Aloalo

Tea: Aloalo - 5904- EH-4
Vendor: Lupicia USA (Hawaii Exclusive)
Vendor Description: A Darjeeling and Assam tea with hibiscus flower. Tea has a beautiful red color.

About This Tea: This tea is one of the Lupicia Hawaii Exclusive teas. There are a handful of teas that are only available at the Hawaii store of Lupicia. A few have started popping up as a limited time item on their website and a few retail locations. This is not one of those.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea has a lovely color mix to it. It is a rainbow mixture of red, black, green, and brown hues. It has a very sweet and floral aroma to it. There is a very prominent factor to the aroma which I'm guessing is the hibiscus component. I'm not particularly familiar with the aroma of hibiscus.

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

1st Infusion: The tea has a very unusual dark purple hue to it, the shade reminds me somewhat of a deep red wine. The Darjeeling component is definitely poking through in the aroma expressing that characteristic floral Darjeeling aroma. The rest of the aroma is very thick and hearty. The flavor of the tea itself has a certain tartness to it. It is very up front and short lived. It reminds me somewhat of cranberry juice, the tartness and snap of the flavor. It just isn't backed by the same sweetness as a glass of cranberry juice. There is a light astringency tailing on the aftertaste after the tartness.

Rating: 9/10

Conclusion: This is a very unusual tea. I believe that a lot of the uniqueness is due to the hibiscus component, but the overall picture of the tea is a light and refreshing beverage. It is unfortunate that this tea is only available at the Hawaii store. The flavor brings back memories of the Island Breeze tea from Mighty Leaf, which also had hibiscus in it. In comparison this is a richer tea experience and bolder and more flavorful. Thank you to Victoria and her SIL at TeaChat for providing me some of this wonderful tea.

Organic yellow Flower

Tea: Organic Yellow Flower
Vendor: Mighty Leaf
Price: $16.95 / 4 oz
Source: Anhui, China
Vendor Description: Organic Yellow Flower green tea, is a handcrafted tea grown in China's Anhui province. Often called yellow bud or yellow flower, its slender green-yellow leaves yield a sweet, floral character and a yellow colored cup. With a clean and smooth taste this chinese tea will refresh and revitalize.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea is a very light and fluffy green leaf. It looks a little like a silver needle and a little like a yellow tea. The color is on the lighter side, between a yellow tea and a green. The leaf is mostly buds, but not as small as some silver needle teas. They are slightly more developed buds and a few lower leaves as well. Some of the leaves have the characteristic silver hairs of a silver needle on them. There is a very fresh green aroma to the tea.

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

1st Infusion: This infusion has a pale yellow hue to it. There is a bright and fresh green aroma to it. Surprisingly it reminds me a bit of a sencha. The flavor is creamy and smooth. The feeling is a lot like a silver needle in texture, but doesn't have the flavor of silver needle. Overall the flavor feels more intense than a silver needle, but shares the same smoothness.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 185F, 1:30

2nd Infusion: This infusion has a bold yellow color to it. It reminds me of the flavor of a yellow tea, but feels less refined than the Meng Ding Huang Ya. There is a medium sense of bitterness to it with a light sense of astringency.

Rating: 9/10

Conclusion: This is likely one of the best teas that I have had from Might Leaf so far. It has a vibrant freshness to it and is well priced. It leans to the side of being a yellow tea, but still retains some of the vibrance of green teas. All in all an enjoyable tea.

Spiced Apple Chai

Tea: Spiced Apple Chai
Vendor: Adagio
Price: $7.00 / 4oz
Vendor Description: The classic combination of apples and spice are supremely enhanced in our Spiced Apple Chai. A lively blend of black tea, Masala spices and bright notes of crisp apple will delight your senses.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea smells sweet like apple cider. There are cloves, dried fruit, and ginger in the mix. the aroma of the dry leaf is just fantastic. I get tempted to just put this tea over a flame just to bring out the aroma so I can smell it. The black tea in the mix looks very characteristic Adagio tea, orthodox black tea.

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

1st Infusion: The color of this tea even reminds me of apple cider. The tea has a warm aroma of cinnamon and cloves mixed with the sweetness of the apple. The infusion is surprisingly cloudy. The flavor is very light, but yet very similar to a traditional chai. There is not much apple flavor in the actual tea itself. There is no bitterness or astringency to this tea. It has an overall lightly sweet feeling.

Rating: 9/10

Conclusion: This is a fantastic chai mix. I also tried it in a more traditional chai milk/honey mix and it came out more akin to a traditional chai. The one thing I would like to see more of with this tea is a stronger apple flavor. The aroma just doesn't pair well with the lack of actual apple flavor in the tea. Aside from that it's a great chai that may very well be finding a regular spot in my tea stash.

Kuradashi Gyokuro Pinnacle

Tea: Kuradashi Gyokuro Pinnacle
Vendor: Hibiki-an
Source: Uji, Japan

About This Tea: The Kuradashi Pinnacle was the highest grade of aged gyokuro offered by Hibiki-an. This product has since gone out of stock and been removed from their website. Hence the lack of price and vendor description. This particular Kuradashi Gyokuro was stored and aged for 18 months before packaging.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea is dark green and very uniform in color. The leaves have a more twisted appearance thanis normal for a gyokuro of this caliber. There is a sweet gyokruo aroma to the leaves that has hints of grassiness to it.

1st Infusion Parameters: 10g, 5oz, 140F, 45s, preheated hohin

1st Infusion: The infusion is lightly murky with a yellowish hue to it. There is a very sweet and calming aroma to this tea. The flavor screams umami. It is very strong and promient in this tea, moreso than most other gyokuro that I have tried. There is al ight grassiness to this tea and it actually has a thickness that reminds me of a soup broth more than any other gyokuro. It is smooth, bold and full bodied. The flavor is very round, with no strenght on the backend. The back does make up for this with a very strong brothy aftertaste though. Overall this feels very mellow and thick. There is a ligthly raspy feeling on the tongue after finishing.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 140F, 15s

2nd Infusion: This infusion has a clearer yellow green hue. The flavor is not as centralized this time. It is still rich, but it is lacking on strength in the core. There is a light sense of bitterness and astringency to this infusion. The flavor is still brothy, but not quite as much as the first infusion. It still has a strong umami feeling to it.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 145F, 30s

3rd Infusion: This infusion has the same yellow hue as the second infusion. It exhibits a lightly grassy aroma. There is a medium bitterness to be found in this infusion surprisingly. The flavor again shows strength, but the umami portion of the flavor is much lighter this time around. It feels very light and sharp with hints of a marine flavor to this tea. The tea finishes off with a light sense of astringency, and has the same roughness on the tongue as the first infusion.

4th Infusion Parameters: 1:00, 130F

4th Infusion: This infusion has a richer gyokuro aroma to it. The tea is a light straw yellow hue. There is a medium astringency to it, yet despite this there is a soft and rich flavor to it. The marine flavor is starting to show itself more, stronger than the second infusion, but not overly powerful. There is a sharper aftertaste to this infusion, paired with a sense of bitterness.

5th Infusion Parameters: 130F, 1:30

5th Infusion: The color of the tea switched to a light yellow green hue this time. There is not much of a noticeable aroma to the tea. The flavor is smooth and finishes with a medium sense of astringency. There is a light sharpness on the backend. Ther eis not much flavor in this infusion and the tea is starting to feel a little watery.

6th Infusion Parameters: 145F, 2:00

6th Infusion: This infusion was a pale yllow color. It has a smooth and light flavor to it with a medium sense of astringency. There is a light bitterness on the backend, but it's starting to let up.

Rating: 9/10

Conclusion: This tea is an interesting experience. Not the finest gyokuro that I've had, but not the worst. It's definitely a good drink, but I'm not sure that I would order it again. The aging of a Kuradashi has an interesting effect on the tea, but even with a gyokuro I find myself missing the vibrance of freshness. The price of this tea was quite prohibitive. If I remember right the next grade down was a times cheaper. I expected a more interesting flavor out of this tea, but ended up disappointed. Don't get me wrong though, this tea is a good drink and beats quite a few gyokuro out there, but it's just not what I expected from pinnacle grade.

Snow Orchid Dan Cong Oolong 2007

Tea: Xue Lan Xiang (Snow Orchid) Dan Cong Oolong 2007
Vendor: Seven Cups
Price: $11.80 / 50g ( for the 2008 currently)
Source: Chaozhou City, Guangdong Province
Vendor Description: Snow Orchid is the most popular Dan Cong tea due to its strong peach aroma and taste. The strong oxidation and roasting allow the special character of this tea to remain stable for at least two years. Appreciate the dry leaves that smell like the local orchids blooming in winter from which this tea is named. After brewing, the clean honey tea color will yield a robust flavor that fill the mouth and leaves a complex lingering aftertaste. The Chaozhou people, from whom this tea comes, are famous for their rich diet and frequently pair this tea with meals to improve digestion.

Additional Vendor Information:
Tea Bush: Mi Lan Xiang descendent from original Feng Huang Shui Xian
Tea Master: Ye Han Zhong
Harvest Time: middle of March
Picking Standard: zhong kai mian (2-3 slightly open leaves)
Brewing vessel: glass cup, gaiwan, glass or porcelain pot, yixing pot
Brewing Guidelines: 1st infusion 1 Tbs per 12 oz 212F for 1 min
Infusions: at least 6 times

Leaf: The leaf for this tea had smallish leaf for a Dan Cong. It is still large in size. The leaves are black with brown highlights and grey on the edges.

1st Infusion Parameters: 4.28g, 5oz, 208F, 45s, 5s rinse

1st Infusion: This infusion has a light brown color. It is almost red in hue. The aroma is interesting, it has a certain woodiness to it. The flavor is light with a pronounced sharpness on the back end. I found that the aroma was quite captivating with a very nice smoothness up front. There was a very light astringency on the back end. The flavor is lighter than most Dan Cong.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 1:30, 208F

2nd Infusion: This infusion has a stronger core Dan Cong aroma to it, the aroma was much sweeter this time. The color was a red-brown hue. The flavor is much richer and quite full bodied. It was lightly sweet, but much more flavorful. There is a medium sense of astringency. It gives me a peaceful feeling.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 2:15, 208F

3rd Infusion: This infusion had a lighter red-brown hue to it. The flavor was even richer than the second infusion. It was smooth and a bit more subdued. There was a medium sense of astringency. It leaves a bit of a rough feeling on my tongue.

4th Infusion Parameters: 3:00, 208F

4th Infusion: This infusion had a light brown hue with a very light aroma. The tea is still smooth and flavorful with a medium sense of astringency.

Rating: 9/10

Conclusion: This was a very flavorful DC. This was very enjoyable and is rather inexpensively priced. The flavor got richer for the second and third infusions for three very pleasant infusions. I can't think of any significant downsides to this tea. Thank you to Jessica over at Authoritea for this sample.

Serene Forest

Tea: Serene Forest - 8006
Vendor: Lupicia USA
Price: $9.00 / 50g
Source: Yame, Japan
Vendor Description: Blend of tea grown under cover to block sunlight from Yame, Fukuoka Pref. It has slightly less astringency and stronger sweetness, a characteristic of Yame tea.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea is a dark green chumushi. There is a little bit of stem in the mix, but aside from that a very typical looking sencha.

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

1st Infusion: This tea has a rich sweet aroma. Instantly it reminds me of what makes Yame Gyokuro so special to me. The initial color of the tea is a bright green brilliance, which reminds me of the radiance of a shincha. It is lightly murky, nowhere near as much as a fukamushi though. Slightly after pouring the color changed into a yellow green hue. The flavor is rich and bold with a light astringency. It is a very strong and bold sencha flavor, similar to a fukamushi, but with the depth of an asamushi. There is a bold grassy/marine flavor to this tea, which again reminds me of a Yame Gyokuro.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 15s, 185F, 5oz

2nd Infusion: This infusion was a murky green hue. There was a lot of sediment in this cup, it reminded me much more of a fukamushi this time around. The flavor was lighter and clearer with just a hint of bitterness. The bitterness was paired with al ight sense of astringency which left me with a nice clean feeling aftertaste. The flavor was rich and bold.

Rating: 9/10

Conclusion: By the description of this tea it sounds like it is a kabusecha. In retrospect to the taste I can see where this is noticeable, without having said that though I probably would not have noticed at all and just chalked this up as a very interesting sencha. It is unfortunately a bit on the pricey side, but it also is in a very rare class of tea. Yame Senchas are not very commonplace from what I have seen, only a small handful of vendors even offering one. It shares a lot of characteristics with it's much more famous Gyokuro brother and I found myself very much enjoying this tea. As I continue to try more Yame Senchas though I wonder how this one will compare to those. An enjoyable and unique experience though.

Tanegashima Kuritawase 2008

Tea: Tanegashima Kuritawase 2008 - 6411
Vendor: Lupicia USA
Source: Japan
Vendor Description: The first flush green tea from Tanegashima island have a refreshing aftertaste

Leaf: The leaf for this tea is a very well formed Asamushi. The needles are long and thin with a minimal amount of dust. Some of the leaves are almost an inch long and there is very little stem in the mix as well.

1st Infusion Parameters: 5g, 5oz, 170F, 45s

1st Infusion: This tea produced a pale yellow green color. Considering that this is an asamushi there is a fairly green hue to it. There was a ligth nutty aroma to it. There was a rich umami flavor to this tea, it is almost like a gyokuro in texture. There is a typical light bitterness in the aftertaste. The flavor is very crisp and pleasant. There is not much of a shincha radiance to this tea though.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 10s, 185F

2nd Infusion: This infusion had a more intense green color. The aroma is very light and uplifiting. The flavor has light and fruity notes. This fruitiness is followed by a light bitterness. There are hints of the thickness from the first infusion, but nowhere near the same as the first infusion. There are also grassy notes in the aftertaste that compete with the sencha kick.

Rating: 9/10

Conclusion: This is a very enjoyable asamushi. This is one of the shincha offerings from Lupicia and I did not open until well past the initial few months when shincha is freshest. Even with a few months of aging under it's belt it still shows a very pleasant flavor and some very complex characteristics. I look forward to trying it again this year.

Milk Caramel

Tea: Milk Caramel - 8504
Vendor: Lupicia USA
Price: $6.00 / 50g
Vendor Description: The sweet flavor of milk caramel enhances a parching aroma of Houjicha. Also add some milk to well-brewed tea.

Leaf: The leaf for this is a light brown houjicha. It has a very autumnal brown hue to it. There are small caramel brown pieces in the mix which are about the size of large gravel. I assume that these are pieces of caramel in the mix. There is a very strong and prominent sweet and milky aroma to this tea. It reminds me very much of the aroma of fresh caramel.

1st Infusion Parameters: 3g, 5oz., 208F, 2 min

1st Infusion: This tea has a clear brown hue to it. The hue is lightly reminiscent of a coffee color. The aroma is very caramel like and sweet. It reminds me of caramel Chex mix. The tea is very lightly sweet in flavor. It has a light milky creaminess to the taste. The flavor of the houjicha blends well with the caramel flavoring. It reminds me of a breakfast cereal, yet the tea is not overly sweet. There is a clean aftertaste to it.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 208F, 3 min

2nd Infusion: This infusion has the same coffee brownish hue to it. It smells even more strongly of caramel than the first infusion. The flavor is lighter and has a roasted sweetness to it. It somewhat reminds me of Golden Crisp cereal.

Rating: 9/10

Conclusion: It sounds odd that I would be giving a flavored tea such a high rating, and a flavored hojicha at that. It's also a bit pricey, but I can't help but really like this stuff. It's just the right amount of sweet, it's smooth and enjoyable. Flavored hojicha is also a bit of a rarity, not many places aside from Lupicia even offer any from what I have seen. It is almost like this is one of those guilty pleasures teas. This is definitely one of the teas where you like it for what it is, make no attempt at comparing it to a fine Dan Cong or a divine gyokuro. It's made with lower grade tea, but whatever it tastes great.

Ashikubo Gold

Tea: Ashikubo Gold
Vendor: Chado Tea House
Price: $15.15 / 100g
Source: Shizuoka, Japan
Vendor Description: Asamushi Sencha = traditional light steamed sencha. Its refreshing and mild with a vibrant, golden-green infusion, bittersweet flavor satisfy even the most critical tea connoisseur.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea has a fresh, refreshing aroma to it. The leaf is dark green in color and has an appearance similar to a chumushi. There is a fair amount of dust, but nowhere near a fukamushi level. The leaf is moderately glossy. This tea is listed as an asamushi and even though it does somewhat look like a chumushi it still leans toward it's asamushi distinction.

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

1st Infusion: The tea has a radiant light green color to it. It is almost a pure shade of green with little to no yellow undertones. The flavor is light yet full bodied. It is very clean feeling. There are hints of grassiness to it, but nothing too alarming. There is no real bitterness or astringency to be found. All in all this is a very calming tea.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 15s, 185F

2nd Infusion: This infusion shows a murkier color. The tea has a yellow green hue to it this time. The aroma of the tea is considerably thicker this time. It doesn't feel as clear and clean as the first infusion. The flavor this time is very up front and early. There is a clean sense of bitterness and a medium sense of astringency. The flavor is overall richer.

Rating: 9/10

Conclusion: This tea is a very good asamushi. It is light and delicate, yet still flavorful. It has a brilliant color to it. The price is very reasonable. All in all it's a great tea, but just lacks a little something to kick it over the top into a 10. Also Chado Tea House is not to be confused with Chado Tea.

Ali Shan

Tea: Ali Shan
Vendor: Adagio Teas
Price: $29.00 / 5 oz
Source: Taiwan
Vendor Description: Oolong tea from Taiwan. Formosa, meaning 'beautiful' was what the Portuguese explorers called this island. The oolong tea grown here continues to be called as such. The exquisite bouquet of Formosa Oolong tea is regarded to be the finest in the world. Complex floral notes echo on your palate as you enjoy this product of Taiwan's Ali mountain. Light bodied and softly sweet with an underlying complexity, this oolong will surely come to haunt. Perfect for multiple infusions.

Leaf: This leaf consists of large tightly rolled leaf balls. They vary in size from shades of light green to dark green. There is a distinctive green oolong aroma to the leaf, although it is on the lighter side.

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

1st Infusion: This tea has a light green hue. It is quite light and clear. There is a very prominent green oolong aroma to it though. The aroma is similar to a Tie Guan Yin, but not quite. The flavor is very light and crisp. The majority of the flavor is found in the center portion of the tongue, there are light amounts of flavor in the general body of this tea. It feels like a very mild green oolong, with a very relaxing feeling to it.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 45s, 208F

2nd Infusion: This infusion has a bolder yellow color to it. The aroma is also stronger. It is obvious that the tea has opened up a lot more for this infusion. The flavor is bolder and fuller. It shows a strong green oolong aftertaste. It is very warming yet holds onto a very sharp green oolong tanginess to it.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 1:30, 208F

3rd Infusion: There is no significant color change in this infusion. There is slightly less of an aroma to it though. The flavor is yet again bolder though. But even with the decrease in the sharpness it feels bold, almost like it softened out after the second infusion. It finishes off with a light sense of astringency.

4th Infusion Parameters: 1:30, 208F

4th Infusion: The color is slightly lighter this time around. The aroma is about the same as the third infusion though. The flavor is sweeter and lighter this time around.

5th Infusion Parameters: 3:00, 208F

5th Infusion: This time the flavor was showing obvious signs of waning. The color and aroma were both very light. The flavor showed signs of wateriness and a lack of strength.

Rating: 9/10

Conclusion: This was quite a solid offering from Adagio. It held up very strongly for 4 infusions, with a light 5th. One thing that I don't particularly like about this tea though is that you have to order between one sample size and 5 oz. It's a large jump in purchasing. Especially with the number of infusions you'll get out of each time with this tea, 5oz is quite an extensive purchase. That said though, the tea is a good price, it's a solid flavor.

Sencha Uji 2008

Tea: Sencha Uji 2008 - 6426
Vendor: Lupicia USA
Source: Kyoto, Japan
Vendor Description: The first flush green tea from Soraku district of Kyoto. The exquisite aroma lingers in the mouth.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea has lots of long thin needles. There is lots of dark green color with very little stem in the mix. There is no dust to speak of, the aroma is very sweet and sencha like. From the looks of the tea it is most likely an asamushi tea.

1st Infusion Parameters: 5g, 5 oz, 185F, 1 min

1st Infusion: The tea is lightly murky with a bright yellow hue. There is a very light and crisp sweet aroma coming from this tea. The flavor is lightly grassy as if to hint at a gyokuro in flavor. The flavor is rich and clean, with just a light sense of bitterness and a light clean aftertaste.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 185F 15s

2nd Infusion: This infusion as well was lightly murky. The hue darkened though to a yellow-brown hue. There is less aroma in this infusion and the flavor is a bit lighter, but it still feels quite clean in flavor. There is just a little bit of grassiness poking out here and there in this tea.

Rating: 9/10

Conclusion: This is a very good asamushi. Even though I ended up opening it a bit past it's prime as a shincha from last year it still exhibited a wonderful freshness and cleanliness that is characteristic of an asamushi. The flavor is very light and clean, just as an asamushi should be and it was a prime example thereof. I can't wait to see what the 2009's hold.

Huang Zhi Xiang (Yellow Sprig) 2008

Tea: Huang Zhi Xiang (Yellow Sprig) Dan Cong Oolong 2008
Vendor: Seven Cups
Price: $9.40 / 50g
Source: Chaozhou City, Guangdong Province, China
Vendor Description: This tea is made from the Huang Zhi Xiang bush that has been cultivated from the oldest Dan Cong bush (700 years old). Its special character is the light gardenia aroma. This lightly oxidized tea has a light honey yellow tea color and sweet, mellow flavor. This is a great tea for new Dan Cong oolong tea drinkers because of its high fragrance, light flavor and affordable price.

Additional Vendor Information:
Tea Bush: Huang Zhi Xiang descendent from original Feng Huang Shui Xian
Tea Master: Ye Han Zhong
Harvest Time: middle of March
Picking Standard: zhong kai mian (2-3 slightly open leaves)
Brewing vessel: glass cup, gaiwan, glass or porcelain pot, yixing pot
Brewing Guidelines: 1st infusion 1 Tbs per 12 oz 212F for 1 min
Infusions: at least 6 times

Leaf: The leaf for this tea is a dark almost black color. As with most Dan Cong oolong it is very light and fluffy. The leaves are large and fragile. There is not much of an aroma to the dry leaf, but it hints at the Dan Cong aroma.

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

1st Infusion: This infusion has a very strong floral aroma. The color is a golden brown color. The aroma continues to exhibit a sweetness along with it's floral strength. There is a light and smooth flavor to the tea. It is lightly floral and lightly bodied.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 1 min, 208F

2nd Infusion: This infusion has a more golden hue than the first. The aroma again is both sweet and floral. The flavor is very smooth to the tongue, it has a very light bitterness that leaves a very clean feeling. It is relaxing and has a very light sense of astringency.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 1:30, 208F

3rd Infusion: This infusion had the same color as the second infusion. The aroma is not quite as floral anymore. It is still very light, airy and sweet. There is less flavor, but it feels thicker this time. The infusion finishes with a light sense of astringency.

4th Infusion Parameters: 2:00, 208F

4th Infusion: This infusion is a more amber brown color. The aroma is thick and rich. The tea itself is lighter in flavor and less bodied. The flavor is more centered to the core of the flavor and centered on the middle of the tongue. There is a medium sense of astringency to this infusion. It has slight pings of bitterness at the edges of the flavor.

5th Infusion Parameters: 3:30, 208F

5th Infusion: This infusion is a lighter amber color. The aroma is sweet and creamy with a certain thickness to it. The flavor feels emptier than before, but retains the late portion of the flavor. There is a medium sense of bitterness accompanying the flavor.

Rating: 9/10

Conclusion: Hands down this is quite a good Dan Cong Oolong. It is not the best one that I have had, but at a price under $10 for 50g it feels like quite a bargain. It produced 5 very solid infusions, and possibly could have gone for more. Thank you very much to Jessica over at Authoritea for the sample of this tea.

Gyokuro Fujitsubo

Tea: Gyokuro Fujitsubo
Vendor: O-Cha
Price: $45.95 / 100g
Source: Uji, Japan
Vendor Descripton: Uji Gyokuro "Fujitsubo" - O-Cha.com is honored to offer gyokuro "Fujitsubo", supplied to us from the Tsuen family who operate Japan's oldest teashop located on the banks of the Uji river. A very high quality, authentic first-flush gyokuro, this tea is a proprietary blend of "Saemidori" and "Yabukita" breeds of green tea, with the "Saemidori" being prominent. Gyokuro is shade grown before harvesting, giving it a greener color and sweeter taste. Once you learn to make it properly, you wil be hooked for life! Make sure to read our brewing instructions, as it is brewed differently than sencha.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea is a very deep shade of green. There are lots of small particles to this tea, but it has a rich gyokuro aroma. There is a little bit of stem in there, but not much.

1st Infusion Parameters: 5g, 5oz, 130F, 45s

1st Infusion: This tea has a light pale green color. It is very clear, and has a thick and rich aroma. The flavor is very strong, but the flavor is mostly on the front side. The flavor is rich and grassy, with a very smooth flavor. There is no astringency to it.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 140F, 15s

2nd Infusion: This infusion was murkier in color. It was a darker yellow hue, and lacked the radiance of the first infusion. The aroma was bolder and had a sense of grassiness to it. The flavor of this tea was quite envigorating. The feeling spread throughout the mouth and had a strong boldness to it. There was a light sencha like bitterness to the flavor, it was quite thick again and felt quite energizing.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 150F, 45s

3rd Infusion: There was a little bit of residue in this cup, but the color was a clear bright green hue. It was again bold with a very normal gyokuro flavor. It was grassy this time around, and lighter and cleaner than before. The flavor was clean and open.

4th Infusion Parameters: 155F, 2:00

4th Infusion: There was not much aroma to this infusion. The flavor was rich and strong early on, but there was not much fo a middle or late flavor. The flavor felt slightly light and empty. It was pretty apparent that the tea was starting to let up.

Rating: 9/10

Conclusion: This tea is quite wonderful. The flavor had different profiles in each infusion, it is a bit surprising to see it change this much. Normally it's changes within the normal part of the profile, but this had grassiness come and go in different infusions. After the 4th infusion it felt like it could probably go on further, but it would take a fair amount of time/temp to coerce it out of it. It seems like quite a pricey tea, but not that extreme for gyokuro.

Hosen

Tea: Hosen
Vendor: Ippodo
Price: 1,500 Yen / 100g
Source: Japan
Vendor Description: A harmonious blend of sweetness, bitterness, richness, astringency and fragrance - this is sencha. It's easy to understand why sencha is such a favorite beverage in Japan, not only for those seeking to quench a thirst, but also for those wanting to sip on something extra special.

In the morning or afternoon, before or after a meal, sencha is the perfect drink to revitalize your mind and refresh your spirit.

For the sencha drinker who appreciates a refined, well-balanced tea, Hosen is an excellent choice. Its subtle sweetness, elegant fragrance and fresh aftertaste are characteristic of Ippodo's premium sencha blends. Though recommended primarily for seasoned tea drinkers, Hosen is also a good choice for newcomers and those seeking a slightly richer and sweeter version of Sho-ikeno-o.

Leaf: The leaf for this is lightly polished. It is a thin dark leaf with a light and uplifting aroma to it. The leaves swirl with an almost fluid motion. There is a little bit of fleck to the leaf, but it consists primarily of larger longer leaves. The aroma feels smooth, almost reminding me of a gyokuro aroma.

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

1st Infusion: The tea has a bright yellow hue. It has a light and crisp sencha aroma. The flavor is smooth and light with a light sense of bitterness. There is no astringency, and the flavor feels very clean. There is a bit of a tang on the sides of the mouth, and it is a very uplifting lightness.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 0s, 185F

2nd Infusion: This infusion has a light and crisp aroma. There are hints of a grassy flavor to it, but the flavor is upflifting and clear still. There is a light sense of astringency paired with a medium bold flavor. It is stronger than the first infusion even with the instantaneous infusion.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 30s, 185F

3rd Infusion: This infusion was a murky yellow hue. The flavor is lighter and sharper. The astringency has developed into a medium strength, and the flavor is much richer. It hints at grassiness, but is much richer still uplifting.

Rating: 9/10

Conclusion: This is quite an impressive asamushi sencha. The flavor is light and clean feeling without being to harsh and strong. It's priced rather cheaply, but like all Ippodo tea you have to pay a high shipping cost. Even with the high shipping costs this tea is still a good bargain. The flavor is comparable to some of the much more expensive senchas that I have tried. This is probably going to be in quite a few of my Ippodo orders in the future.

Mt. Tayu Taiwan Oolong Winter Tea Super Grade

Tea: Mt. Tayu Taiwan Oolong Winter Tea Super Grade - 6340
Vendor: Lupicia USA
Source: Taizhong, Taiwan
Vendor Description: Rare winter-pluck oolong tea from Mt. Tayu, the highest tea plantation in the world. Clear scent with extremely clean flavor.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea is tightly rolled leaf balls. They exhibit hues of light to dark green in color, and have noticeable stem bits protruding as well.

1st Infusion Parameters: 5s rinse, 5g, 50z, 208F, 45s steep

1st Infusion: This tea produces a crystal clear light green infusion. It has a very strong yet clean floral aroma to it. It is sweet yet reminds me of a TKY in nature. It is not as strong as a TKY, but lighter and more floral. The flavor is light and clean. It is strongest on the center of the tongue. Although the flavor is quite light it is full bodied. The early half of the flavor matches the light floral taste quite nicely. It has a long lingering aftertaste best defined as a crisp oolong flavor.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 45s, 208F

2nd Infusion: This infusion ha da yellower green hue to it. The aroma was bolder, and less floral than the first. The flavor felt sharper, starting off strong and then tapering down the tongue. The flavor was stong, prominent, and very bold. This all happens rather quickly though as the flavor is veyr short lived. This infusion has a thick almost gummy aftertaste to it though.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 1 min, 208F

3rd Infusion: The floral aroma is gone in this infusion. What remains is a woody and leafy aroma. The flavor is lighter now, but the tea produces a very warming feeling. The flavor is focused on the edges of the tongue, with the feeling in the center of the tongue gone. There is still a certain richness to the flavor, and the floral taste tries to show itself, but only after slowly building up.

4th Infusion Parameters: 2min, 208F

4th Infusion: There is almost no aroma in the tea at all at this point. The tea tastes more akin to lightly colored water that is hinting at a flavor rather than showing one.

Used Leaf: The used leaf for this tea is very large, many of the leaves are still in bunches. The leaves themselves though are very soft and pliable.

Rating: 9/10

Conclusion: This tea was quite remarkable. it produced 3 very interesting cups, each different from the previous and tasty in their own right. The fourth was a bit of a letdown though, possibly with more promise with a longer soak. I don't remember the exact pricing of this tea, but I remember that it was on the pricier side of things, ~$1/g. Not an everyday tea, but definitely a good special occasion tea.

Silver Needle

Tea: Silver Needle
Vendor: Swan Sisters
Price: $6.00 / oz.
Source: Fujian, China
Harvest: 3/08
Vendor Description: This delicately pleasant tea is from the home of white teas, Fujian's Fu Ding county. Bai Hao Yin Zhen is hand plucked in the first two weeks of March and made using century old techniques. The flavor of this tea is earthy and sweet with a velvety, smooth texture that is characteristic of a Silver Needle white tea. SwanSisters' Silver Needle is a higher grade so the flavor and the texture of the tea will be more apparent than in the more common grades. Enjoy Bai Hao Yin Zhen on a quiet afternoon

Leaf: The leaf for this Silver Needle was a bit dryer looking than normal. There are a few small flecks in the mix as well.

1st Infusion Parameters: 5g, 50z, 180F, 2 min

1st Infusion: This Silver Needle has a heavier and thicker aroma than most silver needles. The leaves, once wet, have a very nice green color to them. The tea itself has a nice light light yellow hue to it. It is a very typical looking cup of Silver Needle. The flavor is much bolder than a normal Silver Needle, it is very full bodied with a light sense of bitterness. The flavor on the tongue is much thicker than normal.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 180F, 3 min

2nd Infusion: The flavor in this infusion was still quite rich for a silver needle. There was a light sense of bitterness to it, and for the most part tasted the same as the first infusion.

Rating: 9/10

Conclusion: This Silver Needle has a stronger, bolder taste that the others I have tried. It is thick and creamy almost, while retaining that Silver Needle light flavor. The only thing about this tea is that it is a little on the pricey side, even for a Silver Needle. For a unique SN experience though, this is a tea to try.

Liquid Jade: The Story of Tea from East to West

Book: Liquid Jade: The Story of Tea from East to West
Price: $16.47 (From Amazon.com)

This book is quite likely the most well researched and cited book on the subject of Tea that I have read thus far. This book compares in quality to The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Guide. The difference between the two is that The Story of Tea is more centered around different tea production regions and different teas, where Liquid Jade is centered around the history of tea production and it's appearance in history. In a broad stroke it starts with the discovery of tea in China and it's migration to Europe. This is a rather unique view on the western aspect of tea, something that is somewhat overlooked nowadays. The book is a little light on the topic of tea in Japan, but that is not really the focus of the book.

Rating: 9/10

Conclusion: If you own one book on tea, read The Story of Tea. If you own two, get Liquid Jade. Liquid Jade is very well researched and cited. It is an excellent source of information regarding historical tidbits about tea. The last section of the book is a bit too political on the topics of Organic, Fair Trade, and Indian labor practices. An excellent read nonetheless.

Takaragi

Tea: Takaragi
Vendor: Koyama-en
Price: $20.00 / 100g (not directly from Koyama-en), 1155 Yen / 100g directly.
Source: Japan

About This Tea: Koyama-en is primarily a producer of matcha in Japan. This was actually the first sencha that I have tried from them, and wasn't expecting terribly much considering that it was in the middle of the quality line and not their primary product.

Leaf: The leaf is lightly glossy with a deep green color. The color is dark enough that this may almost pass for a gyokuro based on appearance of the leaf alone. There is not much aroma to it, but it has a nice balance between larger needles and smaller bits of dust. This is a chumushi steamed sencha.

1st Infusion Parameters: 5g, 5 oz, 1 min, 185F

1st Infusion: The tea had a light pale yellow green color to it with a light murkiness. The aroma was light and tart, with a certain sense of snappiness to it. The flavor was very smooth. It started out very light and developed a sweetness midway. It had traces of a light nuttiness to it, and just a light sense of bitterness to give a nice clean feeling.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 30s, 185F

2nd Infusion: This infusion had a yellower murkier color to it. The flavor was richer and paired with an increased bitterness. There was a light sense of astringency this time, but also a light grassiness.

Rating: 9/10

Conclusion: This is a very good chumushi sencha. The flavors were nicely in balance and developed nicely between the two infusions. The leaf is quite appealing and the price was very reasonable for 100g of tea. The only downside of this tea is it's availability. Currently I only know of one vendor in the US to get this tea, and they don't have an online presence. The only other option is to go through a very manual process to get this tea delivered directly from Koyama-en.

Keemun Rhapsody

Tea: Keemun Rhapsody
Vendor: Adagio
Price: $ 18.00 / 4 oz.
Source:Anhui, China
Vendor Description: Black tea from the Anhui region of China. Keemun tea, perhaps the most famous of Chinese varieties, is prized for its rich chocolate-like flavor, and sumptuous aroma. Our 'Keemun Rhapsody' is a hand-made, limited production 'superior mao feng' grade tea. It is a rare embodiment of this tea's wonderful potential, with taste bud entrancing cocoa notes, biscuity nuances, a whispering fruitiness and a flickering shadow of classic Keemun smokiness.

Leaf: The leaf is long and wiry for a black tea. The leaves are twisted and contorted. There are a few small brown colored hairs on the inside of the container like there would be with a silver needle, although brown instead of white. The aromoa is not strong nor weak, but is very hard to place.

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

1st Infusion: The tea has a light red/brown color to it. The color is surprisingly light for a 5 min steep. There is a heavy and rich bouquet to the aroma. The flavor is very smooth and characteristic black tea. The flavor is mild with no bitterness or astringency. It is very smooth and full bodied, and a bit sweet for a black tea.

Rating: 9/10

Conclusion: This is a very good black tea. It's not overpowering or harsh. It's not overly floral or bland. It is smooth and slightly sweet. I can imagine this would make a very enjoyable iced tea or serve well with milk and sugar if that is your preference. Albeit I don't think this would be a standard in my cabinet.

Homadola FBOP

Tea: Homadola Garden FBOP
Vendor: Plucker's Pick
Price: $18.00 / 3.5 oz.
Source: Sri Lanka (aka Ceylon)
Vendor Description: A fresh, sweet tea with a light aroma.This low-grown tea brews to a golden shade with hints of orange. A mild and mellow flavor.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea is very uniform in size and color. It is a very normal shade of black with hints of a gray color on the edges. It hints at being similar to a silver striped. The packaging for this tea was quite nice. The tea comes packed in a mylar bag packed in a tin packed in a box.

Infusion Parameters: 1 tsp (2.21g), 5 oz water, 208F, 3 minutes

Infusion: The infusion has a very golden honey color to it. There is a very light aroma to it that is characteristic of a ceylon tea. The flavor is well balanced and smooth. At a ratio of 2.21:5 it is light, but not too light, and not overpowering. It has a medium body to it with no astringency. There is a light bitterness on the front end, but just enough to give the tea a nice body and flavor.

Rating: 9/10

Conclusion: This is a very enjoyable black tea. It is smooth without being to strong. The flavor distinctive and noticeable, but not overpowering. At it's price it is on the upper end for a ceylon tea, but not prohibitively so.