Mandala Tea

This was included as a sample from Mandala. I was skeptical at first—most white teas I’ve had are so subtle that it’s like sipping warm water. But just one glance showed this to be something different. It had large fluffy white leaves alongside dark brown/black leaves, as if it was a blend of white and black tea. In fact, it’s all white tea, but some leaves have been oxidized and this presents an interesting contrast.

I wish I had read the steeping directions more carefully and noticed that others have gotten so many steepings from their White Night. I steeped my sample for 3 minutes, which is far too long for a first steeping. I’m looking forward to trying some more of this but will be more careful how I use it.

Tried to brew these using the method on the package—try 1, 2, then 5 min steeps with 2-3 cones for 8 oz water.

Second steep: A bit better than the first, but only just.

I’m going to try the 5 min steep, but overall I think these cones require much more time.

Tried to brew these using the method on the package—try 1, 2, then 5 min steeps with 2-3 cones for 8 oz water.

First steep: Very bland. This tastes flat with nothing really going on. The cones do unfirl nicely, but there isn’t much fragrance or taste. No aftertaste to speak of. None of the richness, chocolately, spicey tastes that you’d expect from a yunnan.

Another sample in my swap from TerriHarpLady :)

I love “pearl” teas. I love watching the agony of the tea, as it writhes and unfurls in the hot water.

This one is super malty, so obviously I am going to love it. It is bold and creamy. No astringency but there is a bit of a creamy aftertaste. I am also getting hints of a metallic earthiness, or something like that. There is a natural sweetness to the tea, and I almost think I get of a hint of spice, maybe like clove or something, but not sure. I used 4 pearls for this steep but I think I would like to use more next time.

When I was little, we grew corn in our small garden. One summer, we were building an addition on the house, and there was a constant smell of fresh cut lumber. This tea brings me back to an early summer evening, eating a sweetcorn dinner from the garden at the picnic table outside while smelling that fresh, sweet sawdust and the grassy smell of summer next to blooming flowers.

This is the sort of tea that makes me wonder if my taste buds broke. Because I can barely taste it, I have little to say about it – but you’re a fan of the most delicate teas, you should give this one a try!

Well I can’t very well improve on the terrific description by tperez and can only add that for someone who has apparently only had low quality (tasteless) white teas, this was a revelation. Mild and light, yes, but with the complexity and presence that drew me to better oolongs as my gateway drug to good teas. As this was a sample thrown into my green/oolong order by Garret, I guess he knew just how to get me to branch out. He’s a great tea guide, that one.

I agree with ifjuly that the first couple of steepings didn’t do much for me. Just a bit too delicate for my tastes, I guess. On the third steeping, I finally got that base note that hits me in the chest in a good way. The fourth was sublime, with high/low/salty/sweet complexity firing at me, though in a more delicate way than Mandala’s milk oolong. I think I’m going to have to put this one away until I’ve developed a more sensitive palate. Right now, I prefer the more obvious pleasures of milk oolong, but who knows how long that will last.

First infusion: Hmm, fruity? I’m getting miso soup. That’s kinda neat. Light mouthfeel, and a slightly salty but rounded taste. No fruit that I can detect, though it does have just the slightest touch of sweet for balance.

Second: Oh there it is! Now we’re talking. The miso, still there, has faded a bit, while the fruit has come forward. A much more interesting and delicious tea now.

Third: I’m losing interest. Perhaps I need to work on my technique or tastebuds, but I rarely get very many infusions of interest.

First infusion: Ack. Used a bit too much water. Really looking forward to the arrival of my tiny teapot next week. Still, I’m getting sweetness and a wonderfully buttery mouthfeel, even when diluted a bit.

Second infusion: Better concentration this time, and the brew is still sweet, a little more brisk, and oddly less complex. It’s leaving a little celery burn on the tongue.

Unfortunately, I have to go to work and can’t keep infusing. Not sure if I don’t love this one or if I just messed up the brew too much.

This one is going in the permanent collection. It’s both a guest-pleaser and a me-pleaser. People have done a great job of describing its notes, and the only thing I have to add is that it really reminds me of Ewephoria gouda cheese – which is nearly candy sweet (for cheese) but all kinds of tasty.

I recived this as a sample, and it seems Mandala knows my tastes, this came out very smooth, with just a touch of bitterness at the end, and now I need to order a full cake. With most puers Iv come to expect a very strong and almost musty taste but these are so smooth and unlike any I have had before its once again clear that alot of thought and care went into this product.

within 20 minutes of its delivery this tea was in my pot, it is semi sweet with very melow earthy undertones not pungient like many puers, the leaf grade is outstanding its clear that much thought went into the production and due to the nature of the trees it was harvested from no cup will be the same.

The leaves of this tea are beautiful. Rolled and all golden and black, amazing to look at.
I’m not educated enough to understand what is going on in this one. It has the right mouth feel of a rich, thick black – but it also is lighter in flavor than I normally prefer. It’s smooth and gentle – zero astringency, but has a bit of the “dry mouth” thing that I’m not fond of. I’m not sure how to classify this. There is no doubt that this is a high end tea, but I don’t think it fits my favorite black notes.
Thank you so much ifjuly for sending me some of this. I feel like I don’t deserve to be “wasting” this beautiful tea.

Welcome to Day 3 of little terri’s Sipdown Extravaganza!
I did an count last night, & if I haven’t missed anything, my starting total for today is 383 teas, LOL.

I like to start the day with a tasty cup o’ black, as that is the variety of tea that I love the most. This Purebud is a sample that Garret included in my most recent order. I’ve never met Garret, but without a doubt, he is one of my (many) favorite tea people, stocks some amazing teas (including this one), & also includes a smiling face that radiates through his awesomely friendly customer service.

This tea is wonderful. It’s perfect for this moment. I drank the first cup while fixing breakfast, steeped at 3 min (yes, my steeping parameters can be a bit barbaric. I meant to go with shorter more refined steepings, but I just woke up). I’m having my second (5 min) steep with breakfast. We steepsterites like to throw the word ‘malty’ around, and this tea IS malty. It’s also smooth, robust, thick, & sweet/savory. The first cup was very like a piece of whole grain toast, the 2nd cup has a hint of floral. Both cups are very satisfying, very rich, very delicious. Looks like I’ll need to order more!

But for now, this is sipdown #1 for the day, #10 for the Extravaganza, & my total count just dropped to 382 (unless I find some tea that I haven’t logged yet).
Savor the moment!

This is the newest crop of Pure Bud, & I’d like to thank Garret for sending me a generous sample of it! I’m short on words to describe teas today, but this tea isn’t short of flavor, with a rich mouthfeel & the flavor of an excellent whole grain toast. It’s both sweet & savory, & the dry leaf is really pretty, I might add.

This is really a gorgeous tea. Even with my ridiculously hard city tap water, and with leaves that are easily a year old, it’s still giving me a beautiful cup. First infusion was smooth, nutty-sweet, and extremely slurp-able. Second and third infusions were more grassy and fruity, but still very nice. Fourth didn’t fare so well (it was a bit like swimming pool water with lemon – sorry!) but I couldn’t care less because of the amazingness of the first two. Definitely restocking this one when it’s finished!

I am the worst. I keep buying tea and not drinking it because I’m still afraid of screwing up and wasting tea, like hoarding it and letting it go stale is so much better.

Well not anymore! I finally cracked into this pouch and I’m glad I did! I wasn’t sure how I’d take to this one, as it’s supposed to be similar to dragonwell and I haven’t been too impressed with the dragonwells I’ve tried thus far, but I was not disappointed. It’s a little sweet, a little savory, with a light dryness at the end of the sip. It’s quite moreish, as they say here in UKland – I keep grabbing the cup for another mouthful as soon as I’m finished with the preceding one. Yummy!

I got this a couple days and am just now getting around to reviewing it! I am drinking it again this morning and I’m really enjoying it. I ordered two teas from Mandala and they were both winners. This is sooo milky tasting, I added a little sweetener and that brought the milk taste out even more. So far in my exploration of milk oolongs, this is my favorite! I will definitely be ordering from Mandala again, I’m impressed by the quality of the teas and customer service:)