Rizhao Green Tea

About a month ago, I inquired about a tea at a shop on aliexpress.com. The shop, at the time, was primarily a LED lighting store, but had a random tea section that carried a Rizhao tea I enjoy. When I mentioned how much I like Rizhao tea to the shop owner, Martin, he started telling me about his father-in-law’s tea plantation and was eager for me to try it. We chatted via the chat interface on aliexpress about our mutual love of tea and our tea friendship began. Since that time, he switched his store from being primarily lighting, to being a tea shop with a random lighting section. He continually asked for feedback and took to heart my recommendations. He is a very knowledgeable tea seller and eager to share his knowledge and love of tea with anyone who wants to know.

Anyway… This is the green tea from his father in law’s plantation. And the best green tea I’ve ever had. It’s so fresh. The taste is very similar in it’s bean flavor to Laoshan Green. In fact, when they’re hot they are very similar. But as they cool the Rizhao is less buttery and spinachy, and instead finishes with a cinnamon sugar caramel flavor, it’s super interesting. I made some Laoshan Green immediately after to test the differences and while I still love the savoriness of LG, I really love the sweet finish of the Rhizao.

I plan on ordering more soon and would be happy to send a few samples around. I’d really like to help him out. It can be overwhelming to sift through all the crap on aliexpress, if you want a place to start, check it out!

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/subject/1387523570.html

Soooo aliexpress is a dangerous place that i’m not sure i want to get into. However, there have been some great teas out of it that Tastybrew has shared with us through the BBB Box so i’m super happy that she continues to share with us.

I wasn’t sure about this one. It’s green. I opened it, and it smelled like something i should be eating, not drinking. I had faith in TB though…so i brewed some up today and took a sip.

This doesn’t remind me of Laoshan green. It’s different. It’s…like.spinach but softened…as it cools a sweetness comes out. not sure if i would call it caramel but it is sweet.

I like this. As a green it won’t be on my list of number 1 favourites but it IS tasty and i am glad to have tried it. :) I think if you were a fan of greens, this would be one for the list!

This was such an easy sipdown (163) that I went for it, especially since I only labelled this tea as “check Steepster” because Sil couldn’t remember the name of it off the top of her head. Hahahahah.

Wow. This IS a green tea. So bright and fresh and buttery. It’s liquid spinach, but without all the healthy nutrients. :P I wouldn’t want to drink this that often but it is very enjoyable.

Thanks for letting me have a cup!

This is from the BBBB, courtesy of TastyBrew8.
I haven’t been drinking much in the way of greens, not because I don’t like them, but just because I love black tea more, & especially this time of year! However, I finally had a cup of this, since Sil & Cavo had it, & also because I’m behind on my BBBBox sippings, & it’s a nice little fresh tasting green. A little springtime, in an otherwise dreary day (if you look outside, anyway). Thanks TB :)