GOARTEA (Amazon)
Edit CompanyRecent Tasting Notes
This is a roasted oolong. To the nose, it is sweet floral and light smokiness. On the tongue, the roasted leaves come through as char and earthiness with a touch of sweetness. I brewed this gongfu style with an initial wash. If brewed longer than 15 seconds, this tea will deliver bitterness and mouth drying astringency, bordering on a chalky dryness, but if the tea is brewed quickly in the 8-10 second range, the result is much smoother and wet mouth feel, but still will finish with a hint of astringency. Even with quick infusions, the resulting liquor is strong and leaning more orange than yellow.
Dark roast coffee lovers would probably enjoy this tea.
Flavors: Char, Dark Bittersweet, Earth, Floral, Smoke, Tobacco, Wet Rocks, Wood
Preparation
This is a really lovely and rather interesting oolong. It’s certainly complex and also somehow milder than most oolongs I’ve had. The tea tastes slightly smokey, but not overwhelmingly so. In fact, overall it seems more light than smokey. It tastes slightly of citrus fruit and, at times, is even a little bit floral. It does kind of have a “kick” to it while retaining its smoothness. It isn’t bitter at all. The taste of this tea lingers but it is pleasant. I wish I had a better vocabulary to explain this one. I’m looking forward to my second steep.
Flavors: Citrus, Floral, Honey, Smoke, Wet Rocks
Preparation
Chinese premium organic spike kuding ku ding bitter large leaf herbal green tea by goartea. Review.
This is the worst tasting tea I have ever tried. Extremely bitter! Bleh! Nasty! Unless you love bitter teas I suggest you stay away from this tea!
I must not waste. So I will give to a friend. I do have to give it credit for smelling like yummy pepperonies when dry so I rate a 2.
I hate this tea! This is the first time I’ve ever hated a tea :(
Kuding is more a medicinal item than a tea. Kuding is called “Bitter Needle” and is made from the evergreen family. You are spot on this stuff is reeeaallly bitter.
@mrmopar. i found out i used too much, (5-7 spikes). when i tried with just one spike, 30s, it was still really bitter and not enjoyable :(
Yah this stuff is STRONG!
:(
5.5 gm in 100ml gaiwan, water 208ºF, 30s/45s/1 min/1min/1:30
Good tea for red tea shots. I’m about done with this 50gm lot, and am thinking I will get a larger quantity of the vendor’s better grade. There’s a bit of stemmy stuff in this lot, and I’m hoping the highest grade one will have better longevity.
Cocoa, sweet aftertaste, a bit of tannins in the later steeps. Falls off pretty fast after 4 infusions.
Flavors: Cocoa, Floral, Sweet
