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“Welcome to Day 2 of little terri’s Sipdown Extravaganza! This is my first sipdown of the day, sipdown # 6 overall. Of course, it’s also from the Steepster Select collection. I had originally...” Read full tasting note
“Reviewing my first tea from Steepster Select! This is an intense, full bodied Yunnan, for sure. Although it is aggressive with its pipe tobacco earthiness, it has enough sweetness to balance it out...” Read full tasting note
“Not sure why but I’m all about black tea today. Perhaps I oolonged (which is definitely a verb, because I said so) too much a few days ago, although the Passion Fruit Wulong is also calling my...” Read full tasting note
“Somehow I was lucky enough to score a free Steepster box! I’m very grateful, as I can’t afford this kind of thing right now. Thank you Steepster! I think I said a couple times “this is the best...” Read full tasting note
This black tea is made in southern China, and consists of tender buds and leaves from a large leaf variety. When oxidized, these silky buds turn a beautiful golden color and yield a smooth, caramel and woody flavor, with notes of mint. The scent of tobacco and eucalyptus lasts through multiple infusions.
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Welcome to Day 2 of little terri’s Sipdown Extravaganza!
This is my first sipdown of the day, sipdown # 6 overall.
Of course, it’s also from the Steepster Select collection.
I had originally planned to give this one the gongfu treatment (humorous break…my autocorrect just turned gongfu into gong flu, heh), but I didn’t. Instead I gave it 3 min, with a resteep of 5 min.
The dry leaf of this tea is very aromatic! Upon opening the package, the air is filled with a rich tobacco & hay scent. The first cup was thick with tobacco, bee pollen, & a tangy apricot-like sweetness. It also gave me the impression of a really fine & creamy sheep’s milk feta, something I love, but haven’t had for years, due to allergies.
The 2nd cup was less tobacco, more honey, with a tingle on the tip of my tongue. I’m getting an image of newly baled hay. As the cup cools, it takes on a creaminess.
Reviewing my first tea from Steepster Select! This is an intense, full bodied Yunnan, for sure. Although it is aggressive with its pipe tobacco earthiness, it has enough sweetness to balance it out nicely. Very enjoyable! I’m honored I was given the opportunity to try the box from December for free!
Not sure why but I’m all about black tea today. Perhaps I oolonged (which is definitely a verb, because I said so) too much a few days ago, although the Passion Fruit Wulong is also calling my name…
Oh right, the tea. This is another Select offering. This one smells like perfume when I open the pouch! As it steeps it’s another strong caramel scent. This one is also very pretty to look at. It has a very creamy finish. I haven’t done anything to it but it tastes like there’s milk in it! There’s definitely a caramel and a floral note to it; it’s significantly sweeter than I would have guessed from the description, although there are some smoky and woody notes in there. Mm!
As I was reading, I could have sworn you were going to say “I oolonged for too long”, which has an extraordinary rhythm to it!
It really does! Now I’m disappointed in myself for not going that route. Perhaps you could say I “toolonged”? ;)
Seems like an extremely versatile word :D
Somehow I was lucky enough to score a free Steepster box! I’m very grateful, as I can’t afford this kind of thing right now. Thank you Steepster! I think I said a couple times “this is the best tea ever” so it was well worth it for me!
Steep #1 // a few minutes after boiling // 3 min
The dry leaves smell like mint for some reason! I used the generous two teaspoons for one steep. I can’t imagine I could steep this one any better. Just the scent coming from the cup is probably the best smelling cup ever. The taste is everything I want in a black tea! It’s a Yunnan first of all, but it almost seems like it’s mixed with a Fujian like Laoshan black… all the qualities I actually like from Laoshan. Some have complained about the tobacco, but if I noticed it, I think it made it a better cup for me. It adds a dusky darkness, to go along with the dark chocolate and honey notes. Good stuff.
Steep #2 // few minutes after boiling // 3-4 min
Another amazing cup but maybe not as amazing as the first. This time the mug has an entirely different fragrance.. it’s like a floral perfume. The flavor is still honey chocolate deliciousness. A bit less of whatever people are calling the tobacco flavor which I kind of miss. It’s not really smoky to me though.
Steepster select reviews!
A nice, loaded with flavor yunnan black! Mostly tasting like rich tobacco, with a little fluff, burnt caramel and cocoa. A little astringency at the end. I let my cup cool and found the creamy perked up more.
Overall, not bad, I’m not a huge fan of the tobacco flavor and I prefer a more creamy tea.
Full review of the Steepster Select Dec 2013 box on my blog, The Oolong Owl http://oolongowl.com/steepster-select-january-2014-teas-oolong-owl-tea-review/
I had this one yesterday. It’s from my first month of steepster select:)
The color of the buds are so pretty! And the color of the liquor steeped is so beautiful! It’s this rich caramel color! But wow they weren’t kidding with the notes of tobacco! That’s a majority of the flavor the first 2 steeps. The later steeps definitely calm with the tabaco and take over with a creamy honey flavor:) I like it but it’s not my favorite golden yunnan. Definitely a quality tea! I’m just not a fan of the tabaco essence.
I love black tea, so this is definitely my fave in the December ‘13 round of Steepster Select. I enjoyed mine with just a touch of local honey. Everyone else’s tasting notes hit the nail on the head, so I will refrain from paraphrasing. But can anyone tell me where I can purchase more of this tea? I checked out the In Pursuit of Tea website, but I didn’t see this particular one anywhere. Thanks!
This was in the email Jason sent out after the boxes were received. I can forward it to you if you PM your email address with the other teas:)
Here’s the site http://www.inpursuitoftea.com/Golden-Yunnan-Black-Tea-In-Pursuit-of-Tea-p/bcy21.htm
Have you tried the roasted dong ding yet?!?!? :D
Oh thanks! I got that email. I just didnt think to to check it for buying details. Duh.
I haven’t tried that one yet, but I probably will tonight!
I hope you love it!!! I loved it!!!!!!
I’m with BrewTEAlly Sweet about the “no kidding theres tobacco in this!!” thought. Amazing the variation possible even within the same type of tea. I’ve always thought of Yunnans as a delicate, sometimes sweet black. This one is far from delicate, but don’t mistake with for being Assam-like. Its not bold and brisk. It’s a serious flavor profile with a manly vibe to it. I totally respect this tea for what it is, but it’s not my cuppa. I intend to send my second sample to my father, who will likely appreciate it better than I.
Just got back from my lab practicum and my group and I got a 93! Not too bad :)
Decided to drink something out of my Steepster Select package and I don’t think I’ve had this kind of tea before. Golden Yunnan? I’ve seen photos and ahh this tea is actually quite gorgeous dry! Nice golden curls :) smells just like black tea with a *hint of smokiness. As it steeps, it still takes on the same aroma as it is dry.
It has a nice dark amber colour to it that’s definitely going to stain the towel haha.
But wow this tea is reeeally good! I’ve read the reviews and apparently it’s supposed to have a strong tobacco taste? I actually have no idea how tobacco is supposed to taste like so this just tastes like a really good black tea :)
Almost every single review I read said that it had a strong tobacco scent dry, and it has a strong tobacco flavour when drinking. I just.. don’t really taste the tobacco? I DON’T KNOW HOW TOBACCO TASTES LIKE SO I HAVE NO IDEA. IT’S JUST A REALLY NICE CUPPA SMOOTH BLACK TEA OKAY.
Dude. My roommates are getting so mad at me because I really want to place an order for more tea but they were all NO KYRA STOP because I just placed an Adagio order yesterday and yeah tea is great :)
Ok, now I want tea AND food really badly!!! Let’s see if I have dried apricots somewhere to eat with my feta, but no bee pollen around I’m afraid…well honey will do, lol!
OMG, that sounds SO delicious!