Brigadoon Tea from Adagio Teas

Breakfast teas have made a comeback in my tea drinking. My work schedule is just too busy to gongfu. Lazy style just gets over brewed. I have time for a 3pm pick me up with tea and a biscuit. I’ve heard about Adagio’s Brigadoon Tea from others, but never got it as it is sold only on February 29th, so only 1 day every 4 years. I reliably get suckered by limited edition things. Adagio kindly sent me a tin of Brigadoon early. So what’s up with Brigadoon? This tea is named after a Scottish legend of an enchanted town… Continue reading, hoot!

2023 March White2tea Club feat. Lapsun, Predawn Dark, and Harlequin

The 2023 March White2tea club arrived with a selection of oolongs. But also included are a couple of new roasted White2tea teas that are teas that are not typically roasted – Predawn Dark Roasted Shou, Hareliqun Roasted Sheng, as well as Lapsun, a puer material black made into Lapsang Souchong. All these teas come in both 8g mini balls and 200g cakes. I figure most would be more interested in reviews of those teas, which you can get outside the White2tea Club, so let’s do those! 2023 Predawn Dark Roasted Shou Puer Predawn Dark is a White2tea shou blend roasted… Continue reading, hoot!

Owl’s first tong – Bitterleaf Tea’s 2022 Body & Soul Black and Shou Puer

10 years of drinking puer and I never officially tonged, until this one tea. I’ve always enjoyed drinking something new. There are always new boutique blends coming. Each year and season is a new flavor. I also have no delusions that my puer cakes are reselling investments. But the day came – I tonged 2022 Body & Soul from Bitterleaf Teas. I just love Bitterleaf Tea’s Body & Soul blend, it is a shou and black tea blend. The 2020 Body & Soul I drank the sample and wish I got more. I have almost guzzled a whole 2021 cake… Continue reading, hoot!

2023 February White2tea Club feat. 2023 Red W

The previous White2tea club started strong with Charlie shou. 2023 February White2tea club is another strong month – 2023 Red W and a sample of 2022 Tianjian Fuzhuan. This post is two parts as I got carried away trying the Tianjian and other heicha that it became less about the club. The photo below even shows Gold Fu is coming. That said, onto Red W. 2023 Red W is a cute 50 gram cake made of old tree autumn large Yunnan leaf puer material, made into a black tea. That is a lot of terms that could be tea buzzwords,… Continue reading, hoot!

Korean Sejak and Hongcha from Durumi Tea

Today’s teas are from a new Canadian shop, Durumi Tea Company. Durumi specializes in fine Korean teas and sent me their Twin Pack. I leap at any chance to get some Korean tea, so let’s get drinking. Sejak from Durumi Tea Company This Sejak from Durumi is from Jeju Island. I rarely drink green tea, but I don’t mind Sejak – there’s something so smooth, mild, and elegant about it over other green teas. A tea bag wasn’t big enough for me to get a smell off the dry leaves – maybe vegetal? I took this one out of the… Continue reading, hoot!

2022 October White2tea Club feat. Fuding Baicha, Silver Bud Red, and Mengku Dragon Ball

It is time for the 2022 October White2tea Club! For this month – 2019 Fuding Baicha, Silver Bud Red, and 2016 Mengku Naked Dragon Ball – an interesting mix of teas. 2019 Fuding Baicha from the 2022 October White2tea Club The leaves have a coconut and flowery scent. My white tea gongfu ratio is 1 gram of leaf per 20ml of vessel size. After a rinse, the leaves smell of golden raisins and more coconut First, Second, and Third Infusion: 2019 Fuding Baicha is super bright, and rock sugar sweet. It has some gentle sips of sweet golden straw, and… Continue reading, hoot!

2022 December Old Ways Tea Club feat. Fo Shou

I was very excited to see 2022 December Old Ways Tea Club has multiple Fo Shou teas! For this month – Cousin’s Fo Shou, Friend’s Fo Shou, and 2022 Tongmu Old Tree Charcoal Roast Black. Old Ways Tea read my mind as I’ve been craving the big honking leaves of Fo Shou (aka, Buddha Hand) and I’m always up for more hongcha. Cousin’s Fo Shou For both Fo Shous, I used a 90ml tea vessel, so a very strong 1g to 12ml ratio or so. Cousin’s Fo Shou leaves are fragrant, like a bag of juicy fat raisins. First, Second,… Continue reading, hoot!

2022 September White2tea Club feat. Lapsang Souchong

Five Lapsang Souchongs to drink for the 2022 September White2tea Club – I hope you like hongcha! All these teas can be purchased at White2tea, so this is a sample haul of the newest crop. White2tea has quite a selection of Lapsang Souchong giving a good representation of what is a good Lapsang Souchong. So much of the typically available Lapsang is a tire-fire bitter ashy nightmare. For all teas, I used close to the instructions, so around 1 gram of leaf per 17ml of boiling water, no rinse. Traditional Lapsang Souchong from the September White2tea Club The leaves smell… Continue reading, hoot!

Organic Black Tea Bags from Young Mountain Tea

Today I have some more Young Mountain Tea. I’ve encountered them often at my local tea festivals and enjoyed the quality of their tea. A while back, I reviewed their Kumaon White, which is an excellent white tea that I have squirreled away to age. I also have some of their black teas in my stash. Young Mountain Tea has come out with a line of organic tea bags for easy drinking. I dislike the waste of teabags, however, Young Mountain Tea packages everything in cardboard and the packets and teabag are made out of biodegradable sugarcane. I’m trying their… Continue reading, hoot!

Van Tien Black from Atlas Tea Club Vietnam Box

I’m back with more teas from around the world by Atlas Tea Club! This tea club sends you teas from a different country each month. I’ve previously reviewed some other Atlas Tea Club boxes, pleased with the countries being offered. Today, a tea from the Vietnam box – Van Tien Black. The leaves smell like an apple orchard and forest floor – it’s very fruity, deep, and woody. I went with a gongfu steeping style to take full advantage of Van Tien Black. My steeping ratio is 1 gram of leaf per 15ml of water, with quick infusions of boiling… Continue reading, hoot!