I was excited to try this tea after discovering how much I like Tieguanyin. What a curious blend! It’s very colorful and right on top I had a little chunk of sap. I’ve never had tea with sap before, this will be interesting.
Woah. This ish is intense. In such a good way. It’s like David (I’m just assuming he made this, I’m sorry if I’m offending the tea-maker or tea-team) got to the heart of the Tieguanyin and then brought out all the flavors with this blend. It all works, even though on paper it seems like it might not.
This is a complex and delicious tea. I’m looking forward to the resteep as most of the leaves have not opened yet. Could this get even better? Anything is possible!
The tea looks different now — the orange peel has plumped up and looks brighter, the leaves are expanding, and the sap has turned white and is melting all over everything. The smell is slightly different, too.
YUM. It does get even better. I don’t have the words to properly describe this tea. I wish I had more linguistic talent! Some of you Steepster…ers are so poetic!
Overall, this is another amazing blend from Verdant. I highly recommend it to everyone. That’s something (out of many things) that I love about Verdant. They offer those little sizes so you can get adventurous and try new stuff. If you don’t like it, no big deal. You aren’t stuck with an ounce or two to pawn off or left to molder. I’ll enjoy the rest of my sample soon — no need to let this one go!
I don’t know who I am — a blend person or a straight tea person. I’ll try one of Verdant’s wonderful teas and nod assuredly to myself, “Ah yes, I do not need blended nonsense. I’m a straight tea drinker.”
Then I’ll try a blend, like Chocolate Chamomile Curiosity, and realize that blends are amazing and a good blend really enhances the tea I love. I guess I just like tea, guys.
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Great review, so candid!
Tea’s not too bad of a thing to like either! (`v`*)
Thank you! :)
Definitely passing your compliments on to David!! So glad you enjoyed :D
You were right- the blends are all his, and all of them have the goal of showing off something new about the traditional tea base (rather than covering them up). He once described it as helping dress Cinderella up in her gown and glass shoes for the ball. She was always the most beautiful person (both inside and out)- she didn’t need the dress for the prince to fall in love, but the finery and framing helped everyone see what they might have otherwise overlooked.
http://verdanttea.com/what-is-unflavored-tea-anyway/
This sounds interesting. I don’t know about the sap part. I hate gin because to me it tastes like what sap smells. I’ve never tasted sap but I smelt it. As for your “linguistic talent” we’ll, you’re doing pretty good. I you didn’t have it, we’ll, you wouldn’t have said “linguistic talent” to begin with
The resin is worth reading about…it takes several healing oozes for the precious flavorful, healthful and fragrant frankincense that is so treasured to be produced and collected. It was after some conversations about the incense photo for my blog that David had this brilliant idea for Earl of Anxi. The way the incense melds with the tea is unique. Love!
You’re right, Bonnie — it is absolutely unique! I love it. That’s so cool that you inspired a tea!
No I didn’t, conversation did. Could have been anyone. I see you live in the Bay Area. SF BAY? I moved to Colorado from there. Grew up in San Jose but lived last in Morgan Hill and Saratoga (long story).
Yes, SF bay! I got my special education credential in San Jose — I live less than an hour north. It’s a wonderful area, but may be getting too expensive for my boyfriend and I to live here any more. Do you like where you are at now?
Great review, so candid!
Tea’s not too bad of a thing to like either! (`v`*)
Thank you! :)
Definitely passing your compliments on to David!! So glad you enjoyed :D
You were right- the blends are all his, and all of them have the goal of showing off something new about the traditional tea base (rather than covering them up). He once described it as helping dress Cinderella up in her gown and glass shoes for the ball. She was always the most beautiful person (both inside and out)- she didn’t need the dress for the prince to fall in love, but the finery and framing helped everyone see what they might have otherwise overlooked.
http://verdanttea.com/what-is-unflavored-tea-anyway/
This sounds interesting. I don’t know about the sap part. I hate gin because to me it tastes like what sap smells. I’ve never tasted sap but I smelt it. As for your “linguistic talent” we’ll, you’re doing pretty good. I you didn’t have it, we’ll, you wouldn’t have said “linguistic talent” to begin with
The resin is worth reading about…it takes several healing oozes for the precious flavorful, healthful and fragrant frankincense that is so treasured to be produced and collected. It was after some conversations about the incense photo for my blog that David had this brilliant idea for Earl of Anxi. The way the incense melds with the tea is unique. Love!
You’re right, Bonnie — it is absolutely unique! I love it. That’s so cool that you inspired a tea!
No I didn’t, conversation did. Could have been anyone. I see you live in the Bay Area. SF BAY? I moved to Colorado from there. Grew up in San Jose but lived last in Morgan Hill and Saratoga (long story).
Yes, SF bay! I got my special education credential in San Jose — I live less than an hour north. It’s a wonderful area, but may be getting too expensive for my boyfriend and I to live here any more. Do you like where you are at now?