Introduction: Per http://www.butikiteas.com/Black.html:
“Our Mi Xian Black tea is sourced from Ali Shan region in Taiwan. This exquisite premium grade tea utilizes the Chin Xin varietal and is pesticide free. Mi Xian Black is a relatively new style of black tea and is very rare. Similar to our Gui Fei Oolong, leafhoppers are allowed to bite the leaves in order initiate the plant’s healing process which produces a honey-like aroma. Juicy peach and honey notes mingle and linger. Some lychee and mild citrus notes can also be detected. This smooth and mellow tea is sweet with a creamy mouth-feel.”
“Recommended Amount: 2 teaspoons of tea for 8oz of water”
Sample package label: “Mi Xian Black, Temp 212*F; Time 3 min 30 sec”
Technique: I strictly followed Stacy’s very thoughtfully considered brewing recommendations. Single-serving tea sample – 3.5g (My Weigh Durascale D2 660), 8-oz filtered water with total dissolved solids (TDS) of 26 ppm, heated to 212*F, brewed with a Finum tea basket in tea mug without sweeteners, milk or cream.
Fragrance: Very mild hint
Dry leaf: Long twisted wiry dark chocolate brown leaves
Liquor: Clear bright mahogany red
Aroma: Wonderful very POTENT Fruity, perhaps muscatel, – Quite a surprise given the understated dry leaf fragrance.
Infused Leaf: Greenish brown long whole leaves
Impression: This elegant medium-bodied black tea has a fresh pleasing potent fruity/muscatel aroma, and a smooth rich thoroughly enjoyable honey flavor that lingers long on the tongue. As you would expect with teas of this caliber, there was no hint of bitterness or astringency.
5.5 min re-steep: Wow! – Awesome re-steep that despite a less pronounced aroma intensified and prolonged the wonderful lingering honey experience. An entire pot of this tea would be glorious!
11 min re-steep: I didn’t want the experience to end. But alas, I only had a sample. Could I extend the wonderful lingering honey flavor even longer with another re-steep? The 2nd re-steep produced a light-bodied, mild aroma, but still enjoyable cup with a diminishing honey character – a fading pianissimo of the Spectacular Fortissimo that was. :-(
Thanks to Stacy of Butiki Teas for providing this free sample of this truly exceptional tea!
Flavors: Honey
