Imperial Bu Luo Chun (spring snail)

Spring has sprung, which means that everyone on Steepster is rushing to finish their older green teas. I’m no exception, though this one, from 2015, is older than most. I steeped my remaining 5.5 g in a 120 ml pot at 175F for 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50, 70, 90, 120, and 240 seconds.

The first steep has notes of bok choy, spinach, and broccoli. The second steep is much stronger, with the flavours of cruciferous vegetables I tend to avoid like broccoli and brussels sprouts. The third and fourth steeps are more beany, with a bit of creaminess and a sweet aftertaste.

Note: This tea does not go well with chocolate. All I can taste in the fifth steep are bitter veggies.

Whether because of the chocolate or because the tea is fading, the rest of the session is similarly vegetal and the liquor becomes more astringent near the end. It’s possible I used too much leaf and am paying for it.

Despite its age, this was a strong green tea that was pleasant to drink. However, I’m happy to have finished it.

From the Here’s Hoping TTB

Not my cup of tea, but I might have brewed it with too hot water? The smell was lovely, bright and floral, but the taste was really umami, which I’m not particularly a fan of.

First session I used 175 degree water, second used 185 – the max of the recommended temperature range. Surprisingly (to me anyways) it was much better with hotter water, though it could also be because I managed steep times a little bit better.

When I opened the bag, it smelled exactly like sweet honey. Unfortunately I didn’t get such an intense honey note anywhere in the flavor of the tea. I got a lot of kinda nutty flavors in this, a little bit toasty as well. I was getting a sweet finish on both the early and late steeps that did remind me of honey, but unfortunately not as strong or distinct as in the aroma of the dry leaves. In my first session I was getting a bit of a dryness or bitterness after the first couple steeps, I believe because I ramped my steep times up too quickly. I didn’t get much of any fruity flavor in this one though at one point the flavor was reminding me of lemon – but it didn’t really taste like lemon…if that makes any sense. With the hotter water I got a nicer and thicker body, with a more prominent corn sweetness. Why can’t I list corn as a flavor note? I hear people describe teas as having a “corn sweetness” all the time. Anyways, a pretty good green tea. I will have to try some other ones as well, I get the sense this tea would have been a lot more flavorful if it was more fresh.

Here’s Hoping TTB

Thank you so much to Zen for including so many intriguing samples in this box! I’m really excited I had the chance to try this one. The dry leaf is super pretty: small, tightly curled leaves in a whole spectrum of different shades of green. It brews up to a lovely pale spring green color with a fresh vegetal aroma. Sipping, I found it to be super smooth and silky with a lightly sweet floral flavor. This is exactly the sort of green tea I love. Adding it to my wish list!

A very delicate green. Spring snail is not really what I want to think about when I’m drinking tea as snail doesn’t sound too appealing. Mainly grassy with a bit of floral. However, the floral flavor seems to come out more in less steep time; same for the fruity flavor.

This is another that Zen sent over for the teabox. Such soft, delicate, crumbly leaves with this one. So many colors to the leaves as well – from white to the darkest green. The flavor is light, lovely and sweet. It tastes like sweet creamed corn, probably because the texture of the tea is very smooth and silky too. One of the lightest green teas there are, while still maintaining a ton of flavor. The second steep has much of the same flavor but with a little more depth and strength. Overall, a fantastic, light, tasty, sweet, refreshing green tea. Not overly vegetal at all. A great example of this type of green tea if you’re looking to try it.
Steep #1 // 1 1/2 teaspoons for a full mug// 30 minutes after boiling // 1 minute steep
Steep #2 // 25 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep