Black Dragon Pearls

Tea: Black Dragon Pearls
Vendor: Adagio Teas
Price: $19/5 oz.
Source: Yunnan, China
Vendor Description: Hailing from the Yunnan province, this black tea version of the popular Dragon Pearl is naturally sweet and smooth with a touch of earthiness. Comprised of only the highest quality leaves and buds, expertly rolled into a large pearl-like shape. Subtle cocoa notes whisper gently as each pearl unfurls delivering a superior tea experience not to be missed. We suggest using 2-3 Dragon Pearls per cup for a sublime tea drinking experience.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea is rather interesting. It consists of black and yellow balls. They're about the size of gumballs, weighing about 1g each. They are rather compressed looking and much larger than jasmine pearls. They have the golden appearance that some Yunnan teas are known for (Yunnan Gold for example). There is a very faint aroma to the balls, it strangely reminds me of Nestea instant powdered iced tea.

1st Infusion Parameters: 3.13g., 5oz, 208F, 5 min

1st Infusion: The tea has a dark brown, red hue to it. The infused leaf makes it apparent that the balls are just compressed leaf. They are not from a single triplet like most jasmine pearls are, nor are they bound together like presentation teas. The tea has a very subdued aroma to it, not making much of an impression at all. Overall the tea feels subtle, yet very flavorful. It slowly opens up into a very bodied taste. It is very mellow and smooth. There is no bitterness or astringency to it, which is rather surprising for a black tea.

Rating: 8/10

Conclusion: While I wasn't really expecting much from this tea, I was rather surprised. I had expected it to be more novelty in the pearls than a solid flavor, but the flavor proved out over some of the more expensive Yunnan Gold teas that I have had in the past. It is smooth and enjoyable for when you want something that's got some power to it, but doesn't ask for sugar or milk.

Takumi

Tea: Takumi
Vendor: Zencha
Price: $31.00 / 100g (shipping included)
Source: Yame, Japan
Vendor Description: This premium sencha is produced from leaves of Gokou, a variety of tea plant. Only first two leaves and buds are carefully picked by hands.
Rich in natural sweet aroma and fresh scent with excellent astringent taste.

Leaf: This tea is very distinctively a fukamushi. There are primiarly small particulate pieces to this tea with a few larger, longer leaves. The larger leaves are all long and narrow. The dry leaf as a whole has a sweet aroma to it.

1st Infusion Parameters: 5g, 185F, 5oz, 45s

1st Infusion: The infusion is lightly murky in color, somewhat expected of a fukamushi. It has a yellow-green hue to it with a light snappy aroma. The aroma feels a bit like there are hints of the sweetness of a yutaka midori in it, but the aroma is very light overall. There is a light marine flavor to the tea. The flavor overall is very delicate and complex. It finishes with a light astringency.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 185F, 15s

2nd Infusion: This infusion has the characteristic dark green murky hue of a fukamushi. It is almost dark enough to be a forest green hue. The aroma is not very strong, but it is thick. The flavor of the tea is sharp and almost stinging in nature. There is a strong and bold central flavor to it with a light aftertaste. The tea finishes with a medium sense of astringency.

Rating: 8/10

Conclusion: This tea was very interesting. It's another example of the somewhat hard to fine Yame sencha. It shows the complexity found in some of the other Yame Senchas, and performs pretty much as expected. The price for this tea is well within range for it's quality. I would love to see this tea as an asamushi though.

Early Spring Bai Sha Lu

Tea: Early Spring Bai Sha Lu
Vendor: Jing Tea Shop
Price: $2.99 / 100g
Source: Hai Nan Province, China
Vendor Description: First batch of 2009! This steamed green tea is the most famous green tea of Hai Nan island. The birth place of this tea is named Wu Zhi Shan (five fingers mountain), which has a very good environment for tea plantations.

This top grade Bai Sha Lu is a chopped green tea made with very tender buds and leaves. It has a pale green color that is frosted with its natural "tea sugar" on the surface. The dry leaves give a fresh nutty and sweet fragrance. The bright yellow liquor is thick, smooth, and, pure. A lovely sweetness comforts the mouth after drinking. A good everyday green tea to start the spring.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea is a somewhat uniform matte green color. Almost all of the leaves are uniformly sized at about 1cm. The uniformity of the leaves almost resemble koekicha. The aroma is a bit odd, it reminds me of pork & beans.

1st Infusion Parameters: 5g, 5oz, 185F, 45s

1st Infusion: This tea has a lightly murky yellow green color to it. The aroma is sharp with a flavor to match. My first reaction to this tea is that the tea has a sharp bitterness to it. Beyond this there is a light smokiness to it. It is very bodied with a medium astringency.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 185F, Instant pour

2nd Infusion: This is a little hazy yellow hue. There is a bit of a woody aroma to it. The tea is a bit brothy with a smoky and woody flavor to it. It finishes up with a medium sense of astringency.

Rating: 8/10

Conclusion: This tea is a bit of a surprise to me. It has a very bold and strong sense to it, but isn't terribly bad for it. It's not a tea that I would drink alone, but that would pair well with food. And at the price it is very affordable. Not the finest tea that I have run across, but a very good bargain. Thank you to Salsero over at Teachat for this sample.

Premium Secha

Tea: Premium Sencha
Vendor: Aiya America

Leaf: This appears to be a chumushi type sencha, something of a rarity it seems nowdays. There is a moderate amount of polishing on the leaves, quite average overall though. The tea has plenty of nice long thin needles. There is a bit of a marine aroma to the leaf, but not too much.

1st Infusion Parameters: 5g, 5oz, 185F, 45s

1st Infusion: There is a clear light green hue to this tea, well in line with it being a chumushi sencha. There is also very little sediment and a sweet sencha aroma. It is a light and refreshing aroma that I don't run across very often. The flavor is light, but there are notes of marine in it. The rest of the flavor wraps around the marine notes in a light softness. The aftertaste is smooth and light.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 185F, 15s

2nd Infusion: This infusion has a deeper yellow green hue to it. It is murkier than the first infusion, but not so much as say a fukamushi. The aroma is bolder with a much sharper presence. There are still strong marine flavors to the tea, but the tea feels overall stronger. It reminds me somewhat of a gyokuro and makes me wonder if this tea is a kabusecha. There is a light aftertaste to this bold flavor.

Rating: 8/10

Conclusion: I very much enjoyed this tea. The first infusion was delicate and pleasant, and the second showed more strength and reminded me of a kabusecha or a gyokuro almost. One thing I wish for with this tea is direct ordering / pricing. The tea itself was a growing rarity in this world of fukamushi.

Jasmine Pearls

Tea: Jasmine Pearls
Vendor: Narien Teas
Price: $25.00 / 5oz
Vendor Description: Jasmine Pearls is a gently rolled fragrant green tea that has been scented with fresh jasmine blossoms. Infuses into a sweet-flavored cup with a flowery jasmine aroma.

Leaf: The tea consists of small dark green pearls, around the size of a pea. Each rather nicely rolled into a small ball. The aroma is almost similar to a black tea, but has a strong very prominent jasmine portion to it.

1st Infusion Parameters: 8 pearls (1.38g), 185F, 1min, 50z

1st Infusion: This tea has the sweet aroma of Jasmine to it, as is to be expected with some Jasmine Pearls. The hue is a light pale yellow green. There is a very prominent jasmine aroma and flavor to this tea. The flavor otherwise is sweet and very light in character. The jasmine seems to dominate the majority of this tea, which is to be expected considering the amount of leaf used in accordance with Narien's suggested parameters.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 1:30, 185F

2nd Infusion: This infusion has a bolder yellow color to it. The jasmine aroma is still detectable, although it is hiding further back in the feel of the aroma. The green flavor is more prominent in this infusion as well. Overall this infusion is more in balance between the two flavor components, producing a light and smooth overall flavor.

Rating: 8/10

Conclusion: Overall a fairly solid jasmine pearl tea. Not overpowering in either side, light, and delicate. The coloration on the pearls themselves is a little unusual, but it doesn't seem to have any bearing upon the actual flavor though.

Phoenix Oolong

Tea: Supreme Phoenix Oolong
Vendor: Aroma Tea Shop
Price: $16.00 / 2 oz
Source: Guangdong, China
Vendor Description:Our Supreme Phoenix Oolong has an even more astonishing fragrance and aroma compared to the lower grades. This top grade Amber Oolong also originates from the Phoenix Mountains of Guangdong Province of China. Not to be missed for those who love a rich Amber Oolong.

Leaf: This tea has a smaller leaf size than most Phoenix Oolongs that I have tried. There are a fair amount of smaller pieces in the mix and a light sweet characteristic phoenix aroma to it.

1st Infusion Parameters: 5g, 5oz, 208F, 5s rinse, 45s

1st Infusion: This infusion has a rich chocolaty brown hue to it. The aroma is bold and intense. It is less floral than some others I have tried, but still strong and distinctively phoenix. The flavor is very bodied and bold. It feels centered in the front and middle ending with a light aftertaste. The aftertaste is light and clean.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 208F, 45s

2nd Infusion: This infusion has the same rich brown hue to it. The aroma is still bold, it has an almost savory aroma to it. The front of the flavor is very bold and intense. It is very smooth all the way through tapering down to a light bitter aftertaste. It is strong and has quite a bit of intense flavor to it.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 208F, 1:30

3rd Infusion: This time the color was a little lighter brown. It was still crystal clear with a bold and rich aroma to it. The flavor was a lot lighter than before, but it finishes with a clean aftertaste and just a hint of astingency.

4th Infusion Parameters: 208F, 3:00

4th Infusion: This infusion has the same brown hue to it. The aroma is light, and there is not much left to it. The flavor is light and crisp, it is showing signs of letting up. There is a medium astringency on it, but it is still flavorful.

Rating: 8/10

Conclusion: This is a pretty good phoenix oolong for the lower end spectrum. At it's price it's about on par for what it should be. It's not as specialized in flavor as the specific variety bushes, and the flavor shows that. It is about where it should be for it's price. While bold and intense it is broad and unrefined. What it lacks in clairty it tries to make up for in intensity.

Jasmin Mandarin Special Grade

Tea: Jasmin Mandarin Super Grade - 8201
Vendor: Lupicia USA
Price: $8.50 / 10 teabags
Source: China
Vendor Description: The highest grade Jasmin tea produced using Chinese green tea as a base. It has a sweet fragrance like a spring wind, which is so refreshing that once tasted you can't forget it.

Teabag: This teabag is a normal Lupicia teabag, trigonal pyramidal w/ nylon style mesh. It contains about 3g of brownish green leaf. There is a very strong and sweet Jasmine aroma to it.

1st Infusion Parameters: 5oz, 185F, 1:30

1st Infusion: The infusion has a pale light brown hue to it. There is a rich strong Jasmine aroma to it. The flavor is sweet and light, it feels very reserved for a flavored tea. There is a medium astringency to finish the overall light flavor. The flavor and is very conservative compared to the aroma.

2nd Infusion Parameter: 3:00, 185F

2nd Infusion: There is a light brown hue to it again. It still smells very nicely of Jasmine. the flavor is smooth with a medium astringency. Everything about this tea feels quite permeated by Jasmine.

Rating: 8/10

Conclusion: This tea was overall fairly nice. The somewhat high amount of astringency is a bit of a downside. The scenting was very pleasant and lasted for more than one infusion which was enjoyable. At almost a dollar a teabag it feels a bit pricey, but for a good Jasmine flavor it's worth it.

Sakura Premium

Tea: Sakura Premium - 0301
Vendor: Lupicia USA
Price: $18.00 / 50g (w/ special tin)
Vendor Description: A blend of fine Darjeeling black tea with cherry petals and leaves. Sweet and delicate flavor.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea is a colorful Darjeeling mix with quite a wide variety of leaf size. There are a few pink buds in the mix along with some small pieces of sakura leaf. The tea has a very sweet sakura aroma to it.

1st Infusion Parameters: 3g, 5oz, 208F, 5 min

1st Infusion: The tea has a clear golden brown hue to it. There is a very strong and very noticeable sweet sakura aroma to it. The flavor is very crisp with a light saltiness to it. There is a little bit of bitterness possibly from an infusion on the upper end of the infusion range. It is not overpoweringly salty, but it brings a certain crispness to the tea. There is a light astringency on the backend, but overall the sakura flavor balances well with the Darjeeling flavor to produce a very nice tea overall.

Rating: 8/10

Conclusion: This is the premium version of the seasonal sakura offerings from Lupicia. Their offerings are a little unusual because they come out salty. This one thankfully was not overpoweringly salty, but the salt does throw you off a little. It makes it a very crisp flavor, but it is undeniably salty. Overall this is a pretty good tea, but I'm not sure about if the price tag is warranted.

Winter FengHuang WuDong Old Bush DanCong "Huang Jing" 2007

Tea: Winter FengHuang WuDong Old Bush DanCong "Huang Jing" 2007
Vendor: Hou De Asian Art & Fine Tea
Price: $19.50 / 2 oz
Source: Wu Dong, Feng Huang county, Guang Dong, China
Vendor Description: A truely unique and precious fenghuang dancong! To make this HuangJing dancong, only winter-season hand-harvested leaves from over 50 years old bushes in WuDong plantation area can be used. Also, more mature leaves instead tender ones are used. The very bold and expressive looking dry leaves is electrifying just by looking at them. When I first time to try to brew it, I was puzzled by what and how to deal with those monster leaves!

This dancong gets its name from the noble golden-yellow color on its dry leaves. The kneading of leaves is different from traditional stripe-form rolling: leaves are folded several times and tightly pressed. I asked the producer for the reason, and he hinted that the mature Winter leaves are very thick so difficult to roll into stripe form. Also due to the bold and thickness, the leaves are easier to "receive firing effect" in such loose form.

Aroma is richly creamy, floral, with a hint of hearty fruitiness.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea is very large and full leaves. They are very fluffy with a brown hue that has hints of green. There is a little bit of blackness to the leaf as well. There is a light faint aroma to it. Some of the leaves have a gnarled looking texture to it which I thought was a bit unusual.

1st Infusion Parameters: 5g, 5oz, 208F, 45s, 5s rinse

1st Infusion: This tea has a light amber color to it. There is a lot of aroma to the tea. The aroma was soft, it was sweeter than most other DC's that I have had. The tea has a very mouth watering feeling to it. It is full bodied with a touch of astringency. The flavor is smooth and calming.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 208F, 45s

2nd Infusion: The tea had a light clear color again. The aroma was sweet and reminded me of autumn. It was quite bold. This time around the flavor was a bit more intense. It gave me a mouth cleaning feeling with it's touch of astringency. There was still an interesting mouth watering feeling to it.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 208F, 2:45

3rd Infusion: The duration of this infusion was an accidental oversteep. Because of this there was a lot of power and strength to the tea all around. The aroma was bold and very present. The taste matched, there was a medium sense of astringency that developed as well. It was all around very pleasant despite the oversteep.

Rating: 8/10

Conclusion: I wasn't terribly impressed by this tea. At almost $10/oz I somewhat expected more. The astringency I found in the first two infusions was a bit of a surprise, since it normally doesn't show up that much until later. The aroma was unique as well as the presentation of the leaf, but overall I have had teas that have a very similar experience for less.

Bai Ling Gong Fu

Tea: Bai Ling Gong Fu
Vendor: Canton Tea Co.
Price: £6.99/ 40g
Vendor Description: This soft red tea is made from only tender buds, which are shaped into tight and elegant strips. The leaves have fine orangy-yellow hairs hence its nickname - Ju Hong (clementine red). The ‘Hao Xiang’ (bud's aroma) is fresh and sweet with a hint of creamy caramel and the liquor is golden red with a smooth texture and a long, soft, mellow aftertaste.
Additional Vendor Information:
Origin: Bai Lin, Tai Mu Mountain, Fu Ding County, Fujian Province.
Harvest: Winter 08
Grade : Top Grade
Plantation altitude : 500 - 800 meters above sea level.
Varietal : Fu Ding Da Bai Cha variety.
Certification : Organic. Small production directly from local farmer.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea is very light and twisted. It is very delicate and coated with many little golden hairs. The tea has a stunning mix of black and gold coloration. There is a very bold black tea aroma coming from these very gossamer leaves.

1st Infusion Parameters: 5g, 5g, 208F, 45s

1st Infusion: This tea produces a very dark, semi opaque infusion. There is a heavy malty aroma coming from it. The flavor is very bold, rich, and full bodied. It is smooth with a sweet leading edge to it. There is a certain lightness and wateriness in it, which was surprising considering the color of the tea.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 45s, 208F

2nd Infusion: This infusion has the same dark color as the first infusion. It is still almost opaque from the dark leaf. There is rich sweet aroma from the tea. The flavor is much richer than before. It feels like a yunnan gold. It starts out with a very strong early flavor and finishes with a rich aftertaste.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 1:30, 208F

3rd Infusion: This infusion was brown hued and very opaque again. This tea has an amazing capacity for color. The flavor of this infusion was more of the rich malty flavor again. It was slightly lighter this time, but still quite rich.

Rating: 8/10

Conclusion: This was one of the best Chinese black teas that I have ever had. It was very smooth and subdued, yet rich and strong. It showed intense color through three infusions without any signs of lightening up. It is on the pricier side for a black tea, but quite pleasant.

Milan Dancong

Tea: Milan Dancong
Vendor: Canton Tea Co.
Price: £6.99 / 50g
Source: Wu Dong Shan, Chaozhou, Guangdong province.
Vendor Description: This wonderful oolong comes from a plantation on the lower slopes of Wu Dong mountain. The leaves are thoroughly fermented and baked to produce a rich liquor with unique flowery and honey notes that can be enjoyed through multiple infusions

Leaf: The leaf for this tea appears to be thin delicate wiry black leaves. As normal for a Dan Cong it is very low density and it has a very floral aroma. There is a bit of green coloring to the edges of the leaf.

1st Infusion Parameters: 5g, 5oz, 208F, 45s, 5s rinse

1st Infusion: There is a very strong and sweet floral aroma to this tea. It is very characteristically Dan Cong in nature. The tea has a rich golden brown hue to it, this hue is quite surprising for a 45s Infusion. The flavor is very up front and very characteristically Dan Cong. The flavor is centered in the early to mid portions of the flavor with little to no portion in the late flavor. It is light bodied, yet has a very intense flavor. The flavor has a sharpness to it, but not so much so that it becomes a bitterness.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 45s, 208F

2nd Infusion: This infusion has the same golden brown color. The aroma is more floral this time, but not as sweet as the first infusion. The flavor is sweeter and still light bodied. The flavor is much longer lasting and has a nice tapering aftertaste.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 1:00, 208F

3rd Infusion: This infusion was lighter yet, but still had quite a floral aroma to it. The flavor is a bit lighter. Despite being lighter in flavor it is quite rich in taste. Despite being lighter it is still quite enjoyable.

4th Infusion Parameters: 2:00, 208F

4th Infusion: This infusion has a sweeter aroma than the 3rd. The tea still shows a beautiful golden brown hue to it. The flavor this time around is very even throughout. It carries a bold flavor from the beginning all the way to the end to finish in a long lasting lingering aftertaste.

5th Infusion Parameters: 3:00, 208F

5th Infusion: This infusion has a light aroma now. There is no color change to speak of, but there is a waterniess in the flavor that shows signs of the tea giving up. Despite the watery aspect of this flavor it is still a very good flavor.

Rating: 8/10

Conclusion: This is a very good Dan Cong. It's not necessarily the best on that I've had, but it's also far from being the worst. On the scale of Dan Congs it's priced right in the middle of things, closer to the bottom end than the top though. The quality of the flavor though leans more toward the higher end ones, which makes it quite a good value DC. The sweetness aspect was a bit unique to this one in the DCs that I have tried. I very much enjoyed this tea.

Shui Jin Gui 2008

Tea: Shui Jin Gui (Golden Water Turtle) Light Roast Rock Oolong 2008
Vendor: Seven Cups
Price: $14.30 / 50g
Source: Fujian, China
Vendor Description: There are four famous ancient rock oolong tea including Da Hong Pao, Bai Ji Guan, Tie Luo Han and Shui Jin Gui. Of these, Shui Jin Gui and Bai Ji Guan are have a mild and sweet character compare to the other rock oolongs. This Shui Jin Gui is lightly roasted to easily appreciate the floral aroma. The light pure taste has a sweet flavor without bitterness. This is a perfect tea for new drinkers to appreciate one of the ancient rock oolong teas. see Shui Jin Gui for most information on origins of this bush
Additional Vendor Information: Location: Fujian Province
Tea Bush: Shui Jin Gui
Tea Master: Liu Guo Ying
Harvest Time: April-May
Picking Standard: zhong kai mian (3 slightly open leaves)
Brewing vessel: glass cup, gaiwan, glass or porcelain pot, yixing pot
Brewing Guidelines: 1st infusion 1 ½ Tbs per 12 oz 212F for 1 min
Infusions: at least 6 times

Leaf: This tea is comprised of large black leaf. It looks quite typical for a Wuyi Oolong. The leaves are light and fluffy, twisted as is normal. There is also a very prominent and heavy wuyi aroma to it.

1st Infusion Parameters: 2.5g, 3oz, 208F, 45s, 5s rinse

1st Infusion: This infusion has a light amber hue. There is a pleasant light roasty aroma to it. The flavor is light with a sweet aftertaste. The flavor seems to develop more as the cup progresses. The flavor is mostly in the early portion and finishes a light sense of astringency.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 1:30, 208F

2nd Infusion: This infusion has a darker brownish hue than the first one. The aroma is rich and sweet. The flavor is light and crisp. It has a very clean feeling to it. The middle of the flavor pokes out some hints of a heavy flavor and leaves with a heavy aftertaste. The afteraste was heavy as if the tea were all around heavier.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 2:00, 208F

3rd Infusion: This infusion has the same enjoyable wuyi aroma. The flavor is bold and rich, it is upfront and smooth. The tea really opened up for this infusion. Although it leaves a bit of an empty aftertaste on the back end.

Rating: 8/10

Conclusion: This tea is very subtle. The first two infusions are light and pleasant. It's almost as if it takes the first two infusioins to open up, but the subtle infusions are light and pleasant. The tea is well handled and very intact, which for a wuyi is impressive. Thank you to Jessica over at Authoritea for this sample.

Uji Kabuse

Tea: Uji Kabuse
Vendor: Wegman's Food Markets / Ito-en
Price: $87.99 /lb
Source: Uji, Japan
Vendor Description: Like the famed gyokuro, the tea known as kabuse-cha is shade grown--but for a shorter amount of time. This process creates a tea with the freshness of sencha and the richness of gyokuro. This particular tea comes from the famed Uji region outside of Kyoto. Enjoy its deep, mildly sweet flavor and vibrant green color.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea has a very chumushi like appearance. There is a large amount of dust to this tea along with medium sized needles. It is not so small to be a fukamushi, it also doesn't move with in a very fluid motion. The leaf is very dark green and has a lightly grassy aroma.

1st Infusion Parameters: 5g, 5 oz, 185F, 60s

1st Infusion: This tea has a rather thick aroma to it, it reminds me of a gyokuro slightly. The flavor is somewhat what I would expect of a kabuse, there are hints of gyokuro flavor to it. It exhibits gyokuro style grassiness, but the front of the tea is light like a sencha. The hue is a brilliant yellow color and it has a thick gyokuro aftertaste. It feels like it is more of a sencha than a gyokuro.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 15s, 185F

2nd Infusion: This infusion is a little bit cloudier than the first infusion. The tea is slightly greener in color, and it is almost aromaless. There are small hints of gyokuro aroma to it though. The taste is lighter and clearer than the first infusion. It feels like a very lighthearted gyokuro with the flavor of a gyokuro, but the lightness of a sencha. There is a just noticeable bitterness to it and it leaves a very light and clean feeling. It finishes with a light sense of astringency.

Rating: 8/10

Conclusion: This tea is very interesting as it straddles the traits of a gyokuro and a sencha rather well. Adjusting parameters I could see it as being very easy to produce one flavor more than another. It was enjoyable and tasty, but it's price is a bit prohibitive.

Teabag - Highlands Honey

Tea: Highlands Honey
Vendor: Kalahari Tea
Price: $3.50 / 20 teabags
Source: South Africa
Vendor Description: Our premium rooibos is blended with a delicious honey vanilla flavor to create a naturally sweet brew that is fully satisfying and completely caffeine free. Highland Honey Replaces Kalahari's Honey Red Tea. This tea now boasts a natural Honey Vanilla Flavor that still has less than 1 calorie and less than 1 gram of carbohydrates. Fans of Honey Red Tea just love this new slightly sweet version.

Teabag: Kalahari uses paper satchel type teabags (think Lipton). There is not much leaf in the teabag, but rooibos tends to not need much in general. There isn't a discernable aroma to the tea.

1st Infusion Parameter: 5 oz, 208F, 3:00, 1 teabag

1st Infusion: There is a very strong rooibos aroma to this tea. It reminds me of playdoh to a degree though. It is bold and sweet with hints of honey to the aroma. The flavor has a prominent honey flavoring to it. The flavor is very smooth and sweet which I would not have expected when first seeting the light red hue to this tea. The tea was quite light. There is a very mouth watering feel to this tea. It is best defined by it's smooth honey feeling.

Rating: 8/10

Conclusion: I've never been a huge fan of rooibos, but this one is quite surprising. There are a few things that I would like to see different about it, mesh pyramidal teabags for one. The other is the odditiy of the color of the tea. It seems very light altough the flavor doesn't pair off with this. The flavor is quite enoyable and the price is quite reasonable.

Thousand Step

Tea: Thousand Step
Vendor: Swan Sisters
Price: $9.00 /oz
Harvest: April 2008
Vendor Description:Thousand Step Oolong originates from the Wu Yi Mountains in northern Fujian, an area renowned for producing some of the finest Oolongs available in China. This special tea is crafted by the award winning tea master Liu Guo who produces only small batches of select Oolong varieties each year. The outstanding quality of this tea is apparent in its velvety texture, caramel color, and smooth creamy finish. 2 teaspoons of Thousand Step Oolong can be infused with boiling water up to 6 times.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea is dark in color, mostly a black color with a light brown/greyish surface. There are shades from a dark brown to hues of black. The aroma is deep and rich.

1st Infusion Parameters: 5g, 5oz, 208F, 45s, 5s rinse

1st Infusion: The hue of this tea reminds me of amber. This tea has a rich and thick malty aroma. The flavor is in juxtaposition to the aroma. It is very light and fruity. It is smooth and rolls down the tongue. Despite the light flavor though it is very full bodied and has a thickness to it. Just not much in terms of intensity.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 208F, 1 min

2nd Infusion: The second infusion had a slightly darker amber hue to it. The flavor felt much sharper than before, it comes through as a stronger, richer flavor. The aroma is not as abundant, but it is still thick and rich. The flavor feels bodied yet light.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 208F, 2 min

3rd Infusion: This infusion is a dark brown color, but it is very clear. The flavor feels lighter than the 2nd infusion and it has an interesting peppery feel to it.

Rating: 8/10

Conclusion: This tea has a very rich and enjoyable aroma for a Wuyi oolong. The flavor has some nice tones to it and an interesting feel on the third infusion. Compared to some Wuyi oolongs this has a more refined flavor. I have not had too many though thus far and my palatte in terms of Wuyi oolongs is still developing. At it's price it seems a bit expensive compared to other oolongs I have seen though.

Wuyi Oolong

Tea: Wuyi Oolong
Vendor: Mighty Leaf
Price: $12.95 / 4 oz
Vendor Description: Wuyi Oolong tea made in China's Northern Fujian Wuyi mountains is well known for its smooth and rich body and taste. Long, beautiful twisted leaves impart a roasty aroma and produce a sweet, nuanced cup. L:ike other oolongs our Wuyi oolong can be infused multiple times.

Leaf: This tea is rather small and broken for a Wuyi Oolong. There are more small pieces and powder than I have seen in most Wuyi Oolongs. This could have been from shipping, but the leaf did appear more broken than normal. The leaf itself is characteristic dark brown almost black leaf.

1st Infusion Parameters: 5g, 5 oz, 208F, 5s rinse, 45s

1st Infusion: The tea has a dark caramel chocolate color. It is lightly murky which is surprising for a Wuyi, in my experience most are clear, but rich in color. The aroma is thick and sweet. The flavor is very sweet and quite strong. It is both rich and bold with a light tanginess. The tanginess feels like it's due to the strength of the tea itself. The flavor is smooth and leaves with a light sense of astringency.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 1 min, 208F

2nd Infusion: This infusion has the same rich color. The aroma is not quite as sweet as the first, but shows through more like a the traditional aroma I'm used to. The fflavor is again, rich and bold. It feels more like a traditional Wuyi oolong now. There is a medium sense of astringency following this one, and a hint of something that reminds me of the roasting of a hojicha. Not really directly, but it brings the thought to mind.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 1:30, 208F

3rd Infusion: There is not much aroma left at this point. It still has the same brown hue to it. The flavor is smooth and still flavorful, but there are definite signs of the flavor waning in this cup. The thickness and strength that were present in the first two infusions are lightening up and shows signs of wateriness now. There is also a medium sense of astringency following this tea.

Rating: 8/10

Conclusion: For an introduction into Wuyi Oolongs this tea is probably a good way to start. At $12.95 / 4 oz, it is not a terribly expensive Wuyi. In general Wuyi oolongs deliver great value. Normally one of the more attractive points in brewing a Wuyi oolong is seeing the large full leaf shape once you are done, but in this case, due to damage in shipping or at some point along the way, the leaf was much smaller and broken up. It is a bit disappointing, but it may just be how the sample packets were mailed to me. This tea had some amazing color to it, a richer brown than I am used to seeing in most teas.

Phoenix Oolong

Tea: Phoenix Oolong
Vendor: Swan Sisters
Price: $25/oz
Source: Guangdong, China

About This Tea: This is a Phoenix / Dan Cong oolong in limited offering from Swan Sisters. Their supply is only for the local market (SLO). It is not available on their website.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea is very dark in color, almost black. It is very light and fluffy with very light density.

1st Infusion Parameters: 3g, 5 oz, 208F, 5s rinse, 45s

1st Infusion: This tea is very light and unique aroma. It is hard to describe, but is the most alluring aspect of this tea. The aroma is sweet and malty at the same time, yet more than just that. The tea itself is a golden brown color. The flavor is light and crisp, and it moves quickly through the mouth to flush with a full bodied flavor. It is rich and smooth at the same time.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 45s, 208F

2nd Infusion: This infusion was darker, with still a clear brown hue to it. There is a tangy sharpness to the flavor of this infusion. It starts at the tip of the tongue and slides down the tongue. It is sweet, but not sugary similar to the way that a yutakamidori shows it's sweetness. It finishes with a medium astringency.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 1 min, 208F

3rd Infusion: This infusion starts to show a bit more color, with a red/gold hue. The aroma switched over to an almost nutty aroma. The flavor is stronger than the initial flavor. It is rich and flavorful, and significantly thicker. It is not quite as thick as a gyokuro though.

4th Infusion Parameters: 3 min, 208F

4th Infusion: This infusion has a richer brown hue to it. The aroma changed once again. This time it was thicker and more subdued. The flavor was moderate in strength, but started showing signs of easing up. It felt sweeter yet again and left with a medium sense of astringency.

Rating: 8/10

Conclusion: I'm really unable to describe the aroma of the different infusions very well for this tea, but they are quite different from infusion to infusion. I don't have much experience with Dan Cong Oolongs, so I don't have that much to compare them to. I somewhat expected a bit more for the price though. I'll need to compare it against production grade Dan Cong to see how they fare in comparison. On its own though, the flavor was very interesting and refreshing.

White Symphony

Tea: White Symphony
Vendor: Adagio Teas
Price: $6.00 / oz
Vendor Description: An exquisite version of the White Peony variety, a delicate tea made from tea buds collected and withered prior to opening. It offers a preponderance of unopened leaf buds that create a pale yellow, light bodied, yet complex cup with hints of honeydew and a faint floral sweetness. If you enjoy the soothing flavor of our 'White A' Cappella' tea, we invite you to savor this more refined version.

Leaf: This tea appears like a mix of a silver needle and a Bai Mu Dan. It has both buds and developed leaf. The leaf is very fluffy and light and gives off a very strong white tea aroma.

1st Infusion Parameters: 5g, 5 oz, 180F, 7 min

1st Infusion: The infusion has a very dark yellow color, its almost a light brown hue. The aroma is thick and malty. It is heavy and very reminiscent of a strong Bai Mu Dan with just hints of a lighter silver needle aroma. The flavor is best described as being purely smooth. The initial flavor is very bold and strong. It is very bold and long lasting. It starts at the tip of the tongue and tapers the flavor slowly back down the tongue. It is thick with a richness that is almost like a melting milk chocolate bar. There is no bitterness or astringency, and it almost hints at a zuchini bread flavor of zuchini. It also has a nice hint of sweetness in your mouth after you finish your sip.

Rating: 8/10

Conclusion: This tea is good. I ended up trying this at a long steep for only a single steep. It produced a rich flavorful cup, but it feels like a blend between a silver needle and a white peony. Personally I like the notion that if I want a silver needle, i'll have a silver needle, if I want a white peony, i'll have a white peony. I don't really see a reason why I would want the blend of the two. If you look at this from the standpoint of being a high grade white peony, it's a bit expensive. This might be a good starter tea for someone looking into white teas. It offers a bit of both worlds without sacrifing the other.

Yunnan Noir

Tea: Yunnan Noir
Vendor: Adagio Teas
Price: $13.00 / 5 oz.
Source: Yunnan, China
Vendor Description: Yunnan is a region in China known for growing large-leaf tea. High mountains covered by mist, clean water and rich soil form ideal growing conditions and contribute to the unique flavor of Yunnan black tea. Our Yunnan Noir is a hand-rolled version of this famous variety, with tightly rolled leaves into a "black snail" shape. The aroma is sweet with hints of honey and fruit. To the palate it is red wine-like with notes of fruit and cocoa and reveals an intense depth of character with each beguiling sip.

Leaf: The leaf is small and tightly rolled. The colors blend into a mixture of black and gold leaf. The rolling is not uniform, but very much reminds me of the rolling for an oolong. The leaves produce a rich black aroma that reminds me of yunnan gold. (Being from the same area that is not surprising)

1st Infusion Parameters: 5g, 5 oz, 5 min, 208F

1st Infusion: The large leaf opened up quite nicely. It resulted in a rich red/brown coffee colored infusion. If I had to describe this tea in a word that it is Dark. The aroma is rich and deep, but very subdued. The rich black flavor is paired with an uncharacteristic light bitterness. There is a light sense of astringency paired with the very smooth flavor of this tea.

Rating: 8/10

Conclusion: This tea produces a lot of flavor out of the 5g I used for the tea. Cutting this down to less than half would most likely still produce a wonderful cup of tea. Given the price this is hardly an expensive tea at all. Given the rich flavor and lack of bitterness in a 5 minute steep this would be an excellent beginner's tea.

Melon White Fridge Brew

Tea: Melon White - 7017
Vendor: Lupicia USA
Price: $13.00 / 50g
Source: Fujian, China
Vendor Description: White tea from Fujian province is scented with succulent and sweet melon.

About this tea: This was a fridge brew infusion of the Melon White from Lupicia.

Infusion Parameters: 15g, 1L

Infusion: This was one of the first white teas that I have done a fridge brew for. 15g of leaf is quite voluminous, and took up much of my infuser basket for this tea. The tea came out with a very very clear, amber colored infusion. The flavor is again an interesting mix between cantaloupe and white tea. The cantaloupe is a bit more prominent over the white tea flavor and the flavor is much longer lasting and very refreshing. The flavor reminds me even more of fresh cantaloupe now. There is a very light bitterness on the back end of the tea, but it pairs well with the sweetness of the tea to provide a very enjoyable nice round flavor.

Rating: 8/10

Conclusion: This was more enjoyable than the hot brew infusion of the same tea. It has a very nice smooth flavor to it with nothing complicating it. The downside is that it requires a rather large amount of leaf to create this infusion, and again the price of this tea is somewhat prohibitive. Try this one on a hot day though if you pick up this tea. You won't be disappointed.