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derk drank Bittermelon Stuffed With Roasted Tie Guan Yin Oolong Tea by Yunnan Sourcing

1626 tasting notes

beerandbeancurd coming to the rescue this evening :) Thank you.

I’ve had bitter melon before, prepared at a Chinese restaurant, and it is certainly among the most bitter things I’ve tasted. This tea is nothing of the sort. It’s all roasted tieguanyin with an I-don’t-know-what quality provided by the bitter melon rind.

More aromatic than flavorful. In the nose I get a mix of peppery/nutty/chocolatey/fruity aromas underpinned by smooth smoke and flicks of incense. Body is thin but pleasant. Watery TCM comes to mind but with thin, sweet fruity tastes while also being very twiggy. Ever had Kashi GoLean cereal?

This tea is comforting in a dry and in a sweet twigs and berries kind of way.

Flavors: Acidic, Blueberry, Caramel, Chestnut, Chocolate, Dried Fruit, Drying, Fruity, Grapes, Incense, Jam, Mint, Pepper, Roasty, Smoke, Strawberry, Sweet, Tangy, Thin, Toast, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Twigs, Watery, Woody

Preparation

Boiling 3 OZ / 100 ML

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beerandbeancurd
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I had rather forgotten about this little one.

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beerandbeancurd
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I had rather forgotten about this little one.

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This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. Yet I persist.

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.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Georgia, Japan, and Nepal. 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, possesses off flavor/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 puerh, I likely think it needs more age.

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