110 Tasting Notes

85

1 1/2 tsp for 8 oz

Worked for me while I was eating breakfast, but as I kept drinking it after eating, the astringency got to be too much. Hmmm… Will go back to 180 for 2 min next time. I think that was the sweet spot for me.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 2 min, 30 sec

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85

2 rounded tsp for 16 oz

Brewed it a little stronger this time. Still rounded, smooth, silky. Drinking it first thing in the morning without milk and sugar which is a big deal for me. I am eating toast between sips which helps my stomach handle the straight tea first thing. But, this tea is so smooth, it is going down easy.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 3 min, 0 sec
El Monstro

Hey, is this company in China? How long did it take for shipping?

Rachel J

Yes, they are in China! I paid the $6 shipping option and it got to my door in 9 days. Amazing!

El Monstro

ooOooOO I see they have samples, looks like I’m gonna be placing an order

Bonnie

This tea is quite good.

looseTman

“Drinking it first thing in the morning without milk and sugar which is a big deal for me. I am eating toast between sips which helps my stomach handle the straight tea first thing.”
TeaVivre agrees:
“Never drink tea on an empty stomach: If you drink tea on an empty stomach, you will not only dilute gastric juices so that you aren’t as able to digest foods as well, but the high absorbency rate of water in the tea will also cause your body to absorb caffeine easily causing you to experience dizziness, stress and possibly even neurasthenia in your hands or feet.”
http://www.teavivre.com/info/drink-more-will-be-repercussions/

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90
drank Golden Monkey by Harney & Sons
110 tasting notes

2 tsp for 12 oz.

Wow, this is tasty! It tastes like a Yunnan Dian Hong to me. Smooth.

I’m not familiar with any other Golden Monkey teas, I should try some others.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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85

Rounded tsp in 8 oz

Worked great as a breakfast tea with no additions! Towards the end of the cup, it was cooling off and I was feeling the astringency. I took a tip from Stacy of Butiki and added some more hot water, and that really worked to smooth it out enough to keep drinking it without adding sugar or milk!

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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85
drank Formosa Oolong by Harney & Sons
110 tasting notes

1 tsp for 8 oz.

I love this! It’s not very “sophisticated” or anything, but it’s smooth, has a pleasant, fruity flavor, and it’s inexpensive enough to be a daily tea. Honestly, it is very close to being a black tea but a bit more subtle. Really like this one!

Preparation
180 °F / 82 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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95
drank Mi Xian Black by Butiki Teas
110 tasting notes

1 heaping tbsp in 16 oz

Yummy as always. Today, I felt a little extra sensitive to astringency, though. There is a slight hint of astringency in this tea… barely any at all, really, but today I was feeling it a little more pronounced than usual. So, I did the unthinkable and added a 1/2 tsp of sugar to the 16 oz of tea. That just smoothed it out for me without changing the flavor.

I’ve decided not to beat myself up over adding just a tiny bit of sugar to my tea if I feel like it. I know that a gorgeous tea like this one doesn’t need it, but sometimes I just want my tea a little extra sweet and juicy. Not always, just now and then.

I am cold-steeping the used leaves overnight for what I know will be a delicious iced tea I can drink with my lunch tomorrow. Yay!

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 3 min, 30 sec
Rachel J

Stacy, I hope you don’t think less of me for adding a little sugar to a tea that is marvelous without. LOL… Actually, I really feel like a disgrace to tea snobs!

Butiki Teas

Haha, of course I don’t think less of you. The best way to make tea is the way you enjoy it the most. For me personally, if I end up making the tea too astringent then I just add a little more water but its all about what you prefer. Occasionally, I have to watch myself for tea snobbery. I have a friend that buys the expensive black teas from me then mixes then with super cheap teas. I used to cringe when I would watch her do it but that’s how she likes it.

Rachel J

Haha… OK that makes me feel better. :)

Rachel J

Does extra water really make a tea less astringent?

Bonnie

I sweeten tea quite often but never use honey with any tea other than chai. Strong morning black tea and some puer tastes great with cream and splenda. Yes, indeed I said splenda. With all the tea I drink, there’s no way I can handle sugar.

Rachel J

That makes me feel better too, Bonnie!

Butiki Teas

Rachel-It works for me. :)

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85

1 tsp for 6 oz

OK, now this is a pleasant tea! Been looking for something inexpensive that tastes decent for a daily morning tea, and this might be it!

It’s not as intense and smoky as the Hao Ya B. But, it does have some Keemun character in a lighter, smoother version. Brewed as I did, there is really not much astringency to speak of (just a little in the finish), but there is definitely flavor.

I think this Keemun is a great value. I’ll have to try a side by side comparison of all the ones I have soon.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 2 min, 0 sec

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55
drank Hao Ya 'B' by Harney & Sons
110 tasting notes

1 tsp for 6 oz

Holy Smoke! Yep… very smoky and intense. Gorgeous red liquor. A little bit astringent, but smoother than I would have expected for such a strong tea.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 2 min, 0 sec

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70

1 1/2 tsp for 8 oz

Beautiful aroma, gorgeous light gold liquor. Medium oxidized and not roasty. It has a lovely, fruity flavor.

Only downside was quite a bit of astringency in the finish. I’m going to try a lower temp next time to see if that goes away. Also, there was quite a bit of dust/fannings in one of my sample packets. It must have been the bottom of the bag. I will infuse just the larger leaves next time.

This is a type of oolong right up my alley! Not too green, not charcoally. Perfect when I want something a bit lighter than a black.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 2 min, 0 sec
K S

Rachel J, I just read Cody’s review of this and he found using less leaf helped balance this one out. Might be worth a try.

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100

Cold brewed my used leaves from yesterdays pot for 24 hours in the fridge. It is a super-refreshing, tasty beverage! No sugar needed!

My Friend Rashad

How do you do that? I’ve wanted to try it.

Rachel J

I used a heaping teaspoon for 16 oz when I brewed the hot tea. After pouring off the tea and letting the pot and leaves cool, I added 12 oz of cold water to the leaves, covered it up and put it in the fridge.

I’ve also brewed fresh leaves this way. I’m not a big fan of green tea generally, but when I brew it in cold water in the fridge over 12 hours or so, it is a smooth and tasty iced tea!

My Friend Rashad

Thanks! I’m gonna try that.

Bonnie

This is my method too. With good leaves that are used but still have some life, cold brewing is a perfect match. High quality tea leaves really brings more value in how much you can do.

Rachel J

Glad to hear that Bonnie because I just tried it recently off the top of my head.

Bonnie

That’s what I did about a year ago too. Just made sense not to waste good leaves.

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Profile

Bio

I happily reside in Park Slope, Brooklyn with my husband, our baby son, and our dog. I teach over 40 piano students per week at my home studio and created “Fundamental Keys”, a classical piano method book and video series.

My husband and I are vegan and have been for about 8 years. We are enjoying bringing up our little one in the vegan tradition!

I went through a major tea phase some years ago (2006-2009) and had quite a collection and tasted hundreds of varieties. Then I went off caffeine when I decided to have a baby, and after he was born I got into a nasty coffee habit. Now I’ve come back to tea, thank goodness. I’m finding my tastes have changed quite a bit since my first go at tea fanaticism. Really enjoying some of the amazing and deliciously complex teas I’ve learned about through Steepster!

Location

Brooklyn

Website

http://about.me/rachelj

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