Dobra Tea

Whenever we reorder from Dobra, this tea pretty much immediately disappears from my cupboard. It’s definitely the most memorable chocolate tea I’ve ever had, though we’re talking the deep rich bean flavor rather than any kind of sweet notes. Certainly gets a little bit of that hot-chocolate feel if you adulterate it enough, but I tend to be a little gentle applying cream and sugar to this one.

The only reason it’s not rated higher is that I usually expect my teas to brew well hot and cold. The chocolate additives, for whatever reason, cause the tea to go off within 24-30 hours after brewing, limiting my chance to enjoy it.

I tried the 2021 version.

Because of the shape, this requires either a few steeps or a longer initial steep to yield real flavour. When the taste does emerge, it’s roasted yet delicate. The wet leaves smell sweet and toasty. There’s a kind of dark floral background.

It’s nice! However, it is a tad fiddly to prepare. Green tea is always somewhat fiddly for me, but this one seems more sensitive to small changes in temperature and time than others.

Given the age of the tea I had, it was surprisingly good – I’d picked it up about this time last year. It had some typical sencha bitterness, some grassy flavours, and an odd, almost boozy note – not sure if that was present when it was younger. The tastes blended together into a harmonious balance.

A fairly straightforward green tea, more delicate than some other Chinese greens I’ve tried. It has a slightly dry, slighty bitter herbal taste that reminds me of ‘gunpowder green’ tea, but more complex and better balanced.

Ordered in my local Dobrá Čajovna (Dobra Tea tearoom) while I was waiting for last inventory check (part-time job).

I wished for caffeine boost, but it didn’t really come.

Don’t have much details but: In aroma very roasty, nutty… Hints of almonds, little floral.
and:
In taste it is much more mellow and way more floral with hints of nuts and one more message:
It was nice and pleasant tea. Not really energy boosting, but it was really nice. Quite complex in flavour. Haven’t expected floral and roasty in same time

I wrote those points to my friend who was curious about the tea.

When I smelled the wet leaf in gaiwan, I thought it will be very roasty, as aroma said so. But actually it was quite mellow and rather floral than roasty. I was thinking buying it home to use it possibly in the Advent Swap (see below!) but 320 CZK for 50 grams was quite steep for me.

I won’t return there for some time again unfortunately, situation here is worse and worse and as we have distance learning nowdays, we stay in our rooms trying to study. And I decided to stop the part time job as well now, because of Covid situation; as well I need to focus on studies a little bit more.

Check out Tea Advent Swap we are going to do: https://steepster.com/discuss/42125-2020-tea-advent-swap Shae organises it and I would love to see more people taking part!

As last, one funny story overheard there:
I don’t mind you smoke weed, you can arrive here stoned, I really don’t mind. But please, don’t use the crusher for shisha tobbaco for your weed. Please, don’t! said a manager to one of his employees (they serve hookahs there)

Ordered in Dobra Čajovna tearoom in Pardubice as Dian Hong cha. So, that said, I don’t know steeping parameters. The staff prepared a teapot of it and said me I can get second steeping if I want to.

The tea seems not that fresh as I am used to. Taste is honestly quite weak, I notice minerality, salt, little of leather and malt. It is tannic, little astringency.

It’s not wrong, just bit boring.

News section: government shut down all schools except kindergardens. Due to coronavirus. Holidays? I don’t think so.

I visited Dobra while on the way home from a vacation and ordered a rooibos bubble tea with soy milk. The tea itself was pretty watery from the ice melting in it. I should have asked for light ice, but I forgot. The real star of the show was the boba. I’m really only making the review to talk about that. It was just the right texture and just the right amount of sweetness. The drink wasn’t very flavorful, but the boba was some of the best I’ve had. It cost $5.25, which is a little more than I prefer to pay, but it was nice to check this place out.

Ordered in Dobrá čajovna Pardubice. Two steeps in a teapot. We will see.

As I was drinking green teas and oolongs (butter caramel oolong from DF this morning) I have decided for black tea.

Pours copper clear liquor. Bit green notes though too.

In taste it is fresh, like Darjeeling a bit. There are little malt there too!

But overall it’s so mellow.

In scent: fruity and floral. Bit of citrus aromas too. Maybe a bergamot and orange zest.

Food pairing: cheese pita bread.

I wrote this note on mobile, so it’s not really convinient. But tea is good and that counts!

A backlog, I had it in Dobra Cajovna (tearoom) in Pardubice yesterday . I needed something as energy boost, as I had night shift. I do inventory checks as part-time job. Not a dream job, but money is money.

Anyway to the tea. I ordered it as teapot version, so two brews. Unfortunately I have no idea about volume nor amount of tea. They brew it outside and then pour the liquor to the teapot. Nice solution so it would not overbrew and you can pour it to cup anytime.

Colour is most green I have seen in while. Really acid green colour. But liquor remains clear which is certainly a plus.

Ahh, at least I made little, but some notes:
Aromas were really wonderful, full bodied. I wrote down following – freshly cut grass, wet hay. Probably more, but as I said, it is a backlog, I have not written down much. Those scents apply for both brews, it remains rather same.

Now to flavours:
First brew it was really grassy with bit of umami. It was nice and easy to drink, no funky notes. Second brew was different: it went bit buttery, but still enjoyable. But aftertaste was amazing and I never encounter with it in green teas. It was like roasted nuts! That made my experience unique.

They wrote down it has got great stimulating effects and I have to agree. I have not closed my eyes to 3 am. Great for night shift.

Here is what they wrote in tea menu:
“Tea of the year 2009”. Mountain variety of Sencha from Hamamatsu region in Shizuoka province. Dark green flat leaves with same size, with strong grass aroma and incommutable taste. It has got remarkable stimulating effects.

So very good. Not getting much in terms of malt, which is strange as I associate malty flavors with Assam teas. Doesn’t matter – it’s still really enjoyable. Perfect breakfast tea, even better with milk, as expected. I added evaporated milk to this, which made it heavenly. Nice and full bodied, with a hint of sweetness. Love!

Imagine if you will, that one perfect swimming hole. Deep in the woods, there might be a waterfall. You spent a summer visiting it and the feeling of the water, the sun on your back, the smell, and the atmosphere all are imprinted in your very psyche. That is how Dian Lu Eshan Mao Feng affected me the first time I had the pleasure of sipping it. It starts out clear and refreshing, with slightly vegetal notes and a sweetness, which while noticeable, was neither cloying nor overwhelming. As steeps continue the clear liquor slowly becomes more and more yellow, ending up for my last few steeps as a hay color, and tasted similarly. Despite there clearly being no mint in the tea, it almost seemed mentholated in its cooling qualities. It left me feeling refreshed and going back for more. Honestly I’d rate this 100%, but I’m leaving room for a perfect tea when I find it. This is however, the closest I’ve come.

Sampling at home required a little experimentation, as the first time I tried it I was in Dobra. But after a few tries I was able to get the right temperature down and the steep times. It’s honestly not the easiest tea to master, but I got it in the end.