A few weeks ago there was a discussion board talking about Tea of the Month Groups. I had looked into a few at the time, & am continuing to look into them. Some sound more interesting than others to me, & I tend to be a little leery of joining a group that is going to send me some ‘surprise’ that I might not want (even though it might make good tea trade currency). I don’t usually drink a lot of flavored teas, for instance (although I’ve really pushed the edge on that a little lately), so I wouldn’t really want to receive a lot of teas of that nature. I did join the Verdant Tea of the Month, however, as I know that his blends are real things, not a bunch of supposedly natural flavorings.
This is the 3rd selection from the Verdant Tea of the Month offerings for October. I’ve reviewed the other 2 selections already. For those who don’t read the discussion boards, David gave us the opportunity to vote between this brew & another. This is the one I wanted! I’ve always enjoyed chrysanthemum flowers as a tisane, especially in the late afternoon while I prepare dinner. It has a bright & refreshing, slightly floral & mineral taste, & it’s also great for sore throats & fever. I’ll usually drink it plain, but sometimes I’ll add a little stevia, & I like it that way too. Chrysanthemum is considered one of the 4 Gentlemen of Chinese art: The orchid for spring, Bamboo for summer, Chrysanthemum for Fall, & the Plum Blossom for Winter. These are used to illustrate the unfolding of the seasons throughout the year. In my mind that makes it even more significant that David chose Chrysanthemum for this Fall blend.
The Xingyang 2007 Shu is a wonderful base for this tea: earthy, sweet, mildly ‘shroomy, with the warmth of fresh baked muffins. The Chrysanthemum brightens it up & adds a cooling factor, but then the coriander brings in a little more warmth. There’s a little burdock in there, which I love, with it’s tendency to bring us back down to earth, and a little Holy Basil adding a little more brightness & optimism.
I brewed this several different ways over the weekend. First, with my Gaiwan, going through several steepings, in tandem with the other 2 tea of the months, so I could compare them side by side & get the full impact of the pairings. Today I just made 2 cups: the first was 2 tsp of tea in 8oz water, steeped 2 minutes, unsweetened. The 2nd was a re-steeping, 3 minutes, plus stevia. I thoroughly enjoyed both! I love this combo! I feel warm & cozy!
To me, this tea is saying, “Winter is coming, prepare to go within.” This is the time of year when I want to turn my focus inward, re-connect with my roots, & get ready to hibernate. This is a tea for regaining balance, for looking within, for healing.
Thank you, David, & the Verdant team! Have a great trip to China!
