82

I think this is the first time I’ve had a pre-Spring harvest tea so I have nothing to compare it to. Long, dark green delicate tendrils with a few silvery accents that smell sweet, fruity, lightly vegetal and beany, alpine.

I enjoyed this green tea most when prepared gongfu. Western was also nice, of course less nuanced, but grandpa-style was a nuisance because most of the leaves do not sink.

Gone gaiwan [6g, 150mL glass gaiwan, 175F, flash rinse]

Warmed leaf had aromas of creamy artichoke, sugarcane, sugar cookie, and a fruity tone. Wet leaf smelled mostly of sugarcane and seaweed. First in a series of very short steeps were vegetal with lightly creamy artichoke, soybean and grass, and a fructose-like sweetness. Thick mouthfeel on the sip transitioned into a highly mineral, almost salty liquor that was lightly drying and left a bit of a rough texture on the tongue. Lemon appeared with salivation on the swallow. Very light floral almond aftertaste. With the third steep at only 12 seconds, some summer squash and fir came out, leaving a cooling mouthfeel. Sugarcane returning sweetness. By the fourth steep I was breathing clearly. Fifth led with fir and became very cooling on the swallow, ending with a light lemongrass aftertaste. Felt pretty mellow by that point and didn’t keep track of further infusions.

Western [2.5g, 8oz, 175F, 2 steeps] was overall a similar experience with creamy artichoke, lemongrass, soybean, and high minerality. Less noticeable fir-cooling. The aroma is light, so I recommend breathing in while taking a sip to meld with the light and clean flavors. I chewed on some of the robust and healthy spent leaf and the vague apricot fruitiness I smelled in the dry leaf came out in the mouth.

It’s a very clean and light tea with the leaf amounts I brewed. Oversteeping does not produce any bitterness which made it nice for grandpa style brewing but again, the leaves float. Tasty tea :)

Flavors: Almond, Apricot, Artichoke, Cookie, Cream, Drying, Fir, Floral, Freshly Cut Grass, Lemon, Lemongrass, Mineral, Salty, Seaweed, Soybean, Sugarcane, Vegetal, Zucchini

Preparation
175 °F / 79 °C 6 g 5 OZ / 150 ML
LuckyMe

I ordered this one too. The flavor profile you described sounds really interesting…can’t wait to try it.

derk

I’m curious what you think since greens seem to be your thing.

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LuckyMe

I ordered this one too. The flavor profile you described sounds really interesting…can’t wait to try it.

derk

I’m curious what you think since greens seem to be your thing.

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This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. And thus I step away.

Eventual tea farmer. If you are a tea grower, want to grow your own plants or are simply curious, please follow me so we can chat.

I most enjoy loose-leaf, unflavored teas and tisanes. Teabags have their place. Some of my favorite teas have a profound effect on mind and body rather than having a specific flavor profile. Terpene fiend.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Georgia, Japan, Nepal and Darjeeling. While I’m not actively on the hunt, a goal of mine is to try tea from every country that makes it available to the North American market. This is to gain a vague understanding of how Camellia sinensis performs in different climates. I realize that borders are arbitrary and some countries are huge with many climates and tea-growing regions.

I’m convinced European countries make the best herbal teas.

Personal Rating Scale:

100-90: A tea I can lose myself into. Something about it makes me slow down and appreciate not only the tea but all of life or a moment in time. If it’s a bagged or herbal tea, it’s of standout quality in comparison to similar items.

89-80: Fits my profile well enough to buy again.

79-70: Not a preferred tea. I might buy more or try a different harvest. Would gladly have a cup if offered.

69-60: Not necessarily a bad tea but one that I won’t buy again. Would have a cup if offered.

59-1: Lacking several elements, strangely clunky, possess off flavors/aroma/texture or something about it makes me not want to finish.

Unrated: Haven’t made up my mind or some other reason. If it’s pu’er, I likely think it needs more age.

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California, USA

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