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1456 tasting notes

Excellent Chinese green tea from Hubei Province. Smallest buds I’ve ever seen! Best western. At work, I let the dispenser hot water cool for a bit then fill the steeper basket with a big pinch of clumpy buds. Sweet like scallops, fluid and mellow. Very ‘dewy’ and cool feeling, refreshing and nourishing. I don’t quite get the woody-tannic sandawlood/cedar impression that Rishi does but tannins do cling in rings to the cup. Great for 2 steeps and a 3rd can be eked out if I’m mindful of prior steep times.

Flavors: Algae, Barnyard, Clean, Evergreen, Macadamia, Milky, Roasted Nuts, Shellfish, Soybean, Spring Water, Sweet, Umami, Wet Moss, Wet Rocks

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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 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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