Popular Tasting Notes
I have rated this flowering tea very high! From the beauty of the flower of this tea to the fragrant scent it emits as the steam rises from my glass tea pot, this tea just satisfies me in so many different ways! It’s very mild tasting with a pleasant jasmine flavor. I am immediately soothed and calmed by this tea. It’s already been a hectic day and I am immediately at ease after tasting:) I have also been able to get over 3 gallons out of this one tea bulb! I am very impressed all around by this tea and whole-heartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a pleasant tea with many benefits:)
Preparation
Also in the stack of samplers I had at work and forgot about, though this only had one teaspoon left.
I sort of ruined it because I didn’t completely wash out my mug, so there’s slight lingering scent of mocha nut mate, too. That’s what I get for being lazy.
But anyway, I’ve always liked sencha, which I guess gyokuro is part of, or at least similar to. Part of the process of logging all these is to learn the differences myself, heh. I’ll need to get some other sencha to try, as well as more gyokuro.
As for this specific cup, it’s lightly grassy and “green”. There’s a hint of metallic taste to me, too. I’ve had a lot of Japanese greens, but since at the time I really didn’t know any more than “this is tea” I have a hard time comparing it other than— it certainly tastes like a Japanese green in a general sense. Which is nice, reminds me of being there.
Flavors: Grass, Metallic, Tea, Vegetal
Preparation
Adds a touch of mint and ginger to white tea. I added a drop of light agave nectar. Good for those who would like to drink white tea for its health benefits, but complain that it lacks flavor. Bag will go a 2nd round, too! P.S. Given a chance, most palates can learn to distinguish the mellow flavor of good white tea.
Preparation
Very happy with this aged compressed Pu-Erh. I am fairly new to tea culture. I have tried many different flavors in the past two years. This has been one of my favorites. It helps with digestion, and along with diet and exercise, has helped reduce my cholesterol by 50 points. It is smooth and refreshing. I also love the customer service at Tiberias Tea, very prompt and helpful.
Preparation
I guess there is a first time for everything…. This is the only Silver Needle that I have ever outright hated. Silver Needle used to be my favorite tea when I was a kid… I’d like to think that by growing up loving this type of tea, I’d know what good Silver Needle tastes like… MAN, this is NOT it. The aroma was so odd and the taste matched the aroma in its oddness. What did you do DAVIDsTEA?! Maybe I got a bad batch… :(
Preparation
This is pretty much a standard in Canada and Great Britain.
It’s a good cup of green tea . They also sell 200 bag boxes, which really makes it a value, if you can find them.
Each one is individually wrapped.
Twinnings probably has the best blenders in the world. They deal with so much tea.
It’s better than the Walmart Brand here, as well.
Next time I get another box, I will update this.
2010 Gu Ming Xiang “Lao Ban Zhang Gu Shu” Sheng Pu’erh
Dry leaves smell of herbs, grass and smoke. Wet leaves have a pungent, smokey hay aroma.
10s rinse/10m rest.
Steep/Time: Notes
1/10s: Light, honey-like sweetness. More sweetness at the back of the throat. Pleasant full mouth feel that’s more noticeable in the aftertaste. I’m always a little uncertain when I detect that first bit of cha qi, but this one is noteable.
2/10s: Sweetness much more pronounced in the mouth, back of the throat and aftertaste. Tastes of grass and honey. Cha qi developing as a slightly light headed alertness. Wow! Good qi! I pushed this just a tad too long as I can detect a tiny bit of bitterness.
3/10s: This tea as a really interesting mouthfeel. Almost as if your tongue is being coated with a very light weight oil or wax that vanishes a few moments later. The finish is only mildly dry. Sweetness has mellowed just a touch in this pot though still very noticeable at the back of the throat. Ok, I think there’s something to Lao Ban Zhang teas when it comes to qi. Wide awake right now and super focused… though not always on the right thing, LOL!
4/20s: Very good tea. A bit of what I can best describe as tanginess now going along with the sweetness. I have to test a Lao Ban Zhang without my moring coffee. That may be why I end up so reved up with this tea.
5/30s: Love the sweet after taste. Have to be careful though not to push this tea too hard. Otherwise there’s a bit of a bitter note when the tea first hits the tongue.
6/30s: A little of the honey like taste is tapering off.
7/45s: Good, but I’m thinking this tea will end around 10 steeps. Still has that nice sweet after taste. Not noting any new flavors or anything.
Flavors: Grass, Honey
Preparation
This morning I decided that I would start the day with two bowls of matcha and a plate of watermelon. I then followed this with a couple of cups of Long Jing and some toaster waffles with syrup.
I really like the combination of matcha with sugar, prepared traditionally, and watermelon. You take a sip of one and then later a bite of the other. I have yet to try it with many other fruits, I am sure it would work well, though. This mornings matcha was dark green and the froth was lighter colour. It contrasts so well with the red of the watermelon. You can also reverse the order with supersweet fruits and leave the matcha unsweetened.
My taste buds were primed by the time I had my first sip of Long Jing. I was in a sort of sudden matcha enduced calm, as well. It was sweet and brothlike with plenty of umami. Really delicious.
I look forward to many years of drinking tea. It has opened up quite a world to me.
I don’t typically like flavoured black teas (other than Earl Grey and bergamot-based teas), and Marco Polo is a rare exception. It’s flavourful without being overwhelming, making it easy to drink, and perfect for a cold morning.
