91

I got this one as a sample a few months ago and never reserved the time to try it. Well, I had a lot of free time today and decided to give it a go. It’s funny because I just finished 10 steepings when the mail comes in, I got the reserve month package and this happened to be in there! So, now I have more!

To start off, I used my 3.7oz yixing I dedicated to dancongs. It has (depending on how full of water it is) a 4-8 second pour. So, usually I put the water in and immediately start pouring out.

When I opened the package I was immediately greeted by a wonderful scent! It smelled like juicy grapefruit with wildflower honey, a touch of maple syrup, and the slightest hint of some spice…sweet cinnamon perhaps? There was another note that was predominate, but I couldn’t place. After getting the package in and reading the description, I concluded that it’s the honeydew melon.

The wet leaf smelled roasty, dark floral (orchid), maple syrup, wildflower honey, and fruity. By fruity I mean grapefruit and honeydew.

The first infusion was an explosion in my mouth! There were notes of roastiness, honey, maple syrup, a wonderful juiciness of grapefruit and honeydew. There was an interesting orchid note and creaminess that I can only describe as resembling a tieguanyin.

The second steep was more orchid notes and creaminess with a hint of a vegetal note. This was definitely tasting more like a lighter version of a tieguanyin than anything. There was even a thickness of mouthfeel that lasted well into the aftertaste.

Third steep was super thick, mouth coating.

Fourth and fifth steeps went back to being super juicy, the tieguanyin effect was starting to back off. The fifth steep I started to taste that hint of a spice element..clove? Nutmeg perhaps? It was very faint, so it was hard to tell.

The sixth steep went back to tieguanyin. Then the seventh steep was super juicy! I feel like I’m getting whiplash here!

The eighth steep decided to take it easy on me and was a nice balance between super juicy and thick mouthfeel lasting into the aftertaste. The mouthfeel was coating my entire mouth, but was focusing on the tip and sides of my tongue.

Ninth steep was a huge explosion of juiciness again! It was so juicy it felt like I had just bit into a ripe plum or melon where the juicy runs down your face! There were notes of orchid (as usual), orange and grapefruit, the honeydew, and a hint of clove.

The tenth and final steep I took with this started to go back to tieguanyin. The mouthfeel so thick and heavy. The aftertaste so long lasting. I also got a hint of almonds in the aftertaste with this one. I’m taking a break from it for now since my head is swimming and the bathroom and I are becoming close friends!

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 0 min, 15 sec
JC

Sounds great. I’m just wondering if I translated the name right… “Big Hemp Leaf”. LOL

Whispering Pines Tea Company

HAHAHA :D Awesome, JC, that’s what I got too! It sounds delicious!

Invader Zim

Well, I thought I was drinking a dancong tea…perhaps not!! I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t know the translation before hand…I may have had some preconceived misconceptions!

Paul, I love it when teas give me whiplash, I think that’s why I’m so fascinated by dancongs, I get it the most from them. I have the Red Leaf Dancong and another one from the rewards points that I have a very hard time trying to make out what it says other than dancong! Also, I have not tried out the Master Bi’s Lapsang, I’m too scared to try it yet, it may end up being the last one I try. Although, I’m not so terrified after reading your lovely review on it. And I hope you enjoy that jasmine, it really is fantastic!

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Comments

JC

Sounds great. I’m just wondering if I translated the name right… “Big Hemp Leaf”. LOL

Whispering Pines Tea Company

HAHAHA :D Awesome, JC, that’s what I got too! It sounds delicious!

Invader Zim

Well, I thought I was drinking a dancong tea…perhaps not!! I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t know the translation before hand…I may have had some preconceived misconceptions!

Paul, I love it when teas give me whiplash, I think that’s why I’m so fascinated by dancongs, I get it the most from them. I have the Red Leaf Dancong and another one from the rewards points that I have a very hard time trying to make out what it says other than dancong! Also, I have not tried out the Master Bi’s Lapsang, I’m too scared to try it yet, it may end up being the last one I try. Although, I’m not so terrified after reading your lovely review on it. And I hope you enjoy that jasmine, it really is fantastic!

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Bio

I’m an avid tea drinker, it’s what I drink all day and why I’m here. I don’t sweeten my teas except for the occasional iced tea or cold-brewed tea. I typically brew my teas with a brew basket in a 12 oz cup. If I brew another way I will always note it.

Dislikes: black teas, milk flavored oolongs, hibiscus, red rooibos, licorice, dessert teas, mate, guayusa.

Loves: straight teas, especially Chinese green teas, sencha, jasmine, dan congs, mint, coconut.

My ratings are based mostly on the smiley faces. If a tea is of good quality but not to my taste preference I try not to rate it because I think that is unfair.

I drink a lot of the same teas and will not record every time I drink them. I log them the first time I try them and then again if I did something different and/or got different results.

I also try to keep my cupboard updated to what I actually have for those that wish to swap, although some of them are merely samples.

100 – http://steepster.com/teas/verdant-tea/32720-hand-rolled-top-grade-jasmine

Location

Pennsylvania

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