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Alex Zorach

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

Reviews of Teas & Herbal Teas from Anhui, China

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Picture of Premium Qimen Black Tea of Huangshan

Premium Qimen Black Tea of Huangshan from Yunnan Sourcing

Style: Keemun Mao Feng – Region: Huangshan, Anhui, China

92 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
Dec. 22nd, 2020

I continue to branch out into black teas from provinces other than Yunnan, sold by Yunnan Sourcing. This was a pleasant surprise: an exceptionally smooth tea, easy to brew and easy to drink, among the sweetest Keemuns I've tried.

The dry leaf is very fine and curly, so much it is shaped more like Bi Luo Chun than li...

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Picture of Hao Ya A

Hao Ya A from Harney and Sons

Style: Keemun Hao Ya A – Region: Anhui, China

98 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
Apr. 22nd, 2016

I have had a lot of Keemun, but never before sampled Hao Ya A. The overall experience of drinking this tea was somewhat different from what I expected. It's similar, but recognizably different from the Hao Ya B, and I'm not convinced that I like it better. I like both, and this one is not that much more expensive (s...

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Picture of Keemun Mao Feng

Keemun Mao Feng from Harney and Sons

Style: Keemun Mao Feng – Region: Qimen, Anhui, China

91 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
Apr. 12th, 2016

I loved this tea. It reminded me a lot of the Spring Keemun from Andrews & Dunham, both in the smell and taste, and the appearance of the leaf.

Mild but pleasant smell to the dry leaf, which looks very curly in shape, little snail-like curls a lot like bi luo chun. Smells sweeter than other Keemun Mao Feng, but st...

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Keemun Panda #1 Tea from Metropolitan Tea Company

Style: Keemun – Region: Anhui, China

80 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Jul. 18th, 2015

Served at Notting Hill coffee shop in Lewes, DE.

Very aromatic loose leaf, slightly smoky, typical for a Keemun of good quality.

Brews a rich, mellow cup with a rounded character and strong warming quality. Probably not the best tea for a hot summer day like today, but I was in the mood for it and it was excellen...

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English Breakfast from Bare Tea

Style: English Breakfast – Region: Anhui, China

83 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 4/5
Nov. 11th, 2013

Initially sampled at the Philadelphia Coffee and Tea Festival, but I'm glad I sampled this on my own because I liked it even more when I brewed it myself. An unusual Keemun with both cooling and warming qualities. Strong enough to be a breakfast tea, but stands out among both other English Breakfasts and other Keemun...

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Picture of Keemun Full Leaf Tea

Keemun Full Leaf Tea from Foojoy

Style: Keemun – Region: Anhui, China

83 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
Aug. 23rd, 2013

An inexpensive Keemun of very good quality for its price. Very smooth and mellow, but rich. Classic Keemun flavor and aroma: winey and slightly smoky.

Dry leaf is fine and pretty broken, with a mild but very pleasing aroma.

Upon brewing I notice a very gentle smokiness, and the characteristic wine-like quality ...

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Picture of Liu An Gua Pian Green Tea

Liu An Gua Pian Green Tea from TeaVivre

Style: Lu An Melon Seed – Region: Xiuning, Anhui, China

91 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Jun. 3rd, 2013

I'm starting to think I really like this type of green tea. The first sample of it, from Upton, I liked very much, and this one I like even better.

The dry leaf has a strong and very pleasant aroma, one I'd describe as earthy and herbaceous, and suggestive of sweetness.

This has a richer and bolder flavor than m...

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Picture of Nonpareil Te Gong Huang Shan Mao Feng Green Tea

Nonpareil Te Gong Huang Shan Mao Feng Green Tea from TeaVivre

Style: Mao Feng Green Tea – Region: Huangshan, Anhui, China

70 / 100 Aroma: 6/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 3/5
May. 14th, 2013

Very smooth, but not aromatic enough for me when brewed.

As usual with TeaVivre, the dry leaf is intensely aromatic, suggesting sweet and umami flavors. The leaf looks to consist exclusively of tips, with two very tiny leaves attached to a bud, the leaves hardly bigger than than the bud itself. Upon brewing though...

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Picture of Dong Ding Oolong Tea

Dong Ding Oolong Tea from Arbor Teas

Style: Oolong Tea – Region: Anhui, China

80 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 3/5
Apr. 7th, 2013

Very good, but expensive for what it is.

A medium-roast, woody Dong Ding; dry leaf is quite aromatic. The initial smell isn't that impressive, but if you really stick your nose in it, it smells very good: a rich, nutty aroma. I tend to prefer the modern, greener Dong Ding oolongs; even Arbor Teas' Jade oolong is a...

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Picture of Oriental Beauty Oolong Tea

Oriental Beauty Oolong Tea from Arbor Teas

Style: Oriental Beauty – Region: Anhui, China

50 / 100 Aroma: 5/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 2/5
Mar. 18th, 2013

I think Arbor Teas' description of this tea is spot-on: Velvety-smooth and sweet, almost suggestive of marmalade. I would not have guessed that this example is not from Taiwan--it tasted very similar to the Taiwanese Oriental Beauty oolongs.

Dry leaf has little aroma.

Brews a rich, dark colored cup, very smooth ...

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Picture of Organic Superfine Keemun Fragrant Black Tea

Organic Superfine Keemun Fragrant Black Tea from TeaVivre

Style: Keemun – Region: Huangshan, Anhui, China

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

I find it interesting how different people I have given this tea to have perceived it differently. I thought it a top-notch tea, but I also found that it doesn't have as much of a universal appeal as some high-quality teas.

Dry leaf is pleasingly aromatic, and shares a lot of qualities in common with top-quality bl...

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Picture of Keemun Black Tea

Keemun Black Tea from Arbor Teas

Style: Keemun – Region: Qimen, Anhui, China

67 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 4/5
Jan. 14th, 2013

Keemun can be really diverse, so I never know exactly what to expect when trying it. This one really surprised me--while being recognizable as Keemun.

A very complex, organic-tasting Keemun (and I mean organic in the sense that it tastes natural and multifaceted, not overly refined or simplified).

The dry leaf c...

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Picture of Bao Zhong Oolong Tea

Bao Zhong Oolong Tea from Arbor Teas

Style: Pouchong Tea – Region: Anhui, China

83 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Jan. 11th, 2013

Long, wiry leaf is dark in color for a pouchong / Bao Zhong.

Upon brewing, produces an intensely aromatic cup! Aroma floral, honey-like, and very complex. Buttery smooth yet with depth and richness. Full-bodied yet without much astringency.

I brewed a second cup, and while it was still quite flavorful and full...

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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 Huang Shan Mao Feng Green Tea

Huang Shan Mao Feng Green Tea from TeaVivre

Style: Mao Feng Green Tea – Region: Huangshan, Anhui, China

87 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
Apr. 30th, 2012

Short summary: very smooth, extremely pleasing flavor, not the strongest aroma, and picky on brewing temperature. Exceptionally smooth for this price.

Dry leaf is intensely aromatic, and packed very loosely. A lot of leaf (by volume) is needed to produce a normal-strength cup.

I found this tea was picky about b...

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Picture of Premium Keemun Hao Ya Black Tea

Premium Keemun Hao Ya Black Tea from TeaVivre

Style: Keemun Hao Ya B – Region: Qimen, Anhui, China

70 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 4/5
Apr. 24th, 2012

I was surprised to find that I strongly preferred the slightly less expensive Keemun Grade 1 from TeaVivre to this offering. While this was a very good tea, it did not wow me as being outstanding, or even higher quality than a typical Keemun. It was just different. I was surprised at the strength of the cup, the dar...

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Picture of Keemun Black Tea – Grade 1

Keemun Black Tea – Grade 1 from TeaVivre

Style: Keemun – Region: Qimen, Anhui, China

94 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
Apr. 19th, 2012

I liked this tea right from the start, but the more I drank this tea, the more it has grown on me. Very full-bodied, intense flavor, smooth. Fruity, with a fair amount of smokiness. Relatively little leaf is needed for a bold-flavored cup. Surprisingly, I like this a lot better than the Keemun Hao Ya from the same ...

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Picture of Keemun Mao Feng Black Tea

Keemun Mao Feng Black Tea from Life in Teacup

Style: Keemun Mao Feng – Region: Qimen, Anhui, China

87 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
Apr. 17th, 2012

Dry leaf is strongly aromatic, with a slight smokiness and a strong dried fruit quality. Surprisingly little leaf is needed to brew a flavorful cup. I find it hard to gauge the amount of leaf necessary, because the thin, wiry leaf occupies a lot of space, but also expands greatly upon brewing.

The brewed cup has a...

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Picture of Chun Mei Green Tea (Zhen Mei)

Chun Mei Green Tea (Zhen Mei) from TeaVivre

Style: Chun Mee – Region: Huangshan, Anhui, China

83 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 5/5
Apr. 15th, 2012

This Chun Mee had a subtlety and sweetness that I have never encountered in this type of tea. Dry leaf is very aromatic, typical of this style of tea but more suggesting of sweetness. Like all the teas I received from Teavivre, it smelled extremely fresh.

Compared to other chun mee I've had, this one was sweeter, ...

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Picture of Huang Shan Mao Feng

Huang Shan Mao Feng from Teaspring

Style: Mao Feng Green Tea – Region: Huangshan, Anhui, China

94 / 100 Aroma: 10/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Mar. 12th, 2012

This tea was served to me, Gong Fu style, by Evan. Dry leaf was extremely aromatic.

I found it to be simultaneously strong and refined. The other mao feng green teas I've tried have either been relatively coarser-tasting, with more astringency, or smooth but too weak. This was a powerful tea with a bold flavor, b...

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Picture of Huangshan Maofeng Green Tea

Huangshan Maofeng Green Tea from Tea King of China (Starway)

Style: Mao Feng Green Tea – Region: Huangshan, Anhui, China

77 / 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...

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Picture of Organic Green Lu'An Melon Seed

Organic Green Lu'An Melon Seed from Upton Tea Imports

Style: Lu An Melon Seed – Region: Anhui, China

83 / 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...

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Picture of Huang Shan Yun Wu (Yellow Mountain Cloud)

Huang Shan Yun Wu (Yellow Mountain Cloud) from Life in Teacup

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

83 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
Mar. 3rd, 2011

Another sample from Life in Teacup, this is my kind of tea: a classic Chinese pan-fired green tea wild a bold flavor. This tea looks typical at first, but as I started experimenting with brewing it, I found it had a lot of personality.

After a few trials, I found that I achieved the best results for my tastes by us...

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Picture of Huo Shan Yellow Buds

Huo Shan Yellow Buds from Upton Tea Imports

Style: Huangya – Region: Huoshan, Anhui, China

63 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 2/5 Value: 2/5
Mar. 23rd, 2010

This is the first yellow tea I've sampled and in many respects it resembles a green tea.

The aroma is fairly rich; there are some of the grassy tones that characterize many green teas, but these are weak and in the background. A bit peppery like Upton describes, and also a bit perfumey. Subtle, but with a lot of d...

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Picture of Dragon Well (Anhui)

Dragon Well (Anhui) from Rishi Tea

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

73 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 3/5
Dec. 17th, 2009

This was a very gentle green tea. Delicate aroma with a hint of toastiness; less grassiness than other dragonwells I've tried. This particular tea is extremely smooth and low in both bitterness and astringency even when I brewed it with water hotter than recommended...I also found it can be brewed much longer than Ri...

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