Jin Ping Gong Fu - AKA: ZhengHe GongFu*

I received this from Ost ages ago, thank you! I have steeped it up a few times but never write a note.  It’s a confusing tea for me!  Even using two teaspoons the big leaves have a roasted flavor, but very light.  I don’t think I should steep the first steep so cool, as the tea is never that tasty being so light.  It’s a slow unraveler.  The flavor is roasted, lychee, or smoky – when it cools it’s like maple syrup.  Somehow I would still describe it as one noted and not the flavor notes I’m looking for.  I’m not tasting most of the flavor notes that other Steepsterers are. Also, the packaging with this is like the Fort Knox of tea packaging.  Crazy metallic wrapping that folds way too many unnecessary times to create a crazy amount of unnecessary packaging that seems very wasteful.  It has probably changed by now.  I’m not thrilled with the tea, not thrilled with the packaging. 
Steep #1 // 2 teaspoons for full mug // 20 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 //  4 minutes after boiling // 4 minute steep

Damn. This is good tea.

Oddly enough, this tastes almost exactly the same as Jiri Horse Balhyocha by teabento that I’ve been enamoured with recently. Same dark chocolate notes. The difference here is that the sweet potato is more pronounced and there’s a slightly bitter aftersip.

Really really good. And local even, so yay! Not cheap, but local—reminder to self.

I will be stocking more of this, likely soon.

I can totally see why this is Dexter’s favourite.

GCTTB Confused as i was pretty sure i’ve had this before but cna’t seem to find my tea log. I pulled this one out because i wanted to see if it was as i remembered it since it’s been a super long time since i’ve had it. It was delicious and exactly what i needed yesterday.
…found the other listing: http://steepster.com/teas/tao-tea-leaf/38699-zhenghe-gongfu-black-tea-jin-ping-village

this harvest is back to what i want this tea to be…coaco, malty, smooth and delicious.

Well. I am am going to give this review thingy a try. Steepster hasn’t been working in such a long time. I can’t even remember the last time I reviewed a tea on here. Becuase I am part of generation impatient I am only going to give this one try.

This tea is from the lovely Scribbles. When I first opened the package, the smell of malty tobacco wafted over me. I love it. It kind of makes me laugh becuase it is titled a Gongfu tea but the instructions call for 1tsp steeped for 2-3 minutes. Ha ha. But that is ok, I don’t gongfu anyway.

The tea brewed up really light. My mug this morning is clear, so the colour looked extremely pale. I was a bit worried I either did not use enough tea or that I didn’t brew long enough. The taste of the tea is wonderful. It is a very nice gongfu tea. Malty, with some sweetness. A hint of honey flavour. There is a really nice light, sweet aftertaste. Even though the colour of the brew is light, there is a moderately bold flavour.

I am really liking this one.

I’m not sure I possess the adjectival vocabulary needed to pinpoint the differences between Jin Ping Gong Fu and Tao’s Tan Yang Gong Fu black teas: both are wonderful, scribbles! There’s a few days’ distance between my samplings of both, but the unsweet chocolate personality that made Tan Yang so tasty is stick-to-your-tongue sweet in this Jin Ping. Lip-licking sweet, but not artificial or cloying. I continue to be amazed at the spectrum of flavors that can be pulled out of simple black teas.

Can I just take a moment to say how impressed I’ve been by Tao Tea Leaf? For a company that I’d never heard of before the day I placed an order with them I’m completely surprised by how incredible their teas have been.
Earthy is how I would describe this tea. Rich and earthy. I’m kind of at a loss trying to describe what flavors I’m tasting. Sort of deep chocolate but brighter and a little nutty. Like roasted grain nutty. Quite sweet as well. Zero bitterness or astringency. I don’t know how to describe it, but I love it. Highly recommended.

This morning, courtesy of Scribbles, I’m very pleased and extremely fortunate to review Jin Ping Gong Fu Black from Tao Tea Leaf, Western style: 6 oz. / 1.5 tsp. (4 g) / 212*F / 2 min. without sweeteners, milk, or cream.

Intro: This tea is not currently found on the Tao Tea Leaf website.
A web search resulted in the following information:
Per Martin of Montreal, Canada:
https://www.blogger.com/profile/12558297837241939606
A World of Tea:
The Ottawa 2nd Annual Tea Festival
December 3, 2012
http://www.mar-tea.com/2012/12/the-ottawa-2nd-annual-tea-festival.html

“Jin Ping Gong Fu (an incredible black tea I had the opportunity to taste)”
“Jin Ping Gong Fu, an incredibly rich and layered black tea”

Leaf: Thin and thick twisted dark chocolate-brown leaves 2.6 cm long or less.
Fragrance: Fine pipe tobacco
Liquor: Brilliant clear copper
Aroma: Ding, ding, ding … we have a Winner!
As soon as I removed the lid from the Finum brewing basket, the aroma was so powerful that it came wafting up to meet my nose as I stood in front of the kitchen counter and I’m 6’ tall!
Flavor: Chocolate!

2-min: A creamy smooth full-bodied black tea with incredibly deep rich malty milk chocolate! There was no hint of bitterness or astringency.

Resteep
3-min: Malty chocolate that was not quite as deep but extremely well-balanced and very enjoyable.

2nd Resteep
4-min: Not yet …
6-min: Not yet … Since this was now twice as long as the first resteep and 3x the original steep, I suspected two cups was the limit for this tea. However, I kept on …
8-min: An excellent resteep – nearly identical to the previous cup.

Impression: A creamy smooth full-bodied black tea with incredibly deep rich malty milk chocolate that will also go the distance! This black tea is thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended … if it’s still available.

Many thanks to Scribbles for sharing a generous sample of this incredible chocolaty Jin Ping Gong Fu Black Tea.

Jin Ping “has left the building” ………

Method:
RO water re-mineralized with an Aptera filter http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/39532-puregen-aptera-alkamag-water-filter
http://steepster.com/teaware/teavana/39311-perfect-tea-spoon
http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/37731-my-weigh-durascale-d2-660-digital-scale
Brewed western-style conveniently in a tea mug with a brew basket http://steepster.com/teaware/royal-albert/45581-old-country-roses-afternoontea-mugs
http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/29177-finum-brewing-basket
http://steepster.com/teaware/teavana/39312-perfect-preset-tea-timer

First sip down of the day, first sip down of my FL trip.
This is one of the teas included in the BBBB box on the most recent round, & I brought most of those remaining teas with me to drink up before the next box shows up (no rush, however). Earthy, with elements of chocolate, wood, & floral.

Earthy so earthy. Not my alley but a pretty nice full bodied tea. Thanks Dexter for sharing