Rishi Tea

Ever since teaplz had this as her work tea a day or two ago, I’ve been tempted to torture myself try this one again. I thought I’d try using a little cooler water so I put the water into the pot and let it sit for a moment before putting the leaves in and I left the lid off while brewing.

With the horror that is the second steep of this, I’ve forgotten how much I enjoyed the first steep. Actually, I think this is better than the other time I’ve had it because I can get a hint of buttery, grassy sweetness. There is a little brine-like tingle left on my tongue but it isn’t really salty – more like a salt lick which, if anyone has ever licked one (yes, I have*) have a mineral taste that doesn’t burn like straight salt and is a little… almost sweeter. Or at least the pink ones I used to give my hamster do.

As the tea cools, more of the salt-lick/mineral taste is coming out, almost overpowering the sweet grassy green taste I had at the beginning of the cup. Almost but not quite. But the dry taste it leaves in my mouth is stronger and not that fun. I’m bumping up the rating a little bit because even with that mineral taste, the tea is nice. I’m still going to try a second steep, but I full anticipate burning salty horror.

*For the record, I don’t lick a lot of salt licks. But you know, I was curious.

ETA: Second Steep @ 2:00. The not-brine taste at the end is more tingly but as long as the tea is still pretty hot, it is okay. But the second it starts to cool, I start making faces as I sip.
5g/12oz

I confess: I picked a little bit of this up from the store simply because the leaves were so interesting. Tightly rolled and so shiny! I haven’t had anything like it before.

It smells both grassy and honeyed, like it can’t decide if it wants to be a Japanese or Chinese green. Tastes quite a bit like sencha but with only a hint astringency and without the hint of turning bitter if I leave it in the cup for too long. As it cools, a more Chinese green taste comes out… I’m getting a honey taste that isn’t quite honey… I’m guessing the pinecone taste they mention? Don’t really get the orchid except for the fact that it is sweet and fresh tasting (not quite floral). I don’t get the briny taste I normally do when I drink Chinese greens. This is actually quite nice.

ETA: The second steep at 3:15 is crazy bitter/salty and the aftertaste is like I just swallowed a mouthful of ocean. I make a face each time I sip it. The rating gets dropped for not having a good second steep.

Great earthy smell. Full-bodied and lots of deep earthy flavors! This is probably the darkest tea I have seen. Looks like a cup of coffee. If placed next to drip coffee I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. A very excellent puerh tea. I would definitely buy this one again.

Strong blueberry taste but too tart.

This was good.

This is a good white tea.

TTB Tea #10

Exactly 6 months ago I had my 1st matcha experience. This matcha. The only difference is now I’m making it myself.

I should say I think this is Rishi matcha… the TTB log book says Lena was the only one that put matcha in so far ( that I could find) and she didn’t list a # so I assumed she only put 1 packet in, which has already been claimed, but then I found this. So for all intents and purposes I’m calling this Rishi matcha.

Gosh this is a devil to get out… half is stuck in the packet- I’m sure from being smashed at the bottom of the box for ages. Poor bruised, broken matcha.

1 packet/6oz water as my favorite cafe makes it.

The matcha incorporates with the water very well, even before I whisk it. I’m disappointed that it does not foam nearly as much as at the cafe, but it still is one of the most foamy matchas I’ve had. I’m sure the lack of foam is completely my fault and not that of the matcha.

It’s been so long, I’m having a hard time comparing my 2 experiences- and the foam affects it as well… but it’s a smooth, thick, vegetal, bitter, sweet, GREEN taste and mouth feel that immediately makes me smile… until… Remember the “sludge” I lovingly speak of? Well, this isn’t it. The last few sips contain hard, chalky clumps of matcha that literally almost made me puke. But again- I am not blaming this on the matcha. I can only imagine what damage is done to poor, sensitive matcha particles in that box. I will try this again. Although I can’t see me buying this (in powder, not by the bowla at a cafe) more than once purely due to the stupid packaging.

MY 1st EXPERIENCE W/ MATCHA! I had this at a new cafe my mom and I tried for dinner last nite… AMAZING! light and a touch grassy topped w/ a light froth that did not collapse when my lips touched it much like cappuccino or beer foam does. There was a little bit of delicious grassy sludge as I lovingly called it that I washed down w/ just an extra spash of water. Lovely. My new addiction.

perfect & relaxing

Brews a deep orange color. Fresh, light, and clean, a bit fruity, grassy / straw-like, and with a suggestion of a seafood-like quality. Less earthy and less sour than red rooibos.

I recommend a very long steeping time. I like this one a lot.

What can I say except yum! It’s a wonderful lychee-fragranced black tea that chimes my bells.

I’ve had the flu and been unable to write and without an appetite for much of anything, including tea. Today I feel almost human and I’m celebrating with this delicious lychee tea. Lychee is one of my favorite fruits and this tea does a reasonable job of bringing the lychee flavor to this mild black tea. Overall it is quite nice.

Had a pot a Saint’s Cafe in State College, PA. A solid EG, if a little light on the bergamot for my tastes.

Last of my most recent batch. A solid, everyday drinking wuyi.

This has good stonefruit, but was a little more subtle than I expected. Good for the price.

My Rishi Tea Mannong Manmai Sample set came today and this was in it. Oh my these are big bags for samples! I’m used to Golden Moon samples (only enough for one cup) or Upton Tea’s samples (enough for 4-6 cups).

I am feeling sick (fever, sore throat, cough) and while I normally do not desire Pu-erh, and indeed I normally have to use my Be Brave days to try new pu-erhs, today I crave it and crave mint. Strange.

The tea brews into a nearly black liquor with the envigorating smell of mint and the classic earthy pu-erh smell under that. Strangely enough it smells really good to me today. The taste is nearly all mint with a dark, chocolate taste underneath, but softly, softly. The mouth-feel is quite full-bodied and it has substance on the tongue, almost a creaminess. Also it takes Silk Creamer very, very well. Overall I like tea. It is a good tea for someone sick.

Does anyone else like to drink this only as iced tea? When I first bought some I made it hot and I couldn’t stand the taste. My next batch was made as sun tea and it was really good. Like it was a whole new taste.

I like this tea – very clean white tea, pale yellow with a very light scent. Slight taste of melon, but not overpowering. I prepared this by heating my water to 175 degrees and steeping it about 4 1/2 minutes.

This is one of my go-to morning teas. I like to steep some as soon as I get to work. The mint really adds a nice balance to the zingy flavor of the Mate. Overall a solid choice, but not my favorite by any means.

Now that this was the last spoonful of leaves from the tin, I find that I like this tea much more than when I first got it.