104 Tasting Notes
I love the distinctive pu’erh flavors of loam and sun-warmed wood and this tea certainly delivers. The flavor is a bit more delicate than I would have expected though that is not necessarily a bad thing. A good mid-morning or afternoon tea.
Flavors: Loam, Wood
Preparation
I ordered this as one of my three free samples and I’ve got to say, I’m impressed. I love the rich loamy, malty flavor of this. It has good body to it as well and a deep amber color to the broth that I absolutely adore. I will definitely be ordering a full size of this!
I did not notice any peach or smoke flavors to this as in the description. The first infusion reminded me of green beans and autumn leaves, the second was loam and malt, the third was loam and honey. Perhaps the fourth infusion will have peach?
Flavors: Autumn Leaf Pile, Green Beans, Honey, Loam, Malt
Preparation
The first infusion of this is sweet with orchid and honey notes. The second infusion, also 30 seconds, has a touch of bitterness on the tip of the tongue. The third infusion at 30 seconds has a lighter orchid and honey flavor and the bitterness is gone. I should be able to get one more infusion of 30 seconds then I’ll start lengthening the steeping times.
Flavors: Honey, Orchids
Preparation
How strange that my last tasting note two years ago was for this tea and, not even realizing it, I reached for it this morning! This is still one of my favorite teas though I do not reach for it as often now due to the time constraints of dealing with two children.
This morning I used a bit more than a teaspoon of this in my 12oz tetsubin and did an initial infusion of 1 1/2 minutes. The second infusion I’m drinking now was steeped for 3 minutes and is darker than the first. I probably could have gotten away with a 2 minute steeping time. I’ll likely do a third infusion at 4 1/2 minutes and might even get a fourth. I’ll have to update this if I do.
Preparation
On the third infusion of this and loving every moment. I’m so glad I took advantage of Chi of Tea’s samples offer and if the other two teas are as good as this I will definitely be ordering from this company.
The first two infusions (2 and 4 1/4 minutes respectively) had identical color and flavor: a deep red liquor with an earthy-sweet and slightly floral orange flavor. The third infusion (7 1/2 minutes) has a slightly lighter, deep peachy-red color with a slightly lighter flavor.
Preparation
I had to do a lot of experimenting to find just the right steeping time for this tea. I started with the recommended 3 minutes and gradually lessened the time. I think I finally got it down this morning. 2 1/4 minutes seems to be just right for my tastes.
Preparation
Beef Jerky!
That is totally what this tea reminds me of in both taste and fragrance. One of my friends describes Lapsang Souchons thusly: “Smells like beef jerky, tastes like tires.” I have to agree with the smell part but you know, I LIKE beef jerky. Quite a lot actually! My favorite is hickory smoked with teriyaki-glazed coming in close second.
Preparation
When I saw BEEF JERKY I thought you were playing along with our Song Challenge. YEARS ago I heard a rare B-Side Recording from John & Yoko called Beef Jerky! LOL – It was mostly instrumental and in the middle of the song they were chanting…BEEF JERKY…BEEF JERKY…BEEF JERKY.
Ironically, I think this is funny because John Lennon was a vegetarian and so am I yet he was singing about it and I got a chuckle out of it! LOL
Is that the one that was wrapped in brown paper? I think we have that somewhere…
A lovely medium-amber color with a malty/earthy/fruit flavor. I even picked up a couple floral notes and a bit that I want to say was . . . pumpkin? Yes, definitely pumpkin for a few sips there.
I oversteeped this yesterday and was interested to note that the flavor overlay was distinctly different from that of a Chinese black that has been oversteeped. Not quite bitter, more like, I suppose woody would be one way to describe it.
