From an order a while ago, so this is the 2018 harvest. I keep trying it. I think it’s aging well anyway. It’s certainly a different flavor profile – not really a Yunnan as I’m accustomed to them. The leaves are smaller with hints of gold here and there. The dry leaf is fairly earthy, smokey and leathery and the fragrance is pretty much what you get in the flavor. All of that, plus sweet but balanced with savory, maybe a light basil and black pepper. Also, cascara cherries? Though I haven’t had those very often in tea. Definitely not like chocolate, which is Yunnan to me. Two teaspoons isn’t really necessary — it isn’t bad but 1 1/2 teaspoons is never as deep as I want it to be. A decent black but maybe not what I ever expect of a Yunnan. It’s four ounces for $5.90 though, and that is certainly an excellent deal (also available as an ounce).
Steep #1 // 2 teaspoons for full mug // 23 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // 3 minutes after boiling // 3 minute steep
2021 sipdowns: 20 (Steap Shoppe – Spring Time Berry )
This is You :-D
Profile
Bio
Hi! I love tea and trying new ones – it adds a bit of variety to my day! Books, music, TV & movies are my thing… and tea, of course.
Some of my favorite tea shops (still operating):
birdandblendtea.com
teavivre.com
52teas.com
svtea.com
whisperingpinestea.com
justea.com
harney.com
Dammann Freres
fusionteas.com
shop.Javateaco.com
Lupicia
Octaviatea.com
Davidstea.com
eco-cha.com
what-cha.com
singleoriginteas.com
teasenz.com
tealyra.com
Mandalatea.com
verdanttea.com
Favorite tea shops (RIP):
butikiteas.com
steapshoppe.com
steepcityteas.com
aquartertotea.com
dellaterrateas.com
zentealife.com
angrytearoom.com
theteamerchant.net
joysteaspoon.com
tealiciousllc.com
Rivertea
Specialteas
My icon photo is Richard Mayhew from the graphic novel ‘Neverwhere’ by Neil Gaiman, Mike Carey & Glenn Fabry.
Most of the teas listed in my cupboard are actually sample sizes. I don’t really have 2,000 ounces of tea around here! Many of my teas have only one teaspoon left… maybe two. But I like keeping them in my cupboard list for reference to what I could be sipping. Usually, I write tasting notes once for each tea. I’m still drinking them, just not writing tasting notes each time!
I’m always in search of: Hattialli, Qu Hao black, Jin Jun Mei, teas using marshmallow root.
My dislikes: hibiscus, ginger (unless in chai), turmeric, bee pollen, charcoal type flavors
My ratings:
95-100 – Super awesome deliciousness favorites – cupboard essential
80-95 – Also pretty delicious
65-80 – Pretty good
50-65 – Okay
1-50 – Probably won’t want to sip it again
I’m planning on being a Steepsterer as long as there IS a Steepster, so if you’re not hearing from me, that means something happened to my health… if you know what I mean. (Or as evidenced by the great computer hiatus of 2019, something happened to my computer… I have a dumb phone so can’t access internet on that. As of 12/20/21 my wifi might start getting unreliable.)
Happy sipping!
Location
USA
