Imperial Gold Needle Yunnan Black Tea

sad to see this one go. I started my morning out with this one as there are still a few things to be doing around the house as we have friends coming over for dinner and board games…and i’m still working as some things came to light from last night’s testing that i need to sort out. I love this tea and i can’t even explain why. there’s something about it that just makes me want to drink it. Plus the leaves always make me smile :)

I’ve been avoiding steepster for awhile. I’m back.
YS is the company I buy the majority of my teas from, and this one is among my favorites.
Today I’m attempting to compare the Spring and Fall versions of this tea, both from 2015. So far all I can really say is that I enjoy them both, but the Spring rendition is probably preferred over the Fall. Why?
It has a sweeter taste and a creamier mouth.
Also, the Fall version is a little heavier in the kind of grassy hay-like flavor.

Having said that, I will happily drink either one of them on any day of the week!

I like this one a lot more than I expected to! I’ve made it gong fu style style and am on something like my 5th steep and it’s still going strong. Chocolaty, sweet, malty, not hay-y like I was expecting. This is a great cup. Thanks Terri Harplady!

Autumn 2013
This was an excellent tea which I enjoyed over six steepings. Upon opening the package, I could immediately smell the vibrant floral qualities of the tea. The tea was very fragrant, and smelled wonderful- a scent matching the beautiful leaves.

The dried leaves were a rich golden color, and were very straight and pointed. The brewed leaves retained the wonderful qualities of the dried tea, and produced a very refreshing brew- a bit of maltiness, floral notes, and a sweet aftertaste with hints of chocolate in the finish. Each steeping changed only slightly, increasing in floral notes.

(sipdown of an older sample from Mackie)

I think this has long some of its flavor because it was the 2015 harvest. The first cup I added some soy milk hoping to bring out the rich cocoa notes. It didn’t give a lot of flavor, so my second steep I went with half of the water and only water, also I used boiling water instead of the moderate temperature I normally use. The second cup was much better and it steeped a rich amber-brown and had a distinctly cocoa flavour. It also gets a bit tannic if you let it steep too long, so be careful. I get an acidity but also smooth malty notes.

Yes, this is good too! Another magic black tea strikes again! I looked more into my previous black tea apathy, and it struck me that I actually have more black teas in my cupboards than any other tea type (including oolong). Seems I’m generally not picking up the right black tea for me. Maybe I need to go for more of this and less of the flavoured stuff.

Thank you for sending me some of this beautiful tea, Arby!

Steep Count: 2

(2017 harvest)

I am a big fan of Yunnan Sourcing’s black teas and Imperial Gold Needle is one of my favorites.

The dry leaf is aromatic and pretty, it brews up sweet and malty.

Simply a delicious tea.

Autumn 2015 harvest
Tastes of sweet potato, honey and malt, spice and floral. A hearty and satisfying cup when brewed strong, which also brings out some tannins in the cup.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BHF9pnwhVFy/

this was for the Spring 2015
was impressed with its initial parfume. Floral, patchouli, cocoa, baked potato

first steep was approximately 80C. sweet milk chocolate, minerality, malt, dates. liquid velvet
increasing temperature gave a bit more body, though still quite light, and wine-like flavours and the dustiest of tannins. tingling minerality. this is elegant; everything in its right place. a long honeyed finish. The burgundy of black teas

Spring 2016