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Alex Zorach

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

Reviews of Teas & Herbal Teas from Yunnan, China

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Picture of Black Pearl

Black Pearl from Mandala Tea

Style: Yunnan Red – Region: Yunnan, China

91 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Sep. 5th, 2013

Top notch! A rich, complex black tea with a classic Yunnan character, yet a unique signature of its own. Great for multiple infusions, and exhibits different characteristics in each cup.

Mandala recommended 2-4 pearls; it looks like 3 pearls is about a typical serving that I'd use for a cup of tea, so that was spo...

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Picture of Mengku Arbor Tree Ripened Puerh Cake Tea ZhenMu LingYa 2007

Mengku Arbor Tree Ripened Puerh Cake Tea ZhenMu LingYa 2007 from TeaVivre

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

70 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 3/5
Sep. 3rd, 2013

A strange tea, with a lot going on.

Aroma of the dry cake is unimpressive, even slightly unpleasant, but when I brew it, it becomes much better tasting. It looks attractive at least, with a lot of golden tips.

Besides the dusty tones reminiscent of a damp basement (which are most evident before actually sipping ...

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Picture of Ancient Gan Tong Tea

Ancient Gan Tong Tea from Wild Tea Qi

Style: Green Tea – Region: Yunnan, China

94 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
Jun. 7th, 2013

A tea that really grew on me. At first I didn't know what to make of it, but after drinking a few cups I found myself loving it.

Dry leaf, mildly aromatic but subdued, becomes intensely aromatic when wet. But I find the resulting cup is again more subdued. Although the leaf is green, the brewed cup is dark in col...

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Picture of Yunnan Breakfast

Yunnan Breakfast from Rishi Tea

Style: Yunnan Red – Region: Yunnan, China

73 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 3/5
Jun. 7th, 2013

I was expecting this tea, on the basis of its name, to be basically the same tea as Rishi's China Breakfast, as that tea also comes from Yunnan province. I don't know if it is a different tea, if it was simply a different batch that I tried, or if something about steeping it in a tea bag changed the character, but it ...

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Picture of Fengqing Golden Buds Ripened Pu-erh Cake Tea 2005

Fengqing Golden Buds Ripened Pu-erh Cake Tea 2005 from TeaVivre

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

47 / 100 Aroma: 4/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 2/5
May. 21st, 2013

I've had shu (ripened) Pu-erh of this age that I thought was exquisite, like the 2005 Jing Mai Autumnal I got from Tao of Tea, so I know it exists, but this cake didn't do it for me. I had a generous amount of samples, enough to experiment a bit with brewing, but I still didn't like it. The dry leaf has an aroma typi...

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Picture of Fengqing Paddy Flavor Raw Pu-erh Cake Tea 2006

Fengqing Paddy Flavor Raw Pu-erh Cake Tea 2006 from TeaVivre

Style: Raw (Sheng) Pu-erh – Region: Fengqing, Yunnan, China

83 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
Apr. 16th, 2013

I found this tea to be a very enjoyable Pu-erh, typical for its age and unusual only in the degree to which it produced a tingling and numbing sensation on the palate.

I received a sample which was a mostly-whole piece broken off a Pu-erh cake. The leaves were largely intact and it was very easy to break apart with...

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Picture of Yun Nan Gold

Yun Nan Gold from Two Hills Tea

Style: Yunnan Gold – Region: Yunnan, China

53 / 100 Aroma: 5/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 3/5
Apr. 8th, 2013

Purchased at the Newark Natural Foods coop in Newark, Delaware. I suspect that this may not have been very fresh.

Aroma is peppery and slightly fruity. Smooth flavor, but mild. Flavor slightly sour. Overall character a lot more like shu (ripened) Pu-erh than like other Yunnan gold teas I've sampled. Upon drinki...

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Picture of Ancient Baked Heart Tea

Ancient Baked Heart Tea from Wild Tea Qi

Style: Green Tea – Region: Dali, Yunnan, China

91 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
Mar. 21st, 2013

I'm not hugely experienced with Yunnan green teas, but I tend to find them very interesting, and this one was no exception. This tea really amazed me with its ability to deliver infusion after infusion...the leaves seem to hold so much flavor!

Dry leaf is a mix of dark golden green and pale whitish leaves, and has ...

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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 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 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 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 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 Organic Yunnan Select Dao Ming

Organic Yunnan Select Dao Ming from Upton Tea Imports

Style: Yunnan Red – Region: Yunnan, China

77 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 5/5
Apr. 8th, 2012

Complex and smooth, a bit on the weaker side though. Dry leaf has a strong aroma, characteristic of Yunnan red teas.

Aroma is complex. Moderately smoky, resembling tobacco smoke and smoky green teas (like gunpowder) more than most smoky black teas, also moderately fruity, almost like a Keemun. Flavor unusually sm...

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Picture of Chinese Breakfast™ - Yunnan Black Tea

Chinese Breakfast™ - Yunnan Black Tea from Numi Organic Tea

Style: Yunnan Red – Region: Yunnan, China

67 / 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 ...

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Picture of Yunnan Silvertip Green Tea

Yunnan Silvertip Green Tea from Upton Tea Imports

Style: Green Tea – Region: Yunnan, China

24 / 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...

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Picture of Yunnan Gold (Golden Yunnan)

Yunnan Gold (Golden Yunnan) from Adagio Teas

Style: Yunnan Gold – Region: Yunnan, China

67 / 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...

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Picture of Ying Ming Yunnan

Ying Ming Yunnan from Imperial Tea Garden

Style: Yunnan Red – Region: Yunnan, China

77 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 5/5
Jul. 11th, 2011

This is a classic, high-quality Yunnan red. Dry leaf contains some golden tips, more than the picture on the website suggests.

Rich, malty, and with the characteristic aroma of Yunnan black teas. Fruity tones. Very full-bodied and rich, but smooth. Pleasing and not too tannic, much smoother than typical among te...

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Picture of Frosty Spring Yunnan Roast Green

Frosty Spring Yunnan Roast Green from Life in Teacup

Style: Green Tea – Region: Yunnan, China

73 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 4/5
Mar. 13th, 2011

This is an interesting tea. I tried brewing two different ways: with longer, and shorter infusions. Both ways, it brews a clear, pale green cup.

With a 3-minute infusion, the cup had a toasty aroma, with hints of cooked vegetables. Very clean flavor, but with an extremely pleasing, mild bitterness in the aftertas...

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Picture of Jing Mai Moonlight White

Jing Mai Moonlight White from Life in Teacup

Style: Moonlight White – Region: Lancang, Yunnan, China

80 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 5/5
Feb. 23rd, 2011

This is a strange tea that requires proper brewing if you want to appreciate it. It's not even remotely like any other white tea I've ever tried.

I received a generous amount of sample of this tea from Life in Teacup. I experimented brewing three different ways, using many infusions, starting at 1-minute and gett...

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Picture of Yunnan Golden Bud

Yunnan Golden Bud from Life in Teacup

Style: Yunnan Gold – Region: Yunnan, China

70 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 3/5
Feb. 15th, 2011

The initial aroma is malty and deep, typical for a Yunnan gold, but with more fruity qualities, especially of dried fruit. Upon drinking the cup, the aroma becomes more fruity and vegetal, sharing some of the wine-like qualities of a Keemun with some of the vegetal qualities of some Darjeeling, even Darjeeling oolong ...

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Picture of Ancient Shu Pu-erh Tuo Cha

Ancient Shu Pu-erh Tuo Cha from Rishi Tea

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

57 / 100 Aroma: 5/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 4/5
Jan. 2nd, 2011

I'm not crazy about Shu Pu-erh; this one was better than average though. The single-serving size of these tuo cha's is very convenient.

Brews a blackish brown, like black coffee. Aroma is earthy, but with more nuance that I'm used to in shu Pu-erh. There's a creamy quality and a hint of a savory, chicken-soup lik...

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Picture of Ancient Golden Yunnan

Ancient Golden Yunnan from Rishi Tea

Style: Yunnan Gold – Region: Yunnan, China

80 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Nov. 5th, 2010

The dry leaf has an incredibly fruity aroma, like apricot.

This is a strong black tea with a very pleasing aroma and flavor. It is malty like an Assam, but with less edge. Unfortunately, there's only a hint of the pleasing fruity quality that I noticed in the dry leaf. Less bitter than you'd expect, and not very ...

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Picture of China Pu-Erh Standard

China Pu-Erh Standard from Upton Tea Imports

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

63 / 100 Aroma: 6/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 4/5
Jun. 30th, 2010

I don't particularly like black (ripe) pu-erh, but this is probably the one I've liked most, among loose varieties. It has a fresher taste, with more bite. There are some herbaceous tones in the aroma, although the dominant character is still dust and earth. Much more flavorful than other loose black pu-erh I've tri...

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Picture of Large Leaf from Old Trees Pu-erh

Large Leaf from Old Trees Pu-erh from Chicago Tea Garden

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

77 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 5/5
Jun. 4th, 2010

I really enjoyed this tea.

I tried brewing this in two different ways...one, as recommended, more leaf, shorter steeping times. The second, using less leaf, but longer steeps. I had much better results with this second method using longer steeping times (I recommend starting with 2-3 minutes and going from there)....

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