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drank Wild Black Yunnan by DAVIDsTEA
139 tasting notes

“What’s in your cup?”
This morning, courtesy of Natalie & DAVIDsTEA, I brewed Wild Black Yunnan Western style: 1.25 tsp (3.5g) / 8 oz / 208*F / 4-6 min. without sweeteners, milk, or cream.

Leaf: Fine, twisted, dark brown, mostly short, but some as long as 2.5 mm
Fragrance: Notes fine pipe tobacco
Liquor: Beautiful clear dark copper
Aroma: Sweet potatoes & caramel
Flavor: Cocoa & malt

4-min.: Moderately full-bodied, I then let it steep an additional min.

5-min.: A rich, smooth, full-bodied malty tea with potent cocoa and notes of sweet potatoes with a mild sweetness. There was no hint of bitterness or astringency.

6-min Re-steep: Too light so I let it steep another 4 minutes.
10-min. Re-steep: Light-to-medium bodied with a much softer cocoa flavor but still enjoyable with a smooth mild sweetness.

Impression: A very enjoyable breakfast tea especially for malty cocoa lovers.

Thanks to Natalie & DAVIDsTEA for their gracious sample of this very fine Wild Black Yunnan.

Method:
RO water re-mineralized with an Aptera filter http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/39532-puregen-aptera-alkamag-water-filter
http://steepster.com/teaware/teavana/39311-perfect-tea-spoon
http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/37731-my-weigh-durascale-d2-660-digital-scale
Brewed western-style conveniently in a tea mug with a brew basket http://steepster.com/teas/teaware/29177-finum-brewing-basket.
http://steepster.com/teas/davidstea/36677-thermometer-and-timer

Flavors: Cocoa, Malt

Preparation
5 min, 0 sec 3 g 8 OZ / 236 ML
5 comments
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CelebriTEA
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Sounds beautiful.
I hope, someday, I will be able to write such excellent reviews
Mine are a bit simplistic compared to yours ;-)

looseTman
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Thank you! However, there are many ways to write informative reviews from highly detailed to very concise.

CelebriTEA
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You are very kind

CelebriTEA
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I love your profile pic…
I just noticed you spoke of the Nut hatch in your profile.
Are you and your wife both bird watchers?
I love birds, but many I do not know by name.
I like to quiz my Dad on the names :-)
Birds are so beautiful…my Dad knows them by sight & sound.

looseTman
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Yes, we are. I acquired a life-long intrest from my mom.

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People who liked this

Comments

CelebriTEA
Delete

Sounds beautiful.
I hope, someday, I will be able to write such excellent reviews
Mine are a bit simplistic compared to yours ;-)

looseTman
Delete

Thank you! However, there are many ways to write informative reviews from highly detailed to very concise.

CelebriTEA
Delete

You are very kind

CelebriTEA
Delete

I love your profile pic…
I just noticed you spoke of the Nut hatch in your profile.
Are you and your wife both bird watchers?
I love birds, but many I do not know by name.
I like to quiz my Dad on the names :-)
Birds are so beautiful…my Dad knows them by sight & sound.

looseTman
Delete

Yes, we are. I acquired a life-long intrest from my mom.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Profile

Bio

My wife and I enjoy shou that:
- is Full-bodied, thick, rich, creamy smooth
- produces a full-mouth feeling with a long pleasing finish
- w/o obvious acidity, astringency, or bitterness
- Retains this profile & is complex enough to enjoy for multiple steeps

Notes of interest:
- natural rich chocolate (as opposed to too bittersweet cocoa)
- honey, caramel, stone fruits, sweet potato, barley, fresh baked bread

Notes not of interest: Floral, vegetal, woody.

Cost-effective organic teas or teas that meet the EU Food Safety Commission Pesticide Maximum Residue Limit EUROFINS are greatly appreciated. Many people drink tea for the anti-oxidant health benefits. So why would health conscious tea lovers drink tea that contains pesticide residues?

Complete steeping instructions on the bag are greatly appreciated:
tsp. (g) / oz. / temp. / rinse? / min. for both Western & Gongfu brewing.

Our recent orders have been from: Yunnan Sourcing, King Tea Mall, Whispering Pines, & Arbor Teas. Kudos to them as they have all been extremely helpful.

Our cupboard doesn’t include the many greatly appreciated samples generously provided by Steepsters’s favorite tea suppliers and by several very kind Steepster members.

Current Gogng Fu Brewing Method:
20g / 6 oz / 205° / 60s preheat / 60s warm leaves / 5s rinse / 5 min rest / 5s / 5 / 7 / 10 / 15 / 20 / 25 /30 / 45 / 60. Every two steeps combined in a sharing pitcher.

High quality water is essential for excellent tasting tea.
Our 450’ well provides hard water. For details see: http://steepster.com/looseTman/posts/176233#comments.

Solutions:
#1. Rainsoft water softener with
Q2 computerized control valve

#2. Abundant Flow Water
Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System with an Impact Alkaline re-mineralization filter
Model: Zeta RO: https://www.afwfilters.com/drinking-ro-systems/6-stage-alkaline-zoi-zeta-reverse-osmosis-system-16.html
Includes:
- Dow Filmtec TFC R.O. membrane
- Omnipure Inline Post filter
- Impact Alkaline Filter
All filters made in USA & NSF-Certified.
-———————————
Options:
- Aquatec ERP-500 & ASV 2000
- 3/8" Output
- HM Digital DM-2 TDS meter

My profile picture is a Red-Breasted Nuthatch, a winter visitor to our woodpecker feeder.

Location

Mid-Atlantic, USA

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