Well I couldn’t review Golden Orchid today without reviewing Rivendell as well! I also had my first cup of this last weekend while at the lake, but logging the cup I’m drinking right now!
The dry smell is much more green, definitely that lovely Tieguanyin scent, minerally and fresh, and the vanilla adds a nice sweet smell in there too. Also a slight woody scent from the cedar. I followed Brenden’s brewing instructions again, 0.5 TBSP in 190 degree water for 3 minutes.
The brewed tea is light in color, and smells mainly of Tieguanyin, a good one at that! As for the flavor….mmmmmmmm, this really does taste good too. It’s light and has a definite mineral quality, a fresh stream over rocks. The vanilla is light and sweet here, not drippy and fudgelike as in GO. This one is light, so fresh. The cedar finishes with a light woodsy quality, bringing out some florals in the tieguanyin and putting in mind a clean forest.
This tea embodies Rivendell. It truly is pure, light, fresh, and magnificent. It evokes water over rocks, quiet forests, and soaring in crisp air. If I was an elf, this would be my drink of choice.
Overall, a very fine tea indeed. This brings about an immense sense of peace, and is not a tea you can rush through drinking. It needs to be enjoyed and savoured. Beautiful tea drawn from beautiful inspiration. And I love LOTR, so that is also a big win :D thanks again for a wonderful tea, Brenden!
Flavors: Cedar, Mineral, Vanilla, Wet Rocks
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I hope you steeped it more than once! The 2nd steep is even better :) I got 7 steeps out of my first cup!
I had to go to a friend’s house warming so I didn’t have time for multiple steepings this time :( but definitely the next cup I will do a few!
I like the “wet rocks”. It really makes me want to try this tea.
I hope you steeped it more than once! The 2nd steep is even better :) I got 7 steeps out of my first cup!
I had to go to a friend’s house warming so I didn’t have time for multiple steepings this time :( but definitely the next cup I will do a few!
I like the “wet rocks”. It really makes me want to try this tea.