Chicago Tea Garden

Really nice, spicy black tea, beautiful in dry leaf form.

Wow…just wow. This is probably the best oolong I have ever had, and that says a lot because I’ve had A LOT of oolong. Short steeps in a gaiwan are best. I think I may need to treat myself to this one.

I got a sample of this with my order from CTG. To be clear, this was absolutely fantastic! This oolong blew me away (and I am an oolong head) – one of the best I have had in a long, long time. This tea demands short (30 sec) steeps. multiple times, in a Xing teapot, and quiet time set aside for contemplation. WOW!

Brewed this in a gaiwan. It’s amazing how much it really does smell and taste like sticky rice. The first steeping was a bit too astringent but all of the other ones (I think I must have done around 6 or so) were very nice.

I have grown to really appreciate this tea. This holds up well to multiple infusions – which is quite convenient at work using Puritea’s personal tea kettle. It is warm and toasty. Cannot get bitter even if you let it steep to long. No need for sugar. When I first tried this one, I did not use enough tea leaves to water, and the tea tasted too mild. Now that I have mastered the steeping parameters, I really like this one. So I am upping the rating and am considering a purchase!

Another $3 sample (including shipping)from the Chicago Tea Garden. The tea is EXACTLY like the photo with tightly coiled golden balls. I followed the recommended steeping times of 1 minute for the first infusion. This was a very mild black tea- no need to add milk to this one. There was no astringency and only a mild malty flavor was present. The vendor suggested that 8 infusions would be possible- after about 4 infusions, the taste faded for me.

As this tea is so mild, this tea would be perfect for someone who is not a fan of black teas. Personally, I prefer a punchier tea but I can certainly appreciate this tea’s quality…

This vendor offers a great deal on samples. For $3 bucks including shipping- you get a sample of tea. So I was pretty suprised when I opened my package and received a small orange filled with pu-erh tea – all for $3. Warning – the orange was a bit moldy-well the orange and the tea have been sitting in a cave since at least 2005…

Onto the tasting- this was my first pu-erh. I rinsed the leaves first and steeped for 30 seconds as recommended by the vendor. Suprisingly, this tea is mild w/only a subtle (and I mean subtle) orange flavor. The earthiness is very slight and no bitterness. Also, suprising, is that no sweetener is needed for this tea (and I love my sugar in tea). The orange flavor was more sweet and did not have the usual tang associated with citrus…

According to the vendor, this tea is good for multiple steepings. Next time, I am going to try a longer steeping time to get the more traditional earthy flavor expected from a typical pu-erh. Unsure if I am going to purchase a larger amount but I am definitely pleased and am looking forward to trying more pu-erhs…

First tea of the day for me. I really like this tea, it’s a rich black tea and a bit creamy with vanilla tones mixed in. I like this a lot.

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 nest ~4.6g
Water: ~16 oz
Tool: ceramic Tea Forte solstice teapot
Steep Time: a little over 1 minute
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: rice
Steeped Tea Smell: rice
Flavor: bitter, astringent, rice, green tea
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: bitter green tea
Liquor: translucent yellow-green

As an aside this online shop has amazing customer service, packaging, and products. I highly recommend them.

MilitiaJim appreciates that it is what it says, rice tea.

I started with a quick rinse steep to loosen everything up. As the nest unfurled the leaves were smaller than I expected. I ended up needed to strain the tea as I poured into my cup.

I think I was not patient enough in letting the water cool from a boil, or 1 minute was too long to steep the leaves as it was bitter. I could both smell and taste the rice.

I’m intrigued and can’t wait to try this tea again later, I am still new to pu-erh teas so the whole rinse and tiny steep concept is difficult for me to time correctly. To add trouble I also always over heat my whites and greens!

Post-Steep Additives: none

Resteep: same as the first in preparation and taste

This gets extra points just for being different and fun.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/04/chicago-tea-garden-tuocha-green-pu-erh.html

Infusion is a pretty copper color—not as dark nor as opaque as I would expect from a pu-erh. Substantial and full-bodied, earthy with fleeting orange notes. This could grow on me—

Wow—just wow! If one needs proof that tea can be an amazing experience, this is it. This is the best oolong I have tried—beautifully floral, sweet, complex—wow!

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 tsp
Additives: none
Water: 6 ounces boiling
Tool: Mesh basket strainer in cup
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: leafy, muddy

Steep Time: a little over 30 seconds
Steeped Tea Smell: leaves
Flavor: muddy
Body: Medium
Liquor: translucent orange brown

Tossed, I guess this counts as the rinse

Steep Time: a little over 30 seconds
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, leaves
Flavor: muddy, sweet, silky
Body: Medium
Liquor: translucent orange brown

Steep Time: a little over 45 seconds
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, leaves
Flavor: muddy, sweet, silky
Body: Medium
Liquor: translucent brown with an orange hint

Steep Time: a little over 45 seconds
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, leaves
Flavor: muddy, sweet, silky, bitter
Body: Medium
Liquor: translucent light orange-brown

Since it got bitter I stopped.

I think next time I may try 2 tsp / 6 ounces. Perhaps this will raise the rating?

I am very new to pu-erh so I’m finding may way through. I may end up not liking it. So I am not sure if I do or do not like pu-erh in general, or even if I prepared these leaves correctly.

Images: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2010/03/chicago-tea-garden-loose-leaf-pu-erh.html

Prepared with the recommended short steeps—1 min., 1 min., 1.5 min., 1.5 min., etc. Very fresh, creamy, definite sweet, vanilla notes. About the 3rd steep, a toasty nuttiness emerges. Tea remains smooth throughout—a very good anytime cup.

This was an unusual find but I actually quite liked it. It was smooth and mellow with just a hint of a citrus aftertaste. My boyfriend even liked it and he sweetens everything he drinks :p

I followed the steeping/resteeping suggestions: 1 tsp./6oz. 1. 1 min.—very pale greeny-yellow tea. Sweet aroma with undernote of something more toasty, almost roasted spice. Light flavor with starchy finish. Wet leaves smelled like almond cookies. 2. 1 min—something in the aroma I can’t quite identify, cardamom-like maybe. Not overly vegetal but in a good way. 3. 1 1/2 min.—very light flavor with a glaze of sweet spice. 4. 1 3/4 min.—floral aroma!! Starchy with a hint of sweetness.

Overall, I found this one of the most interesting, complex green teas I have tried. I liked the spicy surprises and the fact that the vegetal notes were there but subdued to allow other elements to come forward. I want more of this tea!

Amazing! I am not a Pu-erh person, as this is only my third try. I really liked this – very smooth, very pleasant, with a nice bit of orange. Earthy like the good clean dirt of a forest fllor. May be a hint of pine.