Tea of the morning…….
This is the last black in the teas sent for review by TeaVivre. Thank you so much for the opportunity to try your teas. (A green and an oolong to go!)
This is a beautiful tea. It has long golden fingers with a bit of a sheen and downy fuzz. It appears to be the very tenderest part of the plant. The smell is rich and slightly earthy. I do think Yunnans are a coffee drinker’s tea in that the flavor is full, slightly malty, and roasty. This one is a very smooth example. I did initially think I might have gone a little light on the leaf in my teapot, but the richness of this tea easily overcame that. This is definitely going on my shopping list. It is probably the best Yunnan I have had to date.
I did follow the steeping recommendations on the package.
I was contacted by the company to offer free samples and since others had been reviewing free samples from them, I decided it would be a good way to see what the company was about. Part of what made me pause in thinking of placing an order is that there really is no option on their website to purchase samples, so you really cannot know what you are getting, and then there is the meeting of the free shipping…(which I now know they ship to the US for around $6 for orders below$30). I have to be quite frank in that I do prefer to purchase my samples rather than getting them free as I think it lends more credibility to my review. I do think samples along with an order is another great inroad for reviews, but I know it is hard to break through for that first sale. I have tried to be as unbaised as possible in my reviews of the teas sent, but it is really hard to know for sure. I do feel a need to make sure I try all of them sent in a timely manner, which is not how I usually approach tea. I usually let my mood guide me rather than I ‘have to try these first’ as a courtesy for TeaVivre’s sending them to me. All I can say is that I will defintely be ordering in the near future if that is any indication. The sample offering worked to make me want to be a customer, because the tea does speak for itself.
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Appreciate your “full disclosure,” Jen, as the average would-be customer will not receive samples for free and, as you noted, has no way of buying them either. With tea as with perfume, it is my policy to always try before buying if possible (although with tea, the mistakes are not quite as expensive!).
I will definitely be ordering, too, Jen! The Two Dragons and a Pearl Flowering tea was lovely AND delicious, the puer is mild and earthy/horsey instead of fishy, and the tea in this review had remarkable qualities…and all without additions.
This tea will also be in my Teavivre order.
Has any one asked if the samples can be purchased? I loved almost every tea I tried and liked those I didn’t love (make sense?). However some I would only want one rare occasions making 50 or 100g too much.
I worried a bit about the impartial thing too but quickly decided these teas are so good it wasn’t going to be an issue. The bigger problem is my lack of experience.
These folks have given away tea all over the internet. Can you imagine the start up costs for this company?
Appreciate your “full disclosure,” Jen, as the average would-be customer will not receive samples for free and, as you noted, has no way of buying them either. With tea as with perfume, it is my policy to always try before buying if possible (although with tea, the mistakes are not quite as expensive!).
I will definitely be ordering, too, Jen! The Two Dragons and a Pearl Flowering tea was lovely AND delicious, the puer is mild and earthy/horsey instead of fishy, and the tea in this review had remarkable qualities…and all without additions.
This tea will also be in my Teavivre order.
Has any one asked if the samples can be purchased? I loved almost every tea I tried and liked those I didn’t love (make sense?). However some I would only want one rare occasions making 50 or 100g too much.
I worried a bit about the impartial thing too but quickly decided these teas are so good it wasn’t going to be an issue. The bigger problem is my lack of experience.
These folks have given away tea all over the internet. Can you imagine the start up costs for this company?