333 Tasting Notes
This was a sample that Alistair kindly included with my What-Cha order. The tea consists of small, irregular-shaped pearls. There isn’t much of a scent from the dry leaves, but after brewing, it turns into one of the most honey-sweet teas I have ever tried. The sweetness is unmistakable but not overpowering, and the overall feel of the tea is smooth and light-bodied. There’s a crisp quality that reminds me of a Ceylon as well. I am always eager to try teas from new regions, and this one was a nice surprise!
I have been curious about the teas at What-Cha for a long time, and finally placed an order. This is the first one I’m trying from them!
The dry scent of these pearls is very appealing—deeply fragrant, almost like a good black tea. The pearls are of an interesting oblong shape and slowly unwind during steeping. I used 4 pearls as recommended and water below boiling (unfortunately my tea thermometer seems not to have survived the latest move…)
The flavor of the tea has a definite roasty edge to it, but is otherwise a light, juicy white tea, with a hint of hay and fruit. The contrast between these flavors is quite refreshing. I haven’t gotten the cucumber notes that others have described, but maybe with a little more experimentation it might come out. This would be great as a lighter tea to have any time of day, and I’m glad to try these teas that I might otherwise have never heard of!
Picked this up at a local grocery recently. I wasn’t expecting too much of a canned tea, though it did turn out better than expected. It’s a decently smooth and energizing sencha with an umami undertone, and no excessive grassiness or off-ness that comes with overbrewing. There is, however, a noticeable bitterness. It’s convenient as a cold and unadulterated drink of tea when you’re not able to brew your own, but doesn’t otherwise stand out.
For my 300th tasting note, I tried this lovely sample from a friend. The dry tea has a bright, fresh bergamot scent that is quite strong. The leaves are light in color for a black tea (which all made sense later, when I read that it was a Darjeeling). After brewing, the tea liquor comes out to a pale golden color, and the aroma is quite inviting.
As far as Earl Grey goes, this is a subtle one, both in terms of the tea base and bergamot flavor. And in this case, that’s a good thing. Compared to the dry scent, the bergamot flavor is light, with a touch of creaminess. The tea base is delicate, slightly floral, and not as finicky toward brewing conditions as some Darjeelings can be. The overall effect is almost weightless, and unlike any Earl Grey I’ve tried before. Would be perfect as an afternoon tea or for fancier occasions.
Very rich and sweet vanilla scent and flavor, on a base of strong, decent quality black tea. I got this as an after-Christmas sale item, and I can definitely see that it would be a cozy tea to have around the holidays. I’m always partial to vanilla, so this was a good find, and it’s nice to know that it is naturally flavored. For the evenings, though, I think I might need to restock Vanilla Comoro again…
I decided to try this tea because it’s the base of the Sleeping Bear blend, which I greatly enjoyed. The leaves are dark green twists, and the dry aroma is very heady and fragrant, like a good quality green tea should have. After brewing, the tea liquor is very light and clear in color, and the leaves unfurl in interesting ways—it was kind of fascinating to watch them move around in the cup. The first cup is vegetal, slightly sweet, with a faint (and pleasant) astringency. It fits nicely in the spectrum of other Chinese green teas I have tried. The second steep becomes more buttery and smooth, with a plum-like sweetness, and reminds me of what (in addition to the pine needles) had made Sleeping Bear special in the first place. Overall, a solidly good green tea!
Got this as a sample from an order I placed at the end of last year. This is a very interesting-looking tea, and the dry leaves are fuzzy little twists that expand impressively upon brewing. A little bit goes a long way, and I found that just a small pinch can make for a satisfying cup. The leaves give off a golden color in the cup that tends to settle toward the bottom. The taste is malty, baked-goods-esque, with quite a luscious feel and a hint of cocoa. It’s a very comforting tea, and the maltiness is not as imposing as Golden Snail—it feels a bit fresher and more delicate. I can see this becoming one of my all-time favorites, especially in autumn and winter.
This is from a different sample (most likely different harvest) than the one I reviewed before. The sample came with an order at the end of 2014, so the tea is likely from earlier in 2014. Finally getting around to finishing it now.
I have to say that with this batch, the flavor profile isn’t as complex as the one I made the earlier note for. It’s still a decently good oolong, with a bright floral feel to it, and this time it reminds me more of a tieguanyin than anything. Leans on the greener side, with a hint of roastiness in the finish. One can’t expect teas harvested from the same region or even the same plant to be the same year after year, so some variations like this are to be expected.
