85

Another freebie provided by Thés du Japon, thank you :)

July 5th, 2021 harvest

Dry leaf in the bag has a soft floral sweetness along with a tangy blackberry-raspberry note. Once in hand, it smells very berry-malt with lighter notes of orange and cream, an overlay of freshly washed hair – you know the smell? Warming the leaf is the preview of what is to come — tangy, fresh and clean vibe with tangerine, malt and rosewood.

The citrusy-sweet-tangy aroma is prominent with creamy peach-orange. In the mouth, the taste is very intense but with minimal tannins. A magnificent floral bouquet blooms with tangerine blossom and roses, lingering in the throat and nose. Mixed with that is candied tangerine peel, malt and rosewood, while a mild sweet vanilla-cream taste caresses and softens the bright citrus. Salivation is effusive, and the tangerine blossom and roses persist.

In my last note for a different black tea from TDJ, I said I’d go with my usual steeping parameters for black tea, but for some reason I went with package directions. Very happy with the result. First steep of 5min, second of 8min, now sipping on the third at 15min and it is like drinking candied tangerine peel with a little bit of creaminess on the sip and a very citrusy-fruity tangy aftertaste and sour feeling that becomes buttery once the tea is cold. MMM.

I hope you like this one, Leafhopper!

Flavors: Blackberry, Butter, Candy, Citrus Zest, Citrusy, Cream, Creamy, Floral, Malt, Mineral, Orange, Orange Blossom, Peach, Pleasantly Sour, Raspberry, Rose, Rosewood, Tangerine, Tangy, Tannin, Vanilla

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec 3 g 5 OZ / 150 ML
Leafhopper

From your description, it seems like we should have bought a bag of this tea!

Martin Bednář

Sounds very interesting :)

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Comments

Leafhopper

From your description, it seems like we should have bought a bag of this tea!

Martin Bednář

Sounds very interesting :)

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

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Bio

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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