188 Tasting Notes

92

Mostly dark green threads lightly compressed on top with harder compression underneath with more broken leaf. Light moss scent pre and a peppery moss scent after steeping. Flavors are most appealing, sweet apricot, medium viscosity, good mouth feel, just right amount of bitterness and astringency. Cha qi is restrained making it good for afternoon imbibing. I quite like this tea.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 0 min, 30 sec 11 g 5 OZ / 150 ML
tanluwils

I’m eyeing this one….

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

78

Beautiful long unbroken leaf, it looks good. Fragrant whiffs of dried plum, it smells good. Deep bronze hued brew, it feels good. Flavors of cocoa, plum, graham cracker, malt and prune, it tastes good. Ah but there’s a rub.
I have really enjoyed all the teas from this company. I like that they offer, a wide range of teas and consider there descriptors most honest and helpful when selecting. This tea though as good as I have stated above just does its mojo with the first 2-3 steeps. After that I get a gentle sourness that I have only tasted before in Darjeelings. I have brewed this many a times and no matter that sour note comes through. Will it distract me from enjoying the first few steeps, heck no?

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 0 min, 15 sec 7 g 5 OZ / 160 ML

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

82
drank Bai Lin Gong Fu by Totem Tea
188 tasting notes

Anything special, not really, but it is well made and according to the description all hand processed. A for effort and B for the finished product. I remember Bai Lin being a little darker than this blondish presentation but the leaf is uniform, fuzzed and fragrant Brewed gongfu in a small teapot with a quick rinse, then I married 2 steeps together to be able to read the morning news. Refreshing, smooth, mild cocoa, fig, no aftertaste. straight up red tea. There is a most noticeable kick after 15 minutes which is non jarring so I just road the wave.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 0 min, 15 sec 7 g 4 OZ / 130 ML
Daylon R Thomas

I think you’ve probably tasted better ones than I have, but Joseph Wesley’s Bai Lin is excellent and though Shangs Tea is dry, it has the same characterisitcs of a white tea which makes it impressive. I’ve heard good things about Teavivres and Yunnan Sourcing’s offerings for Bai Lin as well.

BigDaddy

Will give the other sites a shot at turning me on to this tea, had some in Queens at 2 different tea houses and liked it but was not overly impressed but Teavivres and YS do have some yummy selections.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

84
drank Zhi Lan Xiang by Tea Drunk
188 tasting notes

Most interesting. Tried the 2015 spring. I must say that after drinking mostly shou and hong cha for last 3 month its great to do a gongfu session with a superb Dan Cong. I mean I did try to make this several ways, grandpa and western style but it doesn’t do this tea service. This tea only can be drunk as a gongfu session, IMHO. Used a lot of leaf to a new celadon pot and went outside to brew and watch the bluebirds vie for nest boxes. The tea is of medium roast and gives a supple soup pumpkin in hue with medium viscosity. The first few steeps offer up the most intense floral honeysuckle and orange blossom flavors and aromas. Middle steeps send the florals into the background and a vegetal sweetness takes center stage akin to butternut squash. Next presence of minerality adding a bit of nuance during the later steeps. Overall not too lengthy, 8 steeps but that is just what it wanted me to have. Again if you have the bucks and really enjoy a bring it home gongfu session with Dan Cong , try any of Tea Drunk’s selection, they’re that good.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 0 min, 15 sec 9 g 5 OZ / 160 ML
tanluwils

Nice notes. I haven’t tried zhi lan xiang yet.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

84

Just finishing this summer tea off, found in the back of the cabinet. Hasn’t lost any of its flavors at all, mild buttery spinach flavors, an alluring saltiness with a hint of sweet as it goes down. Zero astringency, sturdy enough for 4 resteeps, makes me long for the warmer weather.

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 1 min, 0 sec 7 g 10 OZ / 300 ML

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

88

Top notch Jade, oozing like buttah on the tongue but not too thick. Highly aromatic, good staying power. Quite the nice specimen.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 0 min, 45 sec 10 g 7 OZ / 220 ML

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

86

Bright, light, right. Excellent everyday tea reasonable priced with the flavors most look to in a Jade. Sweet, clean, heady aromas, hint of butter, spinach and camellia. Came as a free sample, with a sweet note.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 0 min, 45 sec 5 g 4 OZ / 130 ML

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

88

Came as a free sample, and I can see why. Such a lovely tea, full figured, redolent, well nuanced, begging to be purchased. I can add no more than what was described by Haveteawilltravel, the review speaks volumes.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

92
drank Shui Jin Gui by Tea Drunk
188 tasting notes

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

96
drank Da Hong Pao by Tea Drunk
188 tasting notes

Oh my, not to be morbid but when the cremator hits the button I hope he puts as fine a roast on my arse as this selection of Da Hong Pao from Tea Drunk. The flavor also is phoenixed with a perfectly balanced and clear yan yun. Simple yet complex perfection.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Profile

Bio

Food and Drink fanatic. Expanding my horizons with new teas. Accomplished cook with a love of wines, liquors, cocktails, coffees and teas.
Semi-retired Interventional Cardiology Registered Nurse

Location

East Village NYC, Red Hook NY, USA

Following These People

Moderator Tools

Mark as Spammer