A review of Hand Picked Summer Tieguanyin by Verdant Tea
Date: 11/09/2012
Company: Verdant Tea
Tea Name: Hand Picked Summer Tieguanyin
Tea Type/Varietal: Oolong
Region: China
Steeping Vessel/Amt. Leaf: cup/ loose leaf
Plucking Season: Summer
Liquor Color: a very pale yellow
Leaf Characteristics:
1st Steeping:
Water temperature: 200 Fahrenheit
Time: 1 minutes, increased to 2, 3 minutes
Note: I take 1 teaspoon of the leaves and put this in my mug and pour the hot water over it and let sit for a few seconds so as to rinse it, after which time I empty the cup of the water and pour some more of the boiled water into my mug yet again; this time leaving it to steep for a minute.
Tea is a lovely light yellow and smells very milky too me. I had to keep inhaling it just to be certain it smelled of milk, kind of creamy buttery even. I remove the tea leaves and take a few sip of the tea; at first it is buttery in taste, slight salty flavor, then one is met with a smooth cream-like finishing when swallowing the tea.
I liked that I used my large tea mug as the leaves did fully burst/plump with multiple steeping.
2nd Steeping:
Water temperature: 200 Fahrenheit
Time: 3 minutes
Note: For this next infusion, I pour the water over the tea leaves and cover my mug with saucer and left to steep for a few minutes. The color is same and yes, that milky-ness is still there and this time it is like almond and sweet bean as an after taste…tea is sweet and smooth there is no denying of this and there is something of a summer breeze that one feels; this morning the air was clear and crisp inviting one to go out for an early morning walk but I chose not to. This is perhaps why I selected it for a mid-day treat.
This is one of the better oolong I have had all because of the milky and almond-bean like quality that I am finding. Overall, tea is very light and a textural challenge making for more exploration.
You are steeping your tea like someone who’s fearless. You don’t have to have a lot of fancy equipment to get a great brew! Proof!