Reviews of Teas & Herbal Teas from China
Page 1 2 3 ... 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 of 16 pages with 381 results
Flowering Jasmine Teas (Fairy Lily) from Primula Tea
Style: Jasmine Tea – Region: China33 / 100 Aroma: 3/10 Flavor: 2/5 Value: 2/5
Dec. 1st, 2011
This one was just odd. The aroma was predominately of olive, like good, strong Kalamata olives. I've had olive-like tones in tea before, and they can be pleasant, but I've never encountered a tea dominated by this aroma.
The olive lingers on the palate, leaving a salty, sour, and savory taste, much like I actually...
Chinese Breakfast™ - Yunnan Black Tea from Numi Organic Tea
Style: Yunnan Red – Region: Yunnan, China67 / 100 Aroma: 6/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 3/5
Nov. 28th, 2011
A classic Yunnan black tea, unusually smooth for a tea bag. Aroma is complex, with hints of cocoa, wood, and fruit. Peppery finish, characteristic of Yunnan teas.
I recommend a longer steeping time (5+ min). This tea is not as aromatic as a loose-leaf Yunnan, and its flavor is mild so you can steep it for a long ...
Yunnan Silvertip Green Tea from Upton Tea Imports
Style: Green Tea – Region: Yunnan, China24 / 100 Aroma: 3/10 Flavor: 1/5 Value: 1/5
Nov. 1st, 2011
Something tasted very off about this tea. Dry leaf has a very strong aroma of camphor, to the point that it's unpleasant.
My friend Evan and I tried gong fu brewing with this tea and the results were poor. The camphor quality dominated, and, while the tea was certainly somewhat interesting, it wasn't among the mos...
Orchid Sprout Green Tea from Wild Tea Qi
Style: Green Tea – Region: Sichuan, China87 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 3/5
Oct. 19th, 2011
Beautiful, intense green-yellow leaves produce a rich, golden-green infusion that is very clear. Dry leaf looks like dragonwell in appearance. Upon brewing, the leaf loses its yellowish color and becomes lighter in color, almost grayish. The leaf looks very delicate.
Aroma is surprisingly strong and fresh. Grass...
Tianmu Ming Dynasty Green Tea from Imperial Tea Garden
Style: Green Tea – Region: Zhejiang, China67 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 3/5
Oct. 18th, 2011
This tea resembles a good mao feng green tea: it has long, flat, slightly curved leaves, and a taste reminiscent of other Mao Feng that I've had. The leaves are a bit narrower and more needle-like in appearance than most mao feng.
The first time I brewed this tea, it did not leave much of an impression on me. I up...
Jasmine Tea from Ronnefeldt
Style: Jasmine Tea – Region: China53 / 100 Aroma: 5/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 3/5
Oct. 10th, 2011
I was a bit scared after my terrible experience with Ronnefeldt's Japanese green tea, but this one turned out to be quite a few notches up from that one (which was undrinkable).
Average for what I'd expect from a tea bag...drinkable, and perhaps somewhat pleasant, but not terribly exciting...and lagging far behind R...
Hand-Processed Wuyi Shui Xian Grade I from Life in Teacup
Style: Shui Hsien Oolong – Region: Wuyi, Fujian, China95 / 100 Aroma: 10/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Oct. 10th, 2011
Dry leaf has an intense aroma of cocoa. Upon brewing the tea, the aroma becomes much more complex.
I brewed this tea western style and was surprised at how many infusions it lasted through. It is rare for me to find teas that can hold up to three long infusions, using less leaf. This tea lasted through four.
A...
Dragonwell from Adagio Teas
Style: Dragon Well (Long Jing) – Region: Zhejiang, China67 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 2/5
Oct. 4th, 2011
I tried brewing this by the exact same method I had brewed Novus' dragonwell; both were similar portions of whole-leaf tea in pyramid sachets. Although Novus can't really compare with Adagio, as a whole, I think on this particular tea, Adagio's tea fell short.
The first infusion was very flavorful, rich, and aromat...
Peony White Needle from Imperial Tea Garden
Style: Silver Needle – Region: China53 / 100 Aroma: 5/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 2/5
Sep. 27th, 2011
I'm not a big fan of the silver needle style of tea, but I am beginning to distinguish between different ones to a degree.
From looking at the leaf, this is unambiguously a silver needle tea, but interestingly, the aroma of the brewed tea is much more like white peony tea. The appearance of the leaf, both dry and b...
2 Doves Silver Needle from Imperial Tea Garden
Style: Silver Needle – Region: China50 / 100 Aroma: 5/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 2/5
Sep. 27th, 2011
I want to preface this review by saying that I tend not to be a huge fan of silver needle tea in general; I prefer darker, more full-bodied white teas. I tend to always think that silver needle is overpriced.
Silvery-white leaves brew a darkish colored cup, especially dark for a silver needle. Used leaves show a p...
Silver Needle from Adagio Teas
Style: Silver Needle – Region: Fujian, China60 / 100 Aroma: 6/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 2/5
Sep. 19th, 2011
Brews a dark color for a silver needle, but the flavor profile is more like what I'd expect for a silver needle.
Aroma is mellow, mostly vegetal, slightly floral but only weakly so. Sweet, no bitterness. I used a very long steep time (>10 min.) and it had only a little astringency.
This is not my favorite style...
Wuyi Ensemble (Wuyi Oolong) from Adagio Teas
Style: Oolong Tea – Region: Wuyi, Fujian, China83 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Sep. 16th, 2011
Although this tea looks very dark in color, it had a slightly greener character among Wuyi oolongs. Aroma has a hint of smokiness, and some woody qualities, but primarily a background of honey-like smoothness that is fairly floral. The finish is clean and herbaceous, leaving a fresh taste of celery on the palate.
...
White Peony (Pai Mu Tan) from Adagio Teas
Style: White Peony Tea – Region: Fujian, China90 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
Sep. 14th, 2011
Not what I expected, and actually, far exceeding any expectations I had! This is my favorite Pai Mu Tan sampled yet, and is far out ahead of any of the other contenders.
I had this as a sample in a tea sachet. The sachet contains the same tea that is sold as loose-leaf. I will note that the sachet was very large,...
Ti Kuan Yin (Oolong Goddess) from Adagio Teas
Style: Tie Guan Yin – Region: Fujian, China70 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 3/5
Sep. 14th, 2011
This is a very balanced Tie Guan Yin. It is darker than a lot of the modern green Chinese Oolongs, but lighter than some of the traditional dark roast ones. The cup comes out a dark amber or light brown.
The aroma is slightly floral, with a hint of woody tones. Very full-bodied; slightly honey-like upon drinking....
Organic English Breakfast from Harney and Sons
Style: English Breakfast – Region: China53 / 100 Aroma: 5/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 2/5
Sep. 13th, 2011
This tea was interesting to me as it is pure Keemun, and not a blend of different teas, or predominately Ceylon possibly with some Assam, the way a lot of English breakfast blends nowadays are. I don't know much about the history of tea so I can't say much about the authenticity of this tea.
I will say, compared to...
Yunnan Gold (Golden Yunnan) from Adagio Teas
Style: Yunnan Gold – Region: Yunnan, China67 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 3/5
Sep. 12th, 2011
This tea is mostly golden buds, and it is very similar to the other tea I've sampled that looks most similar to it in appearance, which was Life in Teacup's Yunnan Golden Bud. Smooth and peppery. Compared to that tea, this one has a softer peppery quality. Both teas are slightly Keemun-like.
Requires a long brewi...
Green Mao Feng Imperial from Upton Tea Imports
Style: Mao Feng Green Tea – Region: China73 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 4/5
Sep. 8th, 2011
The dry leaf has an intense fragrance that is more food-like than tea-like, and suggests a savory dish, but also suggests sweetness.
Upon brewing this tea, however, it is less savory than the aroma suggests: mild, sweet, mellow. Surprisingly dark color, a brownish amber, but very clear. Slightly vegetal. Subdued,...
Ding Gu Da Fang Organic from Upton Tea Imports
Style: Green Tea – Region: China83 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Sep. 8th, 2011
Dry leaf has an interesting aroma, almost like overripe fruit.
Brewed cup is a deep, dark color for a green tea, and has a savory quality and a full body. Very full-flavored, but milder aroma, which is somewhat neutral, with a weak fruity and floral quality.
Almost minty finish. I also detect tones of ginger. ...
Bilouchun Green Tea from Tea King of China (Starway)
Style: Bi Luo Chun – Region: Jiangsu, China80 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 5/5
Aug. 31st, 2011
This was the second 'bargain buy' I found in the attractive black-and-green tins that have recently cropped up in Asian markets, from the import company Starway Inc. I think this tea was even more impressive than the first: at $3.98 for 6 ounces, this tea is very cheap, although significantly pricier than the other, H...
Read Full Review
Huangshan Maofeng Green Tea from Tea King of China (Starway)
Style: Mao Feng Green Tea – Region: Huangshan, Anhui, China77 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 5/5
Aug. 29th, 2011
I can't believe the price on this tea: 6 ounces for $3. I wasn't expecting much, and I was literally blown away. This is an outstanding tea for this price. Many whole leaves, and mostly large, only slightly broken pieces. The leaf is lightly packed and takes up a lot of space. The instructions say to brew with 2-3...
Read Full Review
2011 Pre-Qingming Shi Feng Long Jing from Weng Jia Shan from Life in Teacup
Style: Dragon Well (Long Jing) – Region: Zhejiang, China87 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Aug. 22nd, 2011
Somehow this review got lost, so I'm posting it after the fact! This is my favorite dragon well I've tried yet. Most of what I've tried has either been too weak, or had objectionable qualities.
This is a powerful tea...not much leaf is needed to brew a strong cup. If you're used to brewing dragon well, even highe...
100 Monkeys from Imperial Tea Garden
Style: White Tea – Region: China50 / 100 Aroma: 5/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 2/5
Aug. 17th, 2011
After enjoying a number of teas I have sampled from Imperial Tea Garden, this tea disappointed me.
The dry leaf is somewhat interesting looking.
You need to use quite a lot of leaf, however, to bring out much flavor. But even using much more leaf than I normally would, it's still bland. I recommend brewing with...
Wuyi Organic Oolong Tea from Wegmans
Style: Oolong Tea – Region: Wuyi, Fujian, China80 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 5/5
Aug. 9th, 2011
This is the same style as Rishi's Wuyi Qi Lan, and the two teas are very similar. I suspect that this is also a Qi Lan but I am not experienced enough with Wuyi teas to say for sure.
Rishi's Qi Lan (Wuyi oolong) is sweeter, thicker, more syrupy. This tea is more dry. Both teas have a pleasant hint of smokiness. ...
Organic Green Lu'An Melon Seed from Upton Tea Imports
Style: Lu An Melon Seed – Region: Anhui, China83 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Aug. 9th, 2011
Aroma is predominantly grassy, more grassy than any other green tea--drinking it conjures up images of being out in my yard, digging around in the grass. There are some interesting floral tones. Flavor is rather muted; most teas with similar aromas are a bit more sour, astringent, and brisk, but this tea mainly leave...
Read Full Review
Sichuan Zao Bei Jian from Upton Tea Imports
Style: Zao Bei Jian – Region: Sichuan, China77 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 5/5
Jul. 30th, 2011
My first tea from Sichuan.
Surprisingly strong aroma like concord grapes, very different from the lighter muscatel aroma of Darjeeling or Bai Hao oolong. Smoky and woody tones in the aroma. Smooth, with a slightly dusty finish, and a hint of some floral nuances.
A very interesting tea and a very smooth tea. Fu...
Page 1 2 3 ... 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 of 16 pages with 381 results
