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Alex Zorach

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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 Lungching Green Tea

Lungching Green Tea from Foojoy

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

67 / 100 Aroma: 6/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 5/5
Dec. 8th, 2009

While this pales in comparison to loose dragon well teas that I've tried, it's definitely true to the style. The low price and simple packaging of the teabags are deceptive...this tea retains a lot of complexity. It brews a rich golden color and is quite aromatic. If you let it brew a long time, it acquires some ast...

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Picture of Chinese Oolong

Chinese Oolong from Bigelow Tea

Style: Oolong Tea – Region: China

40 / 100 Aroma: 4/10 Flavor: 2/5 Value: 2/5
Dec. 8th, 2009

A darker oolong, somewhat nondescript. No objectionable qualities but overall weak and not very interesting. Not much of the complexity that I expect. I think this one lags behind the quality of Bigelow's flavored teas.

In tea bags of a similar price range, I think Ten Ren offers better oolongs, and they have sev...

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Picture of Dragon Pearl Jasmine

Dragon Pearl Jasmine from Harney and Sons

Style: Jasmine Pearls – Region: Fujian, China

63 / 100 Aroma: 6/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 3/5
Nov. 28th, 2009

Complex aroma, less floral than most Jasmines and than I had expected. I liked this tea but I'm not sure I perceived it the same way it is described...it tasted a little bit peppery to me...the base tea reminded me somewhat of a white peony and somewhat of a pouchong. This tea is gentle if you brew it briefly but can...

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Picture of White Peony (Bai Mu Dan)

White Peony (Bai Mu Dan) from Two Leaves and a Bud

Style: White Peony Tea – Region: Fujian, China

70 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 3/5
Nov. 28th, 2009

A rich, full-bodied tea, brews a dark orange color and is fairly bitter. The aroma is fairly complex. There are some pleasant vegetal tones too. Pleasant aftertaste too.

I really like this tea; it's one of the few white peony teas that I've tried that has been bold and full-bodied enough for me. It's almost a li...

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Picture of China Breakfast

China Breakfast from Rishi Tea

Style: Yunnan Red – Region: Yunnan, China

70 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 3/5
Nov. 3rd, 2009

Wow. I love the aroma of this tea...it is much more vegetal than most black teas, clean and fresh, and yet warm too. Smooth and yet relatively full-bodied, but thin relative to some breakfast teas. No astringency.

I do notice the peppery tones characteristic of a dian hong. The aroma is pleasingly complex. Ther...

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Picture of Dancong Aria

Dancong Aria from Adagio Teas

Style: Dancong Oolong – Region: China

67 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 3/5
Oct. 27th, 2009

Aroma very complex with a lot of things going on. The dark leaves surprisingly brew a light amber liquor that is very clear. Initially a strong fruity aroma like dried apricot, some vegetal tones. Upon drinking, a bit peppery. Very smooth and clean. No bitterness, rather sweet, but with some astringency. A bit th...

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Picture of China Pu-Erh Leaf

China Pu-Erh Leaf from Upton Tea Imports

Style: Pu-erh Tea – Region: Yunnan, China

53 / 100 Aroma: 5/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 4/5
Oct. 20th, 2009

This is not my favorite loose-leaf ripened pu-erh. It's palatable and noticeably better than random ones I've sampled. The aroma is dusty, not terribly rich or complex. Pretty smooth flavor. Enjoyable. I prefer ZH26.

And of course, I really strongly prefer Sheng Pu-erh. I do not think Pu-erh is Upton's strong ...

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Picture of Pu-erh Loose Jia Ji

Pu-erh Loose Jia Ji from Upton Tea Imports

Style: Pu-erh Tea – Region: China

47 / 100 Aroma: 4/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 2/5
Oct. 20th, 2009

Perhaps I'm not a "discerning pu-erh enthusiast" but I failed to appreciate this one any more than Upton's basic loose pu-erh, and it's about twice the price. The aroma is somehow lighter and less rich and earthy. It does have a clean aftertaste as described, but it's less intensely aromatic. I prefer ZH26 and altho...

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Picture of Organic Pu-Erh

Organic Pu-Erh from Upton Tea Imports

Style: Pu-erh Tea – Region: China

57 / 100 Aroma: 5/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 3/5
Oct. 20th, 2009

I find this pu-erh to have a richer and warmer earthy aroma as compared to both ZH20 and ZH65. Very smooth but with some nice complexity. While you can make multiple infusions with this tea, later infusions lose some of the complexity...I usually make only one very long infusion.

In the end though? I don't really...

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Picture of Special Grade Shou Mei White Tea

Special Grade Shou Mei White Tea from Upton Tea Imports

Style: Shou Mei White Tea – Region: China

77 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 3/5
Oct. 14th, 2009

Deep reddish brown color, and very clear. More delicate than typical for a Shou Mei, but still fairly rich and full. Very smooth flavor; no bitterness, and a clean, cool aftertaste.

Unlike Upton's other Shou Mei's for which I found the brewing instructions to be right on, this one I like to brew differently. I br...

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Picture of First Grade Shou Mei White Tea

First Grade Shou Mei White Tea from Upton Tea Imports

Style: Shou Mei White Tea – Region: Fujian, China

60 / 100 Aroma: 6/10 Flavor: 2/5 Value: 4/5
Oct. 14th, 2009

Brownish leaves with some silvery and green mixed in. Light aroma of fall leaves and honey with some vegetal tones. Some astringency and a noticeably unpleasant sourness, although no bitterness.

Of Upton's 3 Shou Mei teas of similar price (see ZW62, ZW23), this is the one I like least. This one is much more simil...

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Picture of Shou Mei Classic

Shou Mei Classic from Upton Tea Imports

Style: Shou Mei White Tea – Region: Fujian, China

80 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 5/5
Oct. 14th, 2009

Of Upton three Shou Mei's of similar price, this is my favorite. Leaves greener as Shou Mei goes. Aroma is fresh, clean and vegetal, perhaps even a bit grassy. Very rich aroma; this is the most aromatic of any Shou Mei that I've sampled. Less sweet than most white teas. My only complaint is a fair amount of astrin...

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Picture of Season's Pick Shou Mei

Season's Pick Shou Mei from Upton Tea Imports

Style: Shou Mei White Tea – Region: Fujian, China

73 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 5/5
Oct. 13th, 2009

This is one of the naturally sweetest teas I have ever tried, with an aroma of cinnamon, honey, caramel, and autumn leaves. Rich, warm, and very gentle. Absolutely no bitterness whatsoever...just a hint of astringency in the aftertaste.

This is one of 3 of Upton's Shou Mei teas of very similar price and I want to ...

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Picture of Asian Jasmine 100% White Tea

Asian Jasmine 100% White Tea from Republic of Tea

Style: Jasmine Tea – Region: Fujian, China

47 / 100 Aroma: 3/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 4/5
Oct. 5th, 2009

This is a very simple tea...the aroma is un-jasmine-like...more fruity. The flavor is weak but very smooth and there is some body to this tea. Pleasant but unremarkable. Reasonably priced.

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Picture of Organic Spring Jasmine

Organic Spring Jasmine from Mighty Leaf Tea

Style: Jasmine Tea – Region: China

43 / 100 Aroma: 5/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 1/5
Oct. 4th, 2009

An average Jasmine green tea. Drinkable, but very run-of-the-mill and somewhat generic tasting.

The price-tag is astronomical. I recommend avoiding this one; you can buy better Jasmine teas from any number of sources, even in teabags. Also, I think Mighty Leaf's other offerings are much better.

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Picture of White Orchard

White Orchard from Mighty Leaf Tea

Style: Miscellaneous Blend – Region: China

57 / 100 Aroma: 6/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 2/5
Oct. 4th, 2009

The aroma is mild and is mostly of fruit. There is a hint of bitterness, but the tea aroma is overshadowed by the fruit. Overall, this tea is very similar to the "Green Tea Tropical" by Mighty Leaf. This tea tastes slightly more bitter to me and has slightly more tea and less fruit in the aroma, so I prefer it.

W...

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Picture of Tamayokucha

Tamayokucha from Two Leaves and a Bud

Style: Tamaryokucha (Guricha) – Region: China

50 / 100 Aroma: 5/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 2/5
Oct. 4th, 2009

This is the only example of guricha or tamaryokucha that I've tried, so I have no idea how typical it is. It seemed a lot more like gyokuro than any other type of green tea.

I find this tea painstakingly difficult to brew in a way I like. Brewing with a very low temperature is essential...otherwise this tea acquir...

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Picture of Jasmine Petal

Jasmine Petal from Two Leaves and a Bud

Style: Jasmine Tea – Region: China

67 / 100 Aroma: 6/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Oct. 2nd, 2009

Mellow and much less floral than most Jasmines; the tea dominates the aroma. There is little bitterness, almost no astringency, and and a hint of sweetness.

This tea holds up very well to multiple infusions: the second cup was just as flavorful as the first, and a third was still good. There's almost no Jasmine le...

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Picture of Oolong Se Chung

Oolong Se Chung from Upton Tea Imports

Style: Se Chung Oolong – Region: China

93 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
Sep. 21st, 2009

This is my favorite offering from Upton Tea. The whole, light green leaves are tightly curled and become dark green and unfurl a great deal upon brewing.

The brewed tea is light golden green like many greener oolongs. The complex aroma has some of the cripser herbal qualities of green teas, and some sharper tones,...

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Picture of Wuyi Oolong

Wuyi Oolong from Rishi Tea

Style: Oolong Tea – Region: Wuyi, Fujian, China

80 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 5/5
Sep. 21st, 2009

Darker among oolongs, but very mellow. The aroma is very warm, rich, and complex, with some roast, a hint of smokiness, and some tones of grain. It actually smells a bit like marijuana, and a bit like a fresh autumn day. I rather like the aroma and I can say I am constantly discovering new facets of it.

This tea ...

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Picture of Chun Mee Dao Ming

Chun Mee Dao Ming from Upton Tea Imports

Style: Chun Mee – Region: China

88 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 5/5
Sep. 21st, 2009

I was really sad to see this one go; it was my favorite example of a chun mee. Although Upton's Chun Mee moon palace was close, I preferred this one.

This is an outstanding green tea at a very reasonable price, and it's organic to boot! It is unusually strong, bitter, and complex for a chun mee tea, and my favorit...

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Picture of Rose Green Tea Organic

Rose Green Tea Organic from Upton Tea Imports

Style: Rose Green Tea – Region: China

93 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
Sep. 21st, 2009

Whereas people often think of roses as delicate and gentle, this is a very bold tea. The aroma is fruity, dark, and rich, and less floral than one would expect. The flavor is sharp and tangy, much more bitter than the fruity aroma might suggest. This is an outstanding tea, and is available at a very reasonable price...

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Picture of White Tea

White Tea from Ten Ren Tea

Style: White Tea – Region: Fujian, China

63 / 100 Aroma: 5/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 5/5
Sep. 19th, 2009

Very dark for a white tea, but not bad for a teabag. This tea brews a rich brown color and has a predominately earthy aroma, but it's also clean and crisp tasting. There's a moderate amount of astringency and some bitterness.

Atypical for a white tea, and not terribly complex, but I found it quite enjoyable.

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Picture of China Black Tea

China Black Tea from Foojoy

Style: Black Tea – Region: China

60 / 100 Aroma: 5/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 4/5
Sep. 14th, 2009

Given that this was a teabag tea, made out of fannings, and the individual teabags weren't even sealed in paper, this tea was remarkably fresh and complex.

The tea brews a dark reddish brown. The flavor is mellow and the aroma earthy; it reminds me a lot of a keemun. There's a little bitterness and some astringenc...

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Picture of Organic China Congou Hong Tao #1

Organic China Congou Hong Tao #1 from Upton Tea Imports

Style: Keemun – Region: China

73 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 4/5
Sep. 4th, 2009

Interesting and atypical among black teas: more mellow and earthy. The leaves have an aroma very similar to the brewed tea.

When brewed as instructed, the tea is is a dark brown with a slight greenish hue, and less opaque than some black teas. I like to brew it with slightly more leaves than recommended, which yie...

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