Upton Tea Imports

Hardly qualifies as LS for those in need of smokiness. Very light liquor when steeped, could not detect any subtle flavours that would make me purchase another bag.

This was one of the highlights of the last few years of tea drinking—a truly memorable cup. Like a darjeeling on steroids, fruit, sugar and herb notes were powerful without being overwhelming. The dry leaf was a thing of beauty in itself. While I’ve had a couple of ordinary teas from this fledgling estate, when they get it right, they can produce some of the best teas in the India/Nepal region.

While not a fan of the trend away from the prolonged withering process that made second flush darjeelings distinct from first flush teas and created the deeper, richer, ripened fruit taste I like in older second flush teas, this offering from Upton (only samples left) is tremendous. The dry leaf is a beautiful mix of sienna and silver and the aroma is so fertile, fecund, and fruity it could be used in a sachet. The infused leaf smells like honeysuckle and the taste—a near first flush delicacy of flavor that leaves a pleasing honey-lemon aftertaste.

I had to add more about this incredible tea: scent of burning cannabis coming from the cup. You can follow the different sensations as it travels from mouth to throat. Spicy on the tip of the tongue, fruity on the middle and then the tea really explodes with a deep chocolate bomb towards the back of the mouth. Truly wonderful.

Upton describes the pre-chingming teas thusly, “The festival of Chingming (Qingming) is a 2500 year-old tradition in which people visit the burial sites of their ancestors to pay respect. It is significant in Chinese tea culture because it serves as a demarcation between a distinct pre-Chingming plucking period and the subsequent plucking period occuring after the festival date (usually around April 5). Pre-Chingming teas are prized for their delicacy and subtle, fresh nuances.”

This Golden Monkey is very intense and chocolatey if steeped in the 4-5 minute range as Upton prescribes. Try a shorter infusion—only then do the subtle fruity flavors come out, revealing a glorious cup that will compel me to try other early spring teas from China.

A rating of 1, really? maybe best not to give a numerical rating to teas you don’t like altogether, because it can skew the ratings for a tea, like this sencha which IS grassy and wonderfully evocative of the ocean environment it hails from. I’ve had many cups of this sencha and, for those who like this type of tea it is one you can really sink your teeth into. Keep the water below 190 and steep for 2.5 minutes max and you’ll avoid any bitterness.

This was a great tea from Upton that disappeared quickly. Pronounced chocolate and tobacco notes, with a red-wine body reminiscent of good Keemuns. Upton has a habit of finding these unique China blacks that can really add a great diversion to our standard daily brews.

I’ve enjoyed many cups of this tea and almost always replenish when it’s gone. Why? It’s not trying to be something it’s not, like some Assams I know. It tastes the way a proper black tea should, with enough interesting flavor notes of dried fruit to keep me coming back again and again. If you like this, Upton has an organic Greenfield Estate Ceylon that is quite nice.

I’m surprised that this doesn’t have a higher rating. It is one of Upton’s finest China black teas. Many-layered and well-balanced between sweet and piquant notes. It sells out quickly when it hits Upton’s site.

I’m actually commenting on zy83, purchased in the fall of 2015, but no matter—I find Upton’s Yunnan rare grade to be a reliably tasty brew that hits all the right notes for this style of tea: malty, caramel sweet, with a subtle peppery note. A great choice for those fans of Yunnan Sourcing’s Imperial Mojiang.

I’ve tried two different lots of this tea and loved them both (though the first lot from last fall was a little richer). Typically smooth and sweet, and earthy after a 4-5 minute steeping, I drink this tea any time during the day. Frankly, other than fine darjeelings, or lapsang suchongs I find myself drinking gold bud Yunnan teas almost every time I drink black tea.

Oh, honey! I love the sweet profile and luscious mouthfeel of this tea! Such an enjoyable cup. I am always surprised when I get to the end of my cup, because it goes down sooooooo easy. It’s like liquid heaven gold :)

Many thanks to Lady Londonderry for this amazing treat!

Many thanks to Lady Londonderry for this tea!

I was really excited to try this one since “Golden” teas are some of my favorites. This one is SO GOOD! I’m not getting cocoa notes, but more of a rich honey Golden Monkey profile. I am tasting this one to be more like the Golden Monkey I’m used to than Upton’s Imperial Golden Monkey! Deeeeee-licious! It has that heavy mouthfeel that I associate with these kinds of teas, and which I absolutely crave!

I was very much saddened to see that this is discontinued at Upton (I zipped right over there because I wanted to order it I liked it so much!). Alas, this will have to be one of my little special hoarder teas that I have every now and again so I can savor it for as long as possible!

Thank you once again, Lady Londonderry! This is making my Monday morning!

Only enough left for a coupla cups, so I was hoarding for a special occasion. Does Wednesday count?

This one is just so good, it makes me smile after every sip. There was a big honkin’ rose petal in the spoonful this morning, so it’s plenty floral, but not chemically or artificially so.

Thinking this would be a good welcome-to-the-world-of-floral tea for newbies.

Tried a Mason jar of sun tea with this … maybe just a little rosier than I prefer due to the extended steep time. But sweet and cold and good. Not perfume-y floral.

On the advisement of some of my favorite experts, I did a half-and-half this morning with Queen Catherine - it’s a match made in a fairy tale. Her Majesty dilutes the rose even a little further so there’s just a breath of it, which is plenty for my personal taste….and I’ll sip happily ever after… (or until it’s gone, whichever comes first).

I don’t generally pick floral teas on my own, but I am glad that this one came to me as a gift, because - wow! I’m a black tea lover at heart and the flower-to-tea ratio is perfect. Doesn’t taste like I’m sipping perfume. The rose softens instead of interferes. Thanks, JenW!

Wow. Today I decided that when this bag of tea runs out I must order more. This tea was sent to me by Doulton, and oh my goodness, each time I drink it I am surprised by how great it is. The light smokiness is like a tight hug from a good friend, I don’t know what else to call it. I am comforted from the first sip. This is great tea.

This was the first tea served at tea party today, and was it ever well-received! I was unsure how my guest would like it, because she hasn’t cared for smokey teas in the past. She loved it! My youngest daughter is a big fan of this one, so this is another Upton tea that Doulton sent to us that will have to be kept in the cupboard. Smooth, light, golden, nice body, and lightly smokey, this goes wonderfully with afternoon snacks.

Oh, Doulton! Thank you, thank you for all the lovely tea to try!

The dry leaves have a very powerful aroma. Strong Golden Monkey? But wait! No, more similar to Zhen Quo Super China Black! But these are long twisted leaves instead of fluffy puffs! Now it is time to taste.

Big surprise, but it shouldn’t be since this came from Doulton who loves smoke, this tea that smells so very very sweet is also lightly smokey! Not too smokey, mind you! Just a bit! And it is delightful! It is lighter in body than Golden Monkey, maybe even than Hen Quo.

Youngest has decided to start tasting all new teas plain before adding the milk and sugar that she loves. I already knew about the smoke…she didn’t. I watched her taste it, and she pronounced it, “Not bad!” That is high praise for tea that doesn’t have milk and sugar in it yet! And now she says it is growing on her and she wants more. High praise, indeed!

Instead of measuring the leaves, I weighed them. These are so long, large, and twisted and I wanted to get it right! I think next time I may add more leaves. I am going to resteep this one and will post how it does.

Served for second breakfast with Baby Swiss, Dubliner, and bacon.