Blissful Buds

Backlog:

Thank you to TeaEqualsBliss for sending me some of this tea.

A really lovely green. No big surprise, I’ve always been very impressed with Mellow Monk’s offerings. They have one of my favorite greens ever. (Top Leaf)

The leaves are so tiny, they are young buds and shoots … so tiny!!!

Sweet, very spring-like. Like fresh, new grass and leaf buds and the freshness of the spring air. Dew drops on a new blade of grass. Sweet and lovely.

Here’s my full-length review of this one: http://sororiteasisters.com/2013/03/11/blissful-buds-green-tea-from-mellow-monk/

This is a drier earthy-sweet. Quite different yet pleasingly tasty! The cooler it gets – the flavor changes a little to a slight grassy flavor. Thumbs up!

I prepared this tea according the instructions and it was fine(1 heaping teaspoon of tea leaves for an 8-ounce cup or mug. The water temperature should be about 75 degrees Celcius (167 degrees Fahrenheit) , let the tea brew for about 3 minutes. For the second and third steepings, let the tea brew for about 30 seconds to 1 minute). I will try different brewing options.

Maybe not my preferred tea but in my list of “the teas that I love”. I will certainly order it again.

When brewed at a mild temperature (65 deg.), this tea is extremely light and sweet, with a slight berry-like tang to it. It needs hotter water to get the most from it. A quirky tea, for sure.

First infusion – 5 g. per 8 oz water, 70 deg., 1:00 min.

Second infusion – 5 g. per 8 oz. water, 70 deg., 2:30 min.

Third infusion – 5 g. per 5 oz. water, 70 deg., 10+ min.

This is a good, decent-priced green tea. I like the young, bright flavor of the buds. You don’t need much to make a strong pot. Would get this again and again and rotate with the other Mellow Monk teas.

I love Mellow Monk. All of their teas are great, and this one is no exception. It packs a potent bitter quality, which makes it a nice after-meal drink. I enjoy it enough to order it again, but not enough to keep it in stock considering that the Top Leaf steals the show, and gives me everything I need. It was quite special.

I originally found out about Mellow Monk Teas from the North American Tea Championships and their 2013 award for their wonderful Shaded Leaf green tea(my absolute favorite green tea). The company is absolutely amazing, all of their teas are first flush pickings(isn’t that ridiculous??!!!) and you can seriously taste that they are! All of their teas are grown in the best soil from Kumamoto Japan are small batch harvests.

After sadly finishing my last bag of Shaded Leaf I decided to try something new from Mellow Monk. The flavor notes they listed on their website for Blissful Buds was intriguing and after seeing I immediately bought it.

I received my tea and brewed up a nice cup of Blissful Buds. As I opened the bag I was hit with a sweet herbaceous smell. I put 1.5 teaspoons in my 165 degree water and brewed for exactly 1 minute and 30 seconds. The smell of the tea is light and similar to the stronger dry smell of the tea.

On the initial sip I was very pleased with the strong sweetly herbaceous taste. It is a fine green tea that pleases the taste buds! The hints of berry are definitely there but are much lighter than the herbaceous notes. The taste lingers long after the last sip with a very pleasing vegetal taste that is also very sweet. Made me want to mediate and left me in a very clear headed state!

A delicious tea indeed!! I would highly recommend this tea to someone who is already a fan of Mellow Monk teas but is craving a lightly sweet green tea. I would call Blissful Buds the younger half brother of Shaded Leaf, similar sweet berry hints, but Shaded Leaf is a lot more intense and very well rounded and extremely smooth, but also double the cost.

I can’t say I’m very fond of it’s bitter aftertaste, but from what I understand this is common with most Mecha’s.