85

Okay, I know I said that I would post a review or three back in my first review of the day, but there’s nothing wrong with going over the max by one, is there? I finished a 25 gram pouch of this tea late last week, and I figured that I may as well take the time to review it while I was still sitting at my computer. You do not see a ton of Zhejiang black teas on the Western market, probably because a great deal of Zhejiang tea production and tea culture seems so focused on green teas. Still, the Zhejiang black teas one does occasionally stumble across are often very enjoyable. This tea was certainly no exception as it was very much worth a try.

I prepared this tea gongfu style. After a brief rinse, I steeped 6 grams of loose tea leaves in 4 ounces of 203 F water. This infusion was chased by 16 additional infusions. Steep times for these infusions were as follows: 7 seconds, 9 seconds, 12 seconds, 16 seconds, 20 seconds, 25 seconds, 30 seconds, 40 seconds, 50 seconds, 1 minute, 1 minute 15 seconds, 1 minute 30 seconds, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, and 7 minutes.

Prior to the rinse, the dry tea leaves emitted aromas of roasted almond, cinnamon, honey, pine, and chocolate. After the rinse, I detected an aroma of roasted peanut and a subtle baked bread scent. The first infusion brought out a stronger baked bread aroma. In the mouth, the tea liquor offered notes of roasted almond, cream, honey, chocolate, cinnamon, and pine that were chased by hints of roasted peanut, pear, rose, and nectarine. Subsequent infusions brought out aromas of rose, orange zest, cream, pear, and brown sugar. Baked bread notes came out in the mouth alongside stronger impressions of roasted peanut, pear, and rose. New notes of minerals, sweet potato, brown sugar, and orange zest were also present as was an interesting wintergreen note that lingered in the mouth after each swallow. As the tea faded, the liquor offered mineral, roasted almond, baked bread, pine, and orange zest notes that were underscored by hints of roasted peanut, pear, sweet potato, and brown sugar. Naturally, there were still notes of wintergreen in the mouth after each swallow, though they were much subtler at the end of the session.

This was a very pleasant, likable black tea. I could see it serving as a great introduction to Zhejiang black teas or as a no fuss daily drinker. Sadly, this tea is now out of stock, and it appears that What-Cha will not be offering it again in the near future if at all. For those who are intrigued by the idea of trying a Zhejiang black tea, I will state that several other vendors do offer at least one or two on a fairly regular basis; Harney & Sons immediately springs to mind.

Flavors: Almond, Bread, Brown Sugar, Chocolate, Cinnamon, Cream, Fruity, Herbaceous, Honey, Mineral, Orange Zest, Peanut, Pear, Pine, Rose, Sweet Potatoes

Preparation
6 g 4 OZ / 118 ML
derk

“…there’s nothing wrong with going over the max by one, is there?”

Ban this guy, he’s out of control.

Daylon R Thomas

I also need to write about that one. I mostly got brisk citrus and malt as I drank it. I can see the rose, since it’s got a little bit of that after burn from rose water. I’ll have to get to writing my notes eventually.

Kawaii433

“Zhejiang black tea, I will state that several other vendors do offer at least one or two on a fairly regular basis; Harney & Sons immediately springs to mind.” Thank you!

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Comments

derk

“…there’s nothing wrong with going over the max by one, is there?”

Ban this guy, he’s out of control.

Daylon R Thomas

I also need to write about that one. I mostly got brisk citrus and malt as I drank it. I can see the rose, since it’s got a little bit of that after burn from rose water. I’ll have to get to writing my notes eventually.

Kawaii433

“Zhejiang black tea, I will state that several other vendors do offer at least one or two on a fairly regular basis; Harney & Sons immediately springs to mind.” Thank you!

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Bio

My grading criteria for tea is as follows:

90-100: Exceptional. I love this stuff. If I can get it, I will drink it pretty much every day.

80-89: Very good. I really like this stuff and wouldn’t mind keeping it around for regular consumption.

70-79: Good. I like this stuff, but may or may not reach for it regularly.

60-69: Solid. I rather like this stuff and think it’s a little bit better-than-average. I’ll drink it with no complaints, but am more likely to reach for something I find more enjoyable than revisit it with regularity.

50-59: Average. I find this stuff to be more or less okay, but it is highly doubtful that I will revisit it in the near future if at all.

40-49: A little below average. I don’t really care for this tea and likely won’t have it again.

39 and lower: Varying degrees of yucky.

Don’t be surprised if my average scores are a bit on the high side because I tend to know what I like and what I dislike and will steer clear of teas I am likely to find unappealing.

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