Thanks so much for the samples, Teavivre! I was looking forward to this special tea. The leaves are such a vibrant collection of greens in color. The scent of the unsteeped leaves is like a fresh Spring lawn. I think the water cooled too long on the first cup, I knew the flavors weren’t popping enough. The second steep was a flavor burst of mostly sugary sweetness. Wow, it’s like I added sugar to the mug. Otherwise there is the lightest flavor of starchy yams hiding behind the sugar. Possibly squash and hints of pear or other fruits. Starchiness of pears! The second steep was the real winner. By the third and fourth steeps, the flavor was muted, definitely not as sugary sweet. Oddly, the flavors were a little indistinguishable after the second steep. I’m not sure what happened but it’s probably all in how I’m steeping it, if this tea isn’t as fussy as I think it is. Maybe Western steeping isn’t ideal for this tea. So this isn’t really what I’m looking for in an oolong, without that longevity in Western steeps, but that second steep was divine.
Steep #1 // 1 heaping teaspoon for a not-quite-full mug // 25 minutes after boiling // rinse // 1 minute steep
Steep #2 // 20 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #3 // 15 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #4 // just boiled // 2 minute steep
Harvest: 2019
I hope everyone who celebrates is having a great Thanksgiving! That ET commercial… I can’t even. They are trying to kill me with 80s nostalgia today. haha
That ET commercial made me cry buckets.
Yep, I teared up a bit at that ET commercial and hardly anything gets to me.