209 Tasting Notes
This is a pretty fussy sencha. First brews around 165 F for 20 sec were quite bitter and not very enjoyable. After some reading and experimenting, I recognized that about 150 F for 5 secs flash first infusion was best. +10 sec/subsequent infusion for about 5 infusions total.
If brewed in the latter way, most of the bitterness is gone and is replaced by umami and sweetness.
Dry leaf: seaweed.
Wet leaf: asparagus, wet hay.
Taste: umami, sweet.
Flavors: Asparagus, Hay, Seaweed, Sweet, Umami
Quite nice tea on a Saturday night. Most unique black tea I’ve tried so far.
Dry leaf: orange zest.
Wet leaf: wet earth, malt.
Taste: tangy, orange.
Flavors: Malt, Orange Zest, Tangy, Wet Earth
This was the worst tea I’ve had. I don’t know if I got a bad sample (I tried both bags though), or if I just don’t like this type of tea, but I did not experience most of the positive flavors listed for this DHP. If you like smoking a cigarette while huffing gasoline, this is the tea for you.
Dry leaf: charcoal, ash.
Wet leaf: tobacco, petroleum.
Palate: tobacco, petroleum.
Flavors: Ash, Charcoal, Tobacco
First time trying Golden Monkey, or Jin Sihou. This is pretty good tea. Smooth mouthfeel and a beautiful color to the liquor. Medium-low astringency at 205 F. Basically nonexistent bitterness. Might try a bit hotter next time to see how that changes the flavor profile.
Main drawback is the high amount of broken leaves/tea dust in the samples.
Dry leaf: STRONG, beautiful apricot
Wet leaf: Malt, chocolate.
Taste: Honey, lasting aftertaste of brown sugar.
Flavors: Apricot, Brown Sugar, Chocolate, Honey, Malt
AMAZING experience. Brewed according to traditional instructions. Then brewed using the Mei Leaf method. The latter made for a MUCH better tea and drinking experience.
Dry leaf: Sweet.
Wet leaf: Vegetal.
Taste: UMAMI, spinach, sweet, broth.
Flavors: Spinach, Sweet, Umami, Vegetable Broth
VERY different from green TGY I’ve had before. I understand why people love TGY, and why some insist it be made in the traditional way (charcoal-roasted). Definitely fills a gap for me between green oolongs and black teas. Non-linear brewed. No bitterness. Mild astringency.
Dry Leaf: Charcoal, soil
Wet Leaf: Tobacco, soil, caramel
Taste: Honey, nuts, floral
Flavors: Caramel, Charcoal, Floral, Honey, Nuts, Soil, Tobacco
Wonderful Chinese green tea! Absolutely no bitterness! Mild astringency if brewed hotter (180F); none if brewed cooler (160 F). Will certainly be buying more of this tea!
Dry leaf: Toast, popcorn.
Wet leaf: Same.
Taste: Buttermilk, artichoke, toast.
Flavors: Artichoke, Cream, Popcorn, Sweet, Toast
