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“The dry leaves are beautiful and look very fresh. I never measure anything. A bit in my palm. This looks like enough. Into the basket. I do not time either. If it smells nice and the liquor...” Read full tasting note
“I have received this in a swap with BTVSGal. This is my first offering from Asha. It’s everything you would expect from a good golden Yunnan. A little malty, a little starchy like fresh cut french...” Read full tasting note
“This morning I’m trying the sample of Yunnan Golden Buds tea that Asha Tea generously included with my order. Brewing it gongfu style in my gaiwan, and have had three infusions so far. I consider...” Read full tasting note
“I won’t rate this, but I thought it would be amusing to note that SOMEHOW when I brewed this up (western) it smelled exactly like cow manuer. I kid you not. It was amazing and revolting at the same...” Read full tasting note
The finest grade of black tea produced in the Yunnan province, consisting of all golden buds (金牙).
Regarded as the birthplace of tea, the ancient trees and unique terroir give the teas here a particularly earthy quality.
Brewing suggestion: 3.5g, 195F
If we had to describe this tea in one sentence:
Pepper on the nose, wild mushrooms on the tongue, earth into the belly.
Company description not available.
The dry leaves are beautiful and look very fresh. I never measure anything. A bit in my palm. This looks like enough. Into the basket. I do not time either. If it smells nice and the liquor is appealing it’s done. This is an interesting brew. Very smooth. An interesting earthy aroma and flavor. It’s a nice opener today. I did brew it longer than usual. A nice buzz too. It makes the body and mind feel very nice….
This morning I’m trying the sample of Yunnan Golden Buds tea that Asha Tea generously included with my order. Brewing it gongfu style in my gaiwan, and have had three infusions so far. I consider the Yunnan golden needle teas, along with Laoshan black, to be the height of black tea for me. This sample from Asha is quite good! Perfectly smooth, as I would expect from a budset black tea. Mouth-feel is light and soft. Really a pleasure to drink.
But what makes this Golden Buds different and interesting for me is that it is a much more savory experience in fragrance and flavor than the other golden needle teas I’ve tried. I think Asha’s short flavor description is completely on the mark. This tea has a fragrance and flavor very reminiscent of good cooked mushrooms. Its taste expands through salty and peppery territory in a rather pleasant way. The fact that I’m a big fan of mushrooms probably helps me appreciate this tea a lot.
The savoriness of this tea surprised me a little bit, because I’m used to golden needle teas that have a much sweeter profile. This one is an interesting departure from that. It’s a very pleasant and worthwhile Yunnan golden needle tea, but not the best one I’ve tried. I would probably most often go for a sweeter one over this if a choice was necessary, but that’s just because I’m in the mood for sweeter teas more frequently.
I won’t rate this, but I thought it would be amusing to note that SOMEHOW when I brewed this up (western) it smelled exactly like cow manuer. I kid you not. It was amazing and revolting at the same time.
Don’t ask me how.
I’ve never had a Golden Buds Yunnan like that!!!
I’m willing to bet it was more my nose than the tea. The rest of the sample is going to a good home!
Wow, that’s quite the scent! It’s similar to when I brewed a pot of DT Davis’s Breakfast and I swore it smelled like wet dog, but my brother got a different scent.
Wow..very nice. The dry leaf smelled sweet and malty to me. The taste did not change there. There was a depth of earthy sweetness to finish it off. This is probably the best Yunnan I have had so far. The dry leaf said it all before I even took a sip.
The second steep was even better….:)
This was also one of the 4 samples that they included.
I like steeping that way, too, especially for green teas. They’re done when they smell delicious!
I had this one this morning too. My last order from Asha came yesterday evening, and I’m happy to have these buds again. Got 10 really great infusions from about one tablespoon, and I’m buzzing like a busy bee. Delicious stuff!