Backlog from a few nights ago.
I took a nice chunk of this (aboug 6g), gave it a rinse with 90C water, then steeped it for about 14 steepings. The dry leaf smelled very fresh and green.
However, this tea was really really mild. I got some fruitiness and some grassiness, maybe a little bit of astringency, but there wasn’t a whole lot there. I used 6g, 90C water, and quick steeps. Should I up the temperature a bit, perhaps? I just sent a sample to Ubacat and have about 9g left.
Updated March 2016:
I’m a writer and editor who’s fallen in love with loose-leaf tea. I’ve also set up a site for tea reviews at http://www.booksandtea.ca – an excellent excuse to keep on buying and trying new blends. There will always be more to discover!
In the meantime, since joining Steepster in January 2014, I’ve gotten a pretty good handle on my likes and dislikes
Likes: Raw/Sheng pu’erh, sobacha, fruit flavours, masala chais, jasmine, mint, citrus, ginger, Ceylons, Chinese blacks, rooibos.
Dislikes (or at least generally disinclined towards): Hibiscus, rosehip, chamomile, licorice, lavender, really vegetal green teas, shu/ripe pu’erh.
Things I generally decide on a case-by-case basis: Oolong, white teas.
Still need to do my research on: matcha
I rarely score teas anymore, but if I do, here’s the system I follow:
100-85: A winner!
84-70: Pretty good. This is a nice, everyday kind of tea.
69-60: Decent, but not up to snuff.
59-50: Not great. Better treated as an experiment.
49-0: I didn’t like this, and I’m going to avoid it in the future. Blech.
Toronto, ON, Canada
How big is your vessel?