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drank 2015 Channel Orange by white2tea
1610 tasting notes

Grandpa is my preferred brewing method for this shou since the compact square takes too damn long to break open gong fu.

Channel Orange is not a complicated tea but it’s rewarding on a cold and stormy February day. It reminds me of a fuzzy polyester blanket that features scenes of nature, or maybe a wolf or bald eagle, and becomes matted with years of use. That kind of blanket you’ve had since 1991 and never wash. Your smell and maybe your dog’s are embedded in it.

That’s not to say this tea is dirty or smells like a dog! — it’s a very clean shou. Clean earth, dark wood and minerals, cleansing citrus, a bit spicy. I get notes of pine and cedar here and there. Tingly, mouthwatering, oily, light to medium body. The chenpi is more evident on the sip and lingers lightly in the mouth. A bright, warm note for a dull day!
Preparation
Boiling 9 g 16 OZ / 473 ML
6 comments
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Kawaii433
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lol derk. Your ability to describe things often leaves long-lasting impressions in my head.

tperez
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Hahaha, I love that description too!

gmathis
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I have several of those blankets!

Todd
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“That’s not to say this tea is dirty or smells like a dog!” is my favorite thing I’ve read here now. It would go great on a tea cup.

derk
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gmathis: Those blankets were a ubiquitous part of my youth. Everybody had one and they all smelled different.

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Comments

Kawaii433
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lol derk. Your ability to describe things often leaves long-lasting impressions in my head.

tperez
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Hahaha, I love that description too!

gmathis
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I have several of those blankets!

Todd
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“That’s not to say this tea is dirty or smells like a dog!” is my favorite thing I’ve read here now. It would go great on a tea cup.

derk
Delete

gmathis: Those blankets were a ubiquitous part of my youth. Everybody had one and they all smelled different.

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This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. Yet I persist.

Eventual tea farmer. If you are a tea grower, want to grow your own plants or are simply curious, please follow me so we can chat.

I most enjoy loose-leaf, unflavored teas and tisanes. Teabags have their place. Some of my favorite teas have a profound effect on mind and body rather than having a specific flavor profile.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Georgia, Japan, and Nepal. While I’m not actively on the hunt, a goal of mine is to try tea from every country that makes it available to the North American market. This is to gain a vague understanding of how Camellia sinensis performs in different climates. I realize that borders are arbitrary and some countries are huge with many climates and tea-growing regions.

I’m convinced European countries make the best herbal teas.

Personal Rating Scale:

100-90: A tea I can lose myself into. Something about it makes me slow down and appreciate not only the tea but all of life or a moment in time. If it’s a bagged or herbal tea, it’s of standout quality in comparison to similar items.

89-80: Fits my profile well enough to buy again.

79-70: Not a preferred tea. I might buy more or try a different harvest. Would gladly have a cup if offered.

69-60: Not necessarily a bad tea but one that I won’t buy again. Would have a cup if offered.

59-1: Lacking several elements, strangely clunky, possesses off flavor/aroma/texture or something about it makes me not want to finish.

Unrated: Haven’t made up my mind or some other reason. If it’s puerh, I likely think it needs more age.

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Sonoma County, California, USA

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