A distinctly raisin-like aroma and flavor. I like it! No bitterness I can notice. Interestingly, this steeped very quickly for a whole leaf tea. Even as I poured the water (brewed at 200 °F), the water became a deep brown with gold tints. After just one minute I went ahead and removed the sachet, as I felt like it would have plenty of flavor already and I didn't want to over brew it.

Later, I brewed a second cup. I accidentally let it steep longer than intended (5 minutes) but it still didn't come out bitter. So it's nice that it appears to be a fairly forgiving tea, preparation wise.

Very pleasant tea. I would think this one would be a universal pleaser, if not necessarily everyone's favorite. Like some of the Darjeeling teas, I could see this one being successfully served to a group of people in the south (though I haven't tried this one iced yet). I think they'd find it both familiar and new, both in pleasant ways.

A bit pricey, but good and therefore worth it.

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Comments:

Alex Zorach wrote: on August 25th, 2014

Yay, I'm so excited that I was able to discover more than one black tea that you enjoyed!

Most of the mainstream black teas on the market are on the strong/harsh side, but when you start getting into these higher-grade teas, there are many smoother ones.

My guess, based on reading your reviews, is that you wouldn't like the lower-grade Dian Hong / Yunnan black teas, but that you might like many of these higher grade Yunnan gold teas, the ones made from more tips and with more intact leaves. Some teas sold as "Yunnan gold" though, have a mix of golden tip with darker, more mature leaves that have a more bitter flavor. The "Pure gold" stuff made of mostly tip is more expensive but nearly always has less bitterness.

Brytta Sóþword wrote: on August 25th, 2014

Thanks for the heads up, and for the sample of tea! Your advice makes sense. It's really interesting learning about the different varieties of tea, their histories, and their typical flavors. It makes the whole process of trying new teas more adventurous, more fun, and more successful at finding new favorites. I think one of the local shops had Adagio's Yunnan Gold. If I'm remembering that correctly, I'll have to try it there next time.

Thanks again!

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