He Family 1st Picking Flat Hand Pressed Laoshan Green

Wow, I was bad about logging teas yesterday. Anyway, I drank this one, sipdown, 118.

As I have mentioned before, this one is a really lovely dragonwell-style green tea. Very buttery, sweet, nutty, and some interesting vegetal notes that are far from a generic green tea. Very very enjoyable.

I used my new test tube steeper for this one. Works really well!
The dry leaf is beautiful with the pressed small leaves.
I did 8 short steepings using 175 degree water. Definitely deep vegetal taste throughout my steepings. They went from a tender baby spinach to lightly blanched asparagus and then peppery arugula. Middle steepings became astringent, but not strikingly so.
I really enjoyed this tea! Tomorrow I am going to try the regular He family 1st Laoshan green.

I can’t believe I still have all of the green teas sent out last spring from the verdant TOMC & reserve TOMC. This is one of them. I enjoy them, but I tend to drink other teas instead. One of my goals for April is to drink green or white tea each day, so that I can start working my way through these.

This one is tasty. The leaves are pressed flat, resembling dragonwell in their appearance. The flavor is rich & thick (I’m on the 3rd steep), kind of nutty, & of course, green! I know that’s a lame & generic description, but I’m trying to get some work done around here, hahaha

Had a sample of this tea hiding in my cupboard so I made the first steep last night and the second this morning. Western style in a teapot for 2 and 3 minutes.

First steep was very very vegetal. Green beans and peas and a bit grassy but not much. Very much what I expect a good Chinese green tea to taste like.

Second steep was still quite strong despite its age though there was less green beans and more grass. Good tea, would buy again.

I don’t know if I’m drinking the 1st picking version of this, but I can’t find any other flat pressed Loashan green on here. I liked this, but didn’t love it. Glad to have tried this!

Hot brewed first time. Lukewarm brew the second. Didn’t mean to be but wasn’t thinking before I poured the water over the leaves. I blame it on the slight cold I am fighting. Regardless both steeps have been good. Grassy. Slight hay. A bit of seaweed but really not enough to give note below.

10/20/14 gong fu 100ml gaiwan/sub 200F water

I did not measure the tea, so maybe 3g? This tea is delicious! Lovely light edamame creamy greenness. Pale gold liquor, and a wonderful toasted rice aroma.

I’m SOOO happy TerriHarplady sent me some of this in my box! Thank you Terri! :D

My absolute favorite green teas of all time are from the He family in Laoshan. I’ve never had the honor of trying some of their more special offerings like this one. It does not disappoint! Buttery, creamy, and vegetal like all good Laoshan greens but with a hint of roastiness/nuttiness and a bright freshness about it. Very very good nom nom nom!

I guess I should consider joining Verdant’s TOTM club, but honestly $30 a month is more than my ENTIRE tea budget and there are other things from other sellers I want sometimes, you know? I’m sure I would love it though :)