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Bought this on a recent trip to Edinburgh. Nice strong cup of tea, pairs perfect with milk. Bold and satisfying.

This was one of the Darjeeling samples I got to determine which Darjeeling I preferred. It had a light brown coloured brew. Relatively balanced, slightly astringent with muscatel tones. I tried it without milk, but I think it was strong enough that I’d drink it with milk the next time to balance out the astringency. It was okay, but not something I would restock.

A fruity tea with a sweetness that lingers, reddish brown colour in the cup. Has some strength to it. Drank it black. Curious to see if it holds up to some milk. I think it’s an average tea though—not one I would stock as I’ve got so many others I prefer.

A beautiful tea. Brews a pale green/yellow. Creamy with a strong floral scent and taste. In addition to the creamy milky taste, I also sense vanilla and the floral scent and taste is like orchids. I made this in the gaiwan with a short rinse first but I don’t think it needed it. Subsequent drinkable steeps were from 40s gradually increasing.

This was a sample sent with my order. I think this is the one, as it’s a darker oolong than I’ve had. The leaves are a lovely dark colour. The taste was roasted and nutty with some sweetness. The floral tones was noticeable when I let it cool a bit. I made this in the gaiwan with a 15s rinse followed by two 40s drinkable steeps. Quite enjoyable.

I liked the strong bold flavour of this one. After the 15s rinse, so far I’ve had several drinkable steeps at 20s and 30s. I can taste vegetal, astringency and wet hay. Unfortunately I don’t taste the apple peel or corn tastes, or milkiness that others noted.

This was great. After the rinse I did a short steep of 20sec in the gaiwan. It was lighter than other Shou Puerh I’ve had, bright, not so heavy and earthy. So I steeped it 45 sec for the second drnkable steep. Lovely, more complex than other Puerh I’ve had and still smooth. I’d like to say that there is also a slight fruit taste, perhaps plum or prune but I don’t know that that’s really what it is that I’m tasting. Definitely wish I had more of this.

After a short rinse (15sec), I’ve so far had 2 drinkable steeps of 20 sec. I was pleasantly surprised that it was smooth and not astringent. There’s a smokiness and slight sweetness with a hint of peach at the end. I’ve been having a lot of oolongs, so it was nice to get back to a sheng Puerh. Really enjoyed this.

This was my second time with this tea, this time I brewed it western style with one steep of two minutes or so. Seemed to have quite different flavours than when I brewed it n a gaiwan. This time around I tasted more fruity or floral and something that I would call vanilla. Very smooth. Definitely preferred it brewed this way. Drank it straight with no milk.

I wasn’t originally interested n trying this one…untilI heard it had been discontinued. I was lucky to find one location that still had some left. Made it in a gaiwan. After a 15 sec rinse, so far I’ve had two 40 sec steeps. It brewed a pale green-yellow colour. The taste was closer to a green tea. It was mildly floral and vegetal. Very light though. No overpowering flavours or scents. I’m curious to see how this taste may evolve with subsequent steeps. I may also increase steep time though I like the lightness.