eighteen. I didn’t know they had multiple versions of Ruby Eighteen.

Sakura Sushi

Yep! They have Eighteen, Ruby, and A Different Eighteen. The Eighteen hasn’t been available in awhile, but I always try to keep an eye out for it. A little expensive as teas go, but so good it’s well worth the money. I haven’t opened A Different Eighteen yet, but once I do, I’ll review it on Steepster to give my thoughts on it.

Leafhopper

Wow, a Ruby trifecta! :) I’d love to get my hands on some of these teas!

derk

Leafhopper, I didn’t get anything new but did get a third round of a few favorites: A Different Eighteen and Dragon Phoenix Tender Heart.

White Dragonwell was interestingly savory in a chicken soup way. It is something I’d like to try fresh at some point… much further down the sipdown route!

Leafhopper

It’s interesting that you compared the White Dragonwell to chicken soup. I was hoping for the floral/citrus notes of an Anji Bai Cha combined with the nuttiness of a Longjing.

I couldn’t close my tea cupboard door the other day, so I understand about sipdown goals. In hindsight, buying over 300 g of green tea for my big comparison project has created some inventory issues. :P

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Leafhopper

I’d be interested to hear what you got from Song. Did you buy more of that Ruby Eighteen? I was also very intrigued by their White Dragonwell, which is a blend of Longjing and Anji Bai Cha.

Sakura Sushi

FWIW, Song’s Eighteen is my absolute favorite unflavored black – there is nothing you can’t do with that tea: hot, iced, milk, straight, gongfu, western, it always comes through. I just went out to San Fran last month and visited the storefront. They didn’t have Eighteen, but I picked up “A Different Eighteen” and “Ruby” which they had brewed up in the shop and was delicious. Neither of these are Eighteen, and the names can be confusing, but I would vouch for getting your hands on some Eighteen once it comes out.

Leafhopper

Oops, I was actually talking about A Different Eighteen. I didn’t know they had multiple versions of Ruby Eighteen.

Sakura Sushi

Yep! They have Eighteen, Ruby, and A Different Eighteen. The Eighteen hasn’t been available in awhile, but I always try to keep an eye out for it. A little expensive as teas go, but so good it’s well worth the money. I haven’t opened A Different Eighteen yet, but once I do, I’ll review it on Steepster to give my thoughts on it.

Leafhopper

Wow, a Ruby trifecta! :) I’d love to get my hands on some of these teas!

derk

Leafhopper, I didn’t get anything new but did get a third round of a few favorites: A Different Eighteen and Dragon Phoenix Tender Heart.

White Dragonwell was interestingly savory in a chicken soup way. It is something I’d like to try fresh at some point… much further down the sipdown route!

Leafhopper

It’s interesting that you compared the White Dragonwell to chicken soup. I was hoping for the floral/citrus notes of an Anji Bai Cha combined with the nuttiness of a Longjing.

I couldn’t close my tea cupboard door the other day, so I understand about sipdown goals. In hindsight, buying over 300 g of green tea for my big comparison project has created some inventory issues. :P

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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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