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Alex Zorach

RateTea Editor

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Member since Sep. 1st, 2009. Reviewed 1448 teas.

Reviews of Teas & Herbal Teas from China

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Picture of Huang Jin Gui Oolong Tea

Huang Jin Gui Oolong Tea from Teas Etc

Style: Golden Osmanthus – Region: Fujian, China

77 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 4/5
Dec. 21st, 2012

Huang Jin Gui or Golden Osmanthus is one of my favorite types of oolong.

I only had the opportunity to sample this once, briefly, at World Tea East, so I can't comment on experimenting with brewing it in different ways, but I thought it a typical and high-quality example of this type of oolong.

Aroma is predomina...

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Picture of Dragonwell Lung Ching Green Tea

Dragonwell Lung Ching Green Tea from Arbor Teas

Style: Dragon Well (Long Jing) – Region: China

40 / 100 Aroma: 3/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 2/5
Dec. 18th, 2012

After being really impressed with the first four teas I had sampled from Arbor Teas a while back, I recommended them to a friend, who bought this tea from them. He was very impressed with the Gyokuro he bought, but he gave me this one because he said he didn't like it and it didn't taste like long jing.

I think if ...

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Picture of White Blueberry (Blueberry White)

White Blueberry (Blueberry White) from Adagio Teas

Style: Fruit White Tea – Region: Fujian, China

40 / 100 Aroma: 3/10 Flavor: 2/5 Value: 2/5
Dec. 3rd, 2012

I can't shake the impression that this flavored tea tastes like tootsie roll pops. Not any particular type of them, just the generic tootsie roll pop taste that is in common between all of the different flavors. And I'm not really a fan of this flavor.

The leaf produces a relatively dark infusion, like a darker ba...

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Picture of Wild Snow Sprout Tea

Wild Snow Sprout Tea from Wild Tea Qi

Style: Green Tea – Region: Yunnan, China

87 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
Nov. 29th, 2012

This tea is completely unlike anything else I've tried. It has a lot going on in the aroma, and almost defies description.

I notice a smoky quality, almost like a hint of that campfire smoke of Lapsang souchong, paired with a hint of camphor, like in raw Pu-erh. But upon drinking, it is more floral and honey-like,...

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Picture of Panyang Golden Tips

Panyang Golden Tips from Harney and Sons

Style: Panyang Congou – Region: Fujian, China

80 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 3/5
Nov. 20th, 2012

Wiry leaf has a good amount of golden tip. I was surprised by the dark color of the liquor produced by these light golden leaves. The picture Harney provided looks a bit deceptive--I found it brews much darker.

Aroma is intensely cocoa-ey and chocolatey. Almost tastes like a cup of unsweetened cocoa. Reminiscent...

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Picture of Citron Green

Citron Green from Adagio Teas

Style: Fruit Green Tea – Region: China

77 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 4/5
Nov. 7th, 2012

This tea impressed me, and I'll say it is not only the only citrus-flavored green tea that I have really enjoyed, but it is also my favorite flavored tea from Adagio yet!

The dry leaf has a strong aroma of lime and citronella, but upon brewing, the citrus aroma is more subdued.

The aroma has a pleasing, grassy an...

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Picture of Lapsang Souchong Smoky Black Tea (Yan Xun Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong)

Lapsang Souchong Smoky Black Tea (Yan Xun Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong) from TeaVivre

Style: Lapsang Souchong – Region: Wuyi, Fujian, China

57 / 100 Aroma: 5/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 4/5
Sep. 24th, 2012

The dry leaf smells strongly of pine smoke, more like the British style of Lapsang Souchong, which I find is often overly smoky. But upon brewing, this tea's smokiness mellows out considerably. There's still a lot of that campfire or wood smoke smell, but it doesn't overwhelm.

Flavor and mouthfeel is exceptionally...

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Picture of Old Style Tie Guan Yin Anxi Wulong 2010

Old Style Tie Guan Yin Anxi Wulong 2010 from Seven Cups

Style: Tie Guan Yin – Region: Anxi, Fujian, China

43 / 100 Aroma: 4/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 2/5
Aug. 27th, 2012

I sampled this in a blind tea tasting, alongside with the 2011 batch of this same tea. The two teas, while recognizably similar in style, were radically different in overall character.

This tea had a sour flavor and overall subdued quality. There was less bitterness and less astringency than the 2012 batch, but le...

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Picture of Chuan Tong Tie Guan Yin (Old Style Tie Guan Yin) Anxi Wulong 2011

Chuan Tong Tie Guan Yin (Old Style Tie Guan Yin) Anxi Wulong 2011 from Seven Cups

Style: Tie Guan Yin – Region: Anxi, Fujian, China

60 / 100 Aroma: 6/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 2/5
Aug. 27th, 2012

Sampled in a blind tea tasting hosted by Evan Draper. Thanks, Evan, for the tea and the brewing!

This was the first tea we sampled, and was among my favorites of the batch.

Aroma was woody, toasty, and floral, in all infusions. First infusion was light and predominately aromatic. Second was more bitter and con...

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Picture of Superfine Pre-Ming Dragon Well Long Jing Tea

Superfine Pre-Ming Dragon Well Long Jing Tea from TeaVivre

Style: Dragon Well (Long Jing) – Region: Zhejiang, China

87 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 3/5
Aug. 20th, 2012

This struck me as a very high-quality tea, quite distinct from any other dragon well / long jing, and unlike anything I have ever tried. A bit more like yellow tea than green tea.

Dry leaf is golden-green, and has a very fine and extremely dusty appearance, and is very powerfully aromatic, with a deeper, toastier a...

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Picture of Fengqing Dragon Pearl Black Tea

Fengqing Dragon Pearl Black Tea from TeaVivre

Style: Yunnan Red – Region: Fengqing, Yunnan, China

83 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Aug. 16th, 2012

In spite of having tried quite a few Yunnan teas by now, this was something completely different for me! Very interesting, although a little bit difficult to brew to satisfaction. The dry leaf, rolled into dense spheres, has only a mild aroma, more suggestive of Keemun than other Yunnan teas.

I first used a small ...

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Picture of Jasmine Silver Needle White Tea (Mo Li Yin Zhen)

Jasmine Silver Needle White Tea (Mo Li Yin Zhen) from TeaVivre

Style: Jasmine Silver Needle – Region: Fuding, Fujian, China

70 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 3/5
Aug. 13th, 2012

Yet another Chinese tea from TeaVivre, of very high quality that is exactly what I'd expect for its style.

Dry leaf extremely aromatic, with an intense Jasmine aroma that is almost overwhelming. Looks like a typical silver needle, very attractive-looking, delicate silvery buds with downy white hair.

Upon brewing...

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Picture of Mengku Palace Ripened Golden Buds Loose Pu-erh Tea 2007

Mengku Palace Ripened Golden Buds Loose Pu-erh Tea 2007 from TeaVivre

Style: Ripened (Shou) Pu-erh – Region: Shuangjiang, Yunnan, China

60 / 100 Aroma: 6/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 2/5
Aug. 9th, 2012

The dry leaf of this looks unusually wiry and tippy for a ripe Pu-erh, with a lot of golden tips. It is quite aromatic, and the aroma is typical for ripe Pu-erh, with perhaps only a faint suggestion of more complexity.

Upon brewing, 1 teaspoon of leaf and 1 minute as recommeded for one cup, this produces a dark col...

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Picture of Dao Ren Tea

Dao Ren Tea from Mountain Rose Herbs

Style: Green Tea – Region: Zhejiang, China

77 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 5/5
Aug. 7th, 2012

An organic tea of very good quality for a very good price!

Loose leaf has a very dark green color and a pungency suggesting fruity, grassy, and herbaceous qualities. The leaf is slow to unfurl and infuses quite slowly.

Upon brewing, the tea is surprisingly light in color and has an aroma equally suggesting of li...

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Picture of 546 Mountain Peak Mao Feng Organic

546 Mountain Peak Mao Feng Organic from SpecialTeas

Style: Mao Feng Green Tea – Region: Zhejiang, China

77 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 5/5
Aug. 6th, 2012

A blast from the past--somehow I forgot to post this review, so enjoy it and miss SpecialTeas!

I found this tea to taste more similar to other Zhejiang green teas that I've tried than it did to mao feng green tea from other regions of China. Aroma is strong, fresh, toasty, and grassy. I can see both the fruity and...

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Picture of Yun Nan Dian Hong Black Tea – Golden Tip

Yun Nan Dian Hong Black Tea – Golden Tip from TeaVivre

Style: Yunnan Gold – Region: Yunnan, China

77 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 4/5
Jul. 29th, 2012

Dry leaf, consisting almost exclusively of unbroken golden tips, is extremely aromatic and fresh, with the characteristic quality that all black teas from Yunnan province seem to have, but fruitier than normal.

Upon brewing, the leaf turns darker in color and produces a rich brown cup.

Like other Yunnan Dian Hong...

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Picture of Organic Superfine Dragon Well Long Jing Green Tea

Organic Superfine Dragon Well Long Jing Green Tea from TeaVivre

Style: Dragon Well (Long Jing) – Region: Zhejiang, China

87 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Jul. 28th, 2012

The more high-quality loose-leaf dragonwell I try, the more I realize how diverse this type of tea can be. This tea was pleasant and easy to brew, and among the best loose-leaf dragonwells that I've sampled.

Dry leaf looks dusty, yellowish, and smells very pleasing, strongly aromatic, with a typical smell for high-...

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Lapsang Souchong Black Tea Grade II from Life in Teacup

Style: Lapsang Souchong – Region: Fujian, China

63 / 100 Aroma: 6/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 4/5
Jul. 13th, 2012

Life in Teacup sent me a sample of this tea even though it had been discontinued from their catalogue; now, their only Lapsang Souchong is the Lapsang Souchong Superior Grade.

I can see why they discontinued this one: while it was not bad, I thought it was nowhere near as good as the superior grade. Even with the h...

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Picture of Mini Tuo-cha Pu-erh Tea

Mini Tuo-cha Pu-erh Tea from Simpson & Vail

Style: Ripened (Shou) Pu-erh – Region: Yunnan, China

33 / 100 Aroma: 4/10 Flavor: 1/5 Value: 1/5
Jul. 3rd, 2012

This tea is ripened (Shu) Pu-erh, which I tend to be less a fan of than raw (sheng) Pu-erh. The dry leaf, when compressed, is very tightly packed, and relatively unaromatic. Upon steeping, it becomes evident that the leaf of this tea is finely broken. The leaf is slow to infuse while still compressed but once the ca...

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Picture of Kaori Green Tea

Kaori Green Tea from Simpson & Vail

Style: Green Tea – Region: China

63 / 100 Aroma: 6/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 4/5
Jul. 2nd, 2012

Dry leaf is finely broken yet twiggy; has a strong, unique aroma, like celery or dried dill, very fresh and herbaceous, and quite different from what I am used to from a green tea.

The brewed cup is surprisingly similar in aroma to the dry leaf. The cup has a cooling quality, slightly brisk, with some astringency a...

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Picture of Huangtian Village's Fire Green Pearl Tea - Premium

Huangtian Village's Fire Green Pearl Tea - Premium from Simpson & Vail

Style: Green Tea – Region: Qimen, Anhui, China

90 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
Jun. 28th, 2012

I thought this was a top-notch green tea!

Dry leaf is tightly rolled and pleasingly aromatic, with a floral aroma suggesting orchid. Upon steeping, the leaf is slow to unfurl and slow to infuse, and the more familiar grassy aromas of green tea begin to slowly come out. The leaves are completely intact and unbroken...

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Picture of White Pearl

White Pearl from Simpson & Vail

Style: White Tea – Region: Fujian, China

67 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 2/5
Jun. 27th, 2012

Smallish pearls unfurl to olive-colored leaf with lots of tip. Tea seems much more oxidized than normal for a tippy white tea.

I did not like the steeping recommendations; the cup came out quite bland when steeped this way, but this is always true for me of delicate white teas, like silver needle and others. I fo...

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1960s Phoenix Dan Cong from Life in Teacup

Style: Dancong Oolong – Region: Guangdong, China

57 / 100 Aroma: 5/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 3/5
Jun. 14th, 2012

Life in Teacup describes this tea as being a lot like Shu Pu-erh without the pile fermentation odor. I agree.

The aroma of the dry leaf tea is a lot more like aged shu Pu-erh than like other aged oolongs I've tried. Most aged oolong that I've tried has been re-roasted to the point that the roast has seemed to domi...

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Picture of San Xia Cloud Mist Green Tea

San Xia Cloud Mist Green Tea from Simpson & Vail

Style: Clouds & Mist (Yun Wu) – Region: Jiangsu, China

73 / 100 Aroma: 6/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 3/5
Jun. 12th, 2012

An unusual tea among Chinese greens, almost reminiscent of some green teas from Darjeeling and elsewhere in the the Himalayan region.

Dark, curled dry leaf with little aroma.

Brewed cup has a dark brownish-green liquor, very clear. Simpson and Vail describes this tea as vegetal, with a fresh spinach aroma, and I...

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Lapsang Souchong Superior Grade from Life in Teacup

Style: Lapsang Souchong – Region: Wuyi, Fujian, China

91 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
May. 10th, 2012

This was the first traditional Lapsang Souchong that I've tried, and I must say, I'm a tremendous fan. It is among my favorite Chinese black teas that I have sampled. Yet another impressive tea from Life in Teacup.

Although there is a hint of pine evident in the aroma, the overwhelming smokiness characteristic of ...

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