2146 Tasting Notes
This gongfu session tasting note will be rather short.
I have used 4 grams for my 125 ml gaiwan and used almost boiling water… approx 93°C water.
Quick rinse to release first aromas, which were delightful… roasted, mineral, with hints of red fruits. On blind test I would guess right that it is a rock oolong.
Following steeps were tasty, with a moderate long mouthfeel. Flavours that I noticed were fruity, with hints of minerality… later steeps a bit more like spicy, but not distinct enough to describe the spices.
Is it worth 0.18$/gram? I don’t feel experienced enough to tell that. But it is fine for daily drinking. I think it is not a top-notch tea, but let’s try also different preparation method and more focused gongfu, to find out; if it was worth. Or it is because 3 years old?
Preparation
A sipdown! (M: 4 Y: 69) prompt: The tea with the shortest name
I must admit, I was really aiming to finish this tea for the prompt, and honestly, these teas need to be consumed fairly quickly anyway.
I was genuinely surprised that, despite being packaged in a sturdy paper box and outer paper wrappings, it managed to keep its taste and aromas wonderfully locked in.
The tea was, predictably, very floral, but also fruity—I particularly noticed orange notes. Overall, it made for a very relaxing cuppa. While I’ll miss it to some extent, it might be more for the charming box than the taste itself. I’ll definitely keep one of the outer wrappings for my collection; it’s sure to bring back memories.
A sipdown! (M: 3 Y: 68) prompt: May 21 — International Tea Day: Any tea that makes you happy!
I prepared remaining amount in the pot and steeped for longer time than usual, but it’s just okay.
It is a fruity black tea, although there are no other ingredients but tea. I do notice rosehip for sure today, but also mentioned peaches and oranges, but only if I know what to look for.
Mouthfeel was very short too, without any prominent note.
Very forgettable tea.
Preparation
A sipdown! (M: 2 Y: 67)
A perfect refreshing cuppa, even when I drank it hot. As gmathis wrote, it is very hibiscus forward, but lime tastes natural and is very refreshing.
I think it could be a blast iced; but this was a last tea bag, drank on rainy afternoon.
Preparation
I took a chunk of this puerh as it seems I have quite lots of it, still from Michelle and Rich; and prepared it stronger today — I have used 7 grams instead of 4, that I used last time; long time ago.
It was intended to fulfill sipdown prompt, but I have still too much to call it sipdown, or close to sipdown — definitely at least two sessions worth.
I have to admit, it was much better, as there were stronger flavour profiles, though I agree with past self about the flavours. It has been somehow chocolately, thick and peaty at first sessions, later ones were with hints of red fruits and woody; but still definitely and distinctly flavourful.
Yes, the aftertaste was still a bit short for my liking, but it is creamy and mellow.
I am definitely raising the rating from 74.
Preparation
A sipdown! (M: 1 Y: 66) prompt: A tea you hoard
Da Wu Ye Dancong 2017 (Probably) by Chaozhou Tea Grower / Wudong Tea
I have this tea for soooo long. It was back then when I was pretty much active on r/tea IRC and one member offered sending me a few teas. This was one of them, because back then I had a Dancong oolong by white2tea and liked it. I believe I could have it from 2019 or so.
Well, yes, it was a hoarded tea. And now I am finishing it. Gongfu, remaining almost 5 grams, boiling water, flash steeps (as instructed).
Either it has faded, or I am not so focused today; but I just can’t picked up any aroma notes. It is a pretty much mellow flowery oolong, with hints of astringecy and if steeped longer, there is a creeping bitterness.
But, sipdown is a sipdown; with a filling prompt (well, who cares it is a February prompt, right?) and I have moreless enjoyed it.
I mixed Cranberry of Basilur (a sipdown!) and Lime Flowers by Sonnentor. The latter one I have hoped to make it a sipdown too, but I had too much; so last cuppa remains. Also the latter one have a great chance to repurchase.
It smells quite funky. Flowery (lilac? how?) and tart cranberry / plain hibiscus. But it tastes better — it brings fruity cranberry with nice floral and sweet notes, so it isn’t that tart, as plain fruity element of this tea.
I wouldn’t blend it like this always; afterall the cranberry tea I preferred to have with black tea; but it works together fairly well.
Hey Martin, if lime flowers smell anything like orange flowers, I could understand the similarity to lilac. I grew up in the middle of orange orchards and adore the fragrance of their blossoms! Not sure about the combination with cranberry, though I’d be inclined to toss in a hibiscus element to complement, and then dose it with a ton of sweetener and sip it iced. Is there ANY C. sinensis in your blend? I agree that a strong black would do well. Perhaps a Ceylon and maybe even one from the Uva highlands, having those minty notes. Or maybe a Keemun with a touch of spearmint added!
Lime… in this case it is linden :) — maybe a little bit lost in translation. Sometimes it is translated as lime.
As of cranberry — sadly this blend from Basilur is really tart to me; and I usually mix it up with some other tea. There wasn’t any C. sineisis in my blend; but Uva tea would be a great pairing.
I think linden is referred to as lime tree in British English. In French it is tilluel, I believe. It isn’t a well known thing among most people in America, except perhaps those who are in wellness teas and tinctures.
Ah-hah yes. I have heard of Linden, but forgot it was sometimes referred to as lime. I have no idea what it’s blossoms smell like!
For me it’s a little bit honey-ish, chamomile like
A sipdown! (M: 6 Y: 64) prompt: April 22 – Earth Day: drink an earthy tasting tea
Two days late! Also it fits better prompt: “A tea with a long name”
But who cares? Sipdown is a sipdown!
Well, this one from derk isn’t much earthy. Thanks anyway. Whopsy daisy. It’s rather mineral. Astringent and herbaceous. Musty mint.
Longer steeps are even more herbaceous — musty mint notes. Sadly, not so earthy as I have wished for to fill the prompt. Fine for mindless drinking though. I had better shengs.
Were 6 grams for my 125 ml gaiwan too much? Who knows…
Preparation
A sipdown! (M: 5 Y: 63) prompt: A tea with a long name
Well, it may not be longest name in my stash, but… well it has got its former name; and if you write in the words the year and number of the blend, it can be quite long, right?!
Anyway, prepared last 5 grams as last time, in a tea pot, shared with family members. Flavours seems to be very same like last time — forest honey, malt, caramel and stewed fruits with floral notes.
It just needs a lots of water volume and big strainer it seems. As in the pot it was a whole different story than mug brewing.
