348 Tasting Notes
It’s been awhile since I’ve imbibed a good English Breakfast, and this certainly qualifies. The dry leaves smelled like both Assam and Keemun, but I’m not sure Keemun was used due to how light the liquor brewed. On taste, it was smoky, malty, smooth, and somewhat forest-like on the finish. Not quite Petersham excellence, but still up there.
Preparation
A blogger friend of mine sent me three blends of his own devising. The first that caught my attention was (naturally) the smoky one. What was funny about the blend is that I found green oolong in the midst – highly unusual. This is a very gentle Russian Caravan variant. It was both smoky and floral with a smooth underpinning of malt and tobacco. A very manly hug of a morning cup.
Preparation
This marks my second first flush of the new year. And, wow, what a cup. This had all the trappings of a Darjeeling first flush, but with the added burden of a tannic mouthfeel on the finish. It was all spices, grapes, and greenery the way through. The character was more in line with a Darjeeling oolong than a normal OP. Simply superb.
Preparation
Their description was rather apt. Fans of Golden Yunnans WOULD love this. I happened to fall fairly squarely in that category. This was the second Golden Bi Luo I had ever tried, and they seem to echo the same characteristics as Yunnan Golds…only sharper. It was creamy when it had to be, malty to a point, and earthy with a dash of pepper. My only real complaint was that introduction was a little too sharp and tannic. That said, still an excellent cup.
Preparation
I felt like a Sikkim this morning. Heck, I always feel like a Sikkim. Sure, it’d been awhile since I had it, but it felt like a Temi sorta day. Just like the last two times I dipped into this, it brewed amber, had a Darjeeling-ish spicy note to it, but also possessed a fruity underpinning. Great way to start the morn.
My only regret is I never got to try a Temi 2nd Flush in 2011.
Original Review: http://www.teaviews.com/2012/01/28/review-rare-tea-republic-temi-sftgfop1-first-flush/
Preparation
It’s been awhile since I’ve had a Zhen Qu gold-tipped Yunnan. The last one I tried was – dare I say it? – a year ago. That one was sheer and utter perfection. This one was…almost perfect. With a liquor color like leather and a taste like honey and cream, how could it not be close to perfect? Hard to pinpoint what it was missing, but it wasn’t much. Truly an excellent Yunnan Gold.
Full Review: Pending on www.teaviews.com
Preparation
I’m a HUGE fan of Yunnan Golds as a rule. This one suffered from being too light compared to its other gold-tipped kin. That said, it still held quite a bit of what I loved about the type – honey-like, peppery, woody, and slightly creamy. I just wished it was a little burlier. However, to say it’s a slight disappointment compared to other Yunnan Golds is like saying, “You’re the less pretty High Elf in the court.” (I.e. It’s still excellent in its own right.)
Full Review: Pending on www.teaviews.com
Preparation
@Kwinter – I’ll keep that in mind when I actually have enough to justify a tea budget.
@The Purrfect Cup – You wants the precioussss.
I was not expecting much from this. It didn’t look like a Darjeeling; it didn’t smell like a Darjeeling. Heck, it didn’t even taste like a Darjeeling. But – oh my – what a taste it was! Fruit candy on the front, and a malt-’n-floral trail-off. It reminded me quite a bit of teas put out by the Oothu estate (also a biodynamic op). In a word, “Perfect.”
Full Review: Pending on www.teaviews.com
Preparation
One of last Darjeeling 2011s in my stash. Gotta say it was a good year. Thankfully, it’s ending on a good note with this one. While not as strong on the spice-‘n-grape profile as others I’ve tried, this was a very even muscatel mouthfeel from start to finish. It is quintessentially Darjeeling with none of the weaknesses.
Full Review: Pending on www.teaviews.com