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Totally agree with Rasseru. This is a generally over the top Dan Cong which I too have had darker roasted. The trend though has been to make lighter ones and with this tea its not an improvement IMOA. Yes all the things you love are here, but not with the pop and clarity of a darker roasted version. That being said its still a damn good tea, finicky if over-steeped and just the right temp. I played with the temp and found lower to be better than the requisite 195. The number two on my best Ba Xians

Where has this been all my life. Superb execution on the making of this tea. Perfect oxidation and roasting, leading to a burst of floral, malt and citrus. The only other red tea I’ve had with this profile was a Darjeeling from Teabox.

Came as free sample with my order, and was confused and excited, Yancha my favorite but in black tea form? The tea is superb, all the right notes of a black with the malt caramel and some attributes of Yancha on the oolong side with orange flower. Well done

I didn’t think this tea was as good as some of the other Assams, not enough of a flavor profile, but still quite a drinkable tea especially the pow from the abundant caffeine

Back of the cupboard discovery from Steepter’s monthy. I used the whole package 8 gms and a celadon teapot, 190° water. Fresh aromas of cut grass in the package and the brewed aromas of grass and melon appear with a sweetness of honey on the nose. The flavor profile is delicate, lemony, muted malt and a bit of white pepper. Resteeped 4 times.

Shooooooou…….smoooooooth. Brilliant on a bitter cold day when chores are necessary outdoors. Aroma and flavors of the outdoors before you even leave the house. Had enough energy all day and then some. Love this tea.

Free sample from YSUS, for my splurge in oolongs. This sample was 21 grams, very generous. A quick look up on the site provided no inside knowledge so its basically a blind tasting. Use a thin walled 100 ml gaiwan and used the approved mrmopar brewing techniques, which produces a smoky tea, viscous with soft florals, no astringency or bitterness. It is a decent tea and further research on the goog says its meant for the Taiwan market and is tightly compressed for their humid environs. I purposely over brewed my 6th session to see if I could coax out anything other than the smokiness and not much showed up other than puckering bitter. I’m going to recommend it because although it may not have much depth it still is a smooth smokey tea is that’s your thing. Oh and the other is that I can’t find it anywhere online.

Bought this while strolling through the hood on my way to my favorite lunch place for dan dan noodles. Bright green leaf in bag with no obvious aromas. Brewed to instructions in smallest gaiwan, the aroma is really intense with cooked spinach. Not that over boiled nasty spinach smell but the gentle parboiled fresh smell as you squeeze out the juices. The liquor is a bit cloudy, thick and not as vibrant as i would have expected, more of a muted yellow. The flavor is dead on spinach and asparagus at first with a hint of seaweed. As you continue to sip, a noticeable bitter approaches but not enough to scare you off. After about 2 minutes the aftertaste yields from bitter to sweet. The one thing I observed in my reaction was I didn’t feel like I had drank a tea. Knowing my way around a kitchen and being one of those who wastes nothing I have been known to drink my spinach water if I wasn’t using it it in a recipe, and that’s how I regarded this tasting. I would have given it a better rating but I am new to Japanese greens and will need to revisit after I try a few more samples. Also the bitterness was noticeable and I don’t know if it is supposed to be part of the experience or just an expression of this tea alone.

All your typical Yunnan red tea flavors and aromas in a nutshell. It’s comforting on these cold winter days and I drink it as a second round of tea after my morning oolong. A standard bearer that is consistent year after year.

Very nice example of the Phoenix powerhouse fragrant tea. Right away I noticed the leaf as well processed, tight twist and roasted lightly Over the top floral notes and the flavors of honeysuckle, musk melon and slightly sweet. Well structured mouth-feel and a tiny bit of astringency that compliments this teas aromatic boldness. This is one of those teas that I give to jaded coffee drinkers to win them over to our side.