New Tasting Notes
Had this in a tea bag which was not ideal, but the SpecialTeas pyramid tea bags are actually very nice. They’re nice and roomy for the leaves to float and they’re strong enough to hold their shape when in the water so they don’t suffocate the leaves. The leaves smell like those chocolate mints you get from restaurants, really interesting and tasty. None of the tones are very strong, just subtle and delicate. The mint is persistent and offers a refreshing splash with each sip. Following that is a light and faintly sweet malty chocolate flavor that balances the sharpness of the mint. Nice tea, especailly because I am not necessarily the biggest fan of rooibos teas.
Only the second yellow tea I’ve tried (hey, Steepster, where’s the option for yellow teas?).
Teas like this are the type that make me wish I had a better tea vocabulary. After all, how many times can you describe a green or white (or, indeed, yellow) as “subdued” or “mellow.” Jun Shan Yin Zhen is fuller than a classic style white tea like a Bao Hao Yin Zhen (interestingly, this tea is also referred to as “Silver Needle”) and there’s an ever-so-slight smokiness that really adds some amazing depth.
I should also note that the uniformity in the size of the leaves is fascinating. It’s clear that there’s a lot of work that goes into the production of this rare tea.
I didn’t much care for the occasional pu-erhs I’ve tried in the past so the fact that I didn’t mind this one was a pleasant surprise. The colour is very dark and rich-looking but the taste is less full-on than others I’ve had, and woody more than earthy. It’s working well as an after dinner drink tonight and settling my stomach.
