I had two or three on my list as possibles to brew this day. This one had the largest amount left in the sample bag. A couple things really struck me when I grabbed the bag. First, I was reminded of Charles’ review yesterday when he said something like – I know Dragon Well and this is good Dragon Well. Next, I saw ‘Premium’ on the label which is a word that is thrown around a lot and most of us are immune to realizing it has real meaning outside of marketing. Then I had a moment of clarity where I was humbled by the realization of how little I know about tea. Further, I was made even more grateful than before for the abundant and exquisite variety of samples I have received from Teavivre. I would never have tried any of these on my own. In fact I was perfectly content with my grocery store teas. I still have a few favorites I continue to drink but more and more, I find myself comparing everything to these samples. OK, this is just tea I am talking about, but in many ways it has paralleled a spiritual experience for me.
Off my ramble on to the tea:
The dry leaf smells of fresh cut grass. The brew has an almost meaty aroma. The sip is of buttered vegetables. There is the slightest pleasant taste of grass in the aftertaste. This cup is a beautiful thing.
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Tea does lead to spiritual experiences.
Your preachin’ to the choir brother,
I love dragon well, it might well became my favorite tea. Do you know what grade that one is? The two uppermost grades have names, wikipedia calls it superior and special, premium might be a translation of one of those. And when buying chinese packed dragonwell (or tea in general) it´s got that number code, and one of the algarisms represents the grade, just can not remember which one (but the grades vary from tea type to tea type, I think, anyway).
Teavivre’s website says this is gade 1.
Ah, that is also the highest grade I have drunk (and maybe the highest grade i would pay money for, the other grades seem so expensive and things so easily forged and altered anyway). So the “premium” is just meaningless I guess!
Per the standard grading system it does not seem to apply. Marketing can slap the word on anything so it is meaningless from that perspective. Yet, this dragon well is the highest rated dragon well listed by Steepster under Teas. So the meaning to me is as it relates to those who drink it. Possibly a value to cost indicator? All I know is I love it more everytime I taste it. Keep in mind I did state how little I know about tea.
I do not pay much attention to ratings of American teas ( American brands that is) on steepster. I think American users are much nicer when giving ratings than Europeans usually are. Seriously. So I try to not compare teas too much, I think the ratings of teas mostly drunk by Americans tend to be a but inflated when compared to european drunk tea, so when I see an American blend get 80 or 90 I do go get too enthusiastic. ( and usually when I have been able to try those highly rated teas, hmmm).
But a good, interesting opinion from an experienced person, that is much more intriguing than an average rating!
I tend to find people who have similar opinions about the teas I have tried. I will say I never put a border distinction on the ratings. Kind of gives me the warm fuzzies about America. The number really only mean a lot to me if they are consistently very low. I tend to want to trust even strangers on that one.
I was thinking about this a bit more – you owe it to yourself to go on Teavivre’s website and sin up to receive some samples. I highly recommend the Dragon Well, Bailin Gongfu Black, Yunnan Golden Tips, and the Dragon Pearls. These are among the best teas I have ever tasted.
I do not particularly trust numerical ratings. And yeah, i think american blends are usually inflated. Some things on the first page of recommended teas that i do not know well completely baffle me and do not create a lot of confidence on everything else rated high.
I will keep in mind your advice, but really, if it´s the same ammount of trouble and money for me to buy tea, I prefer sources I already know and trust ;)
Tea does lead to spiritual experiences.
Your preachin’ to the choir brother,
I love dragon well, it might well became my favorite tea. Do you know what grade that one is? The two uppermost grades have names, wikipedia calls it superior and special, premium might be a translation of one of those. And when buying chinese packed dragonwell (or tea in general) it´s got that number code, and one of the algarisms represents the grade, just can not remember which one (but the grades vary from tea type to tea type, I think, anyway).
Teavivre’s website says this is gade 1.
Ah, that is also the highest grade I have drunk (and maybe the highest grade i would pay money for, the other grades seem so expensive and things so easily forged and altered anyway). So the “premium” is just meaningless I guess!
Per the standard grading system it does not seem to apply. Marketing can slap the word on anything so it is meaningless from that perspective. Yet, this dragon well is the highest rated dragon well listed by Steepster under Teas. So the meaning to me is as it relates to those who drink it. Possibly a value to cost indicator? All I know is I love it more everytime I taste it. Keep in mind I did state how little I know about tea.
I do not pay much attention to ratings of American teas ( American brands that is) on steepster. I think American users are much nicer when giving ratings than Europeans usually are. Seriously. So I try to not compare teas too much, I think the ratings of teas mostly drunk by Americans tend to be a but inflated when compared to european drunk tea, so when I see an American blend get 80 or 90 I do go get too enthusiastic. ( and usually when I have been able to try those highly rated teas, hmmm).
But a good, interesting opinion from an experienced person, that is much more intriguing than an average rating!
I tend to find people who have similar opinions about the teas I have tried. I will say I never put a border distinction on the ratings. Kind of gives me the warm fuzzies about America. The number really only mean a lot to me if they are consistently very low. I tend to want to trust even strangers on that one.
I was thinking about this a bit more – you owe it to yourself to go on Teavivre’s website and sin up to receive some samples. I highly recommend the Dragon Well, Bailin Gongfu Black, Yunnan Golden Tips, and the Dragon Pearls. These are among the best teas I have ever tasted.
I do not particularly trust numerical ratings. And yeah, i think american blends are usually inflated. Some things on the first page of recommended teas that i do not know well completely baffle me and do not create a lot of confidence on everything else rated high.
I will keep in mind your advice, but really, if it´s the same ammount of trouble and money for me to buy tea, I prefer sources I already know and trust ;)