82

Another first for me, this Liu An Gua Pian was sent to me as a sample by Angel and Teavivre. Thank you again for expanding my horizons!

The liquor brewed up light but also somehow bright—a nice green hue veering toward fluorescence, but gently so… The taste has a bit of a bite to it, but I believe that this is how it is supposed to taste—and I definitely did not oversteep…

Liu An Gua Pian tastes a bit grassier than some green teas, but very far from anything related to darjeeling (which I usually find grassy). I do find this flavor to be more grassy than vegetal, and I do not believe that it has a taste identical with any particular vegetable. Perhaps a little like peas? Yes, on second thought, I do believe that peas are the closest to this flavor. But still I find it more grassy than pealike. Liu An Gua Pian does not taste at all like sencha to me. I’ll have to compare this to some other China greens to be able to say more.

I noticed that there are tiny threadlike white filaments in the liquor. The liquid is still clear, but they are floating about, having snuck through my medium-mesh colander-style sieve.

All in all, I like this tea. It’s good!

second infusion: just like the first. Still a near-fluorescent hue of yellow-green. Same slightly grassy flavor.

third infusion: a bit lighter in flavor and more of a golden color

fourth infusion: this final round was so faint that it was veering toward hot water territory, but I was thirsty so I drank it anyway.

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 2 min, 0 sec

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I have fallen off the “tea log boat”, as I am now in New Zealand and was really flailing about for a while, having depleted all of my Chinese and Japanese green tea supply! Fortunately, my first order of 2015 has now arrived! I should begin writing very soon about tea at my new blog, sherapop’s tea leaves. Please stop by and contribute your ideas—all viewpoints are welcome!

A long-time tea and perfume lover, I have recently begun to explore the intersections between the two at my blog: http://salondeparfum-sherapop.blogspot.com//

The scent of tea can be just as appealing as—sometimes more than—its taste! Tea also offers boundless visual beauty in its various forms and states of preparation.

A few words about my ratings. In assessing both teas and perfumes, my evaluation is “all things considered.” Teas do not differ very much in price (relative to perfumes or any luxury items), so I do not usually consider the price when rating a tea.

What I do consider is how the particular tea compares to teas of its own type. So I might give a high rating to a fine herbal infusion even though I would never say that it is my favorite TEA. But if it’s good for what it is, then it deserves a high rating. There is no point in wishing that a chamomile blend was an Assam or a sencha tea!

Any rating below 50 means that I find the liquid less desirable to drink than plain water. I may or may not finish the cup, depending upon how thirsty I am and whether there is another hot beverage or (in summertime) a source of fresh water available.

From 50 to 60 indicates that, while potable, the tea is not one which I would buy or repurchase, if I already made the mistake (I have learned) of purchasing it.

From 60 to 70 means that the tea is drinkable but I have criticisms of some sort, and I probably would not purchase or repurchase the tea as I can think of obvious alternatives which would be better.

From 70 to 80 is a solid brew which I would purchase again.

From 80 to 90 is good stuff, and I probably need to have some ready at hand in my humble abode.

From 90 to 100 is a tea (or infusion) which I have come to depend on and look forward to imbibing again and again—if possible!

If you are interested in perfume, you might like my 2400+ perfume reviews, most of which have been archived at sherapop’s sillage (essentially my perfumelog):

http://sherapop.blogspot.com/

Finally, please note that after a great deal of debate with myself, I have decided to use the cupboard here at Steepster as a “museum” of sorts—to commemorate all of the various teas which I have purchased and truly enjoyed since December 2013.

I do not currently possess all of the teas listed in this cupboard, but am using the function as a way of recording how many times I drank every tea which I did own at some point and wish not to forget. Teas found both in my “cupboard” and on my “wishlist” are those which I did own and intend to restock. Teas best forgotten have been removed from the cupboard once depleted (in some cases tossed…).

I have also decided (beginning in 2015) to use the tasting note function to maintain a chronological record of the teas I’ve consumed since December 15, 2013. Most new reviews will now be posted directly at my blog, sherapop’s tea leaves.

Location

Curio Bay, South Island, New Zealand

Website

http://salondeparfum-sherapop...

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