Tag: black tea

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2019 Builders Black Bamboo Roasted Tea from White2Tea

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The Owls and I were in the mood for a hearty black tea, so today let’s have White2tea’s 2019 Builders. The 2019 Builders is a Yunnan sundried black tea smashed into bamboo then hand roasted over a fire. I am expecting a strong session, similar to a UK Builders Tea. My curiosity about the combo of Yunnan black tea in bamboo got me to purchase a sample with one of my White2Tea orders. Leaf and Steeping Method The scent of the dry leaves is sweet, fruity, and tannic. Above is a 23 gram chunk, with 2 grams of crumbs to… Continue reading, hoot!

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2019 September White2Tea Club

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White2Tea club of September 2019 had an assortment of different teas – two black teas, a white tea, and an oolong processed into a black tea. Red Milan is available for purchase at White2Tea, whereas the rest are tea club exclusive. Red Milan Milan varietal dancongs seem a favorite of White2tea. This Red Milan, in particular, is a modern version from Guangdong processed as a black tea. Red Milan’s leaves are aromatic and smell like a grape juice box. I treated Red Milan as an oolong as I didn’t read up on the tea until I was editing my review.… Continue reading, hoot!

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2019 July White2Tea Club feat. Lapsang Souchong Selection

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It is Hongcha day! July’s White2Tea club was a collection of new lapsang souchongs. Lapsang Souchong comes in many models, not just smokey tire fire. Some of these black teas are for sale on White2Tea’s site without having to be in the club. Others, like the Guizhou Hongcha, are exclusive to the monthly tea club. For my own sanity, I’m just drinking the Lapsang Souchongs today – Traditional Lapsang, Herby Lapsang, Pine Sap Lapsang, Smoked Lapsang, and Fruit Bomb Lapsang. With each tea, I used 1 gram of tea per 15ml of vessel size, brewed gongfu style in boiling water.… Continue reading, hoot!

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2019 WTCCCTV Black Tea from White2tea

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Fall is here and it is perfect black tea drinking weather! Today I’ll be checking out White2Tea’s 2019 WTCCCTV black tea cake sample I purchased with my last White2Tea order. 2019 WTCCCTV is a puer varietal large leaf tea, sun-dried to black tea, then compressed into 200 gram cakes. Leaf and Steeping Method The black tea has a sweet, malty, and fruity scent. With a rinse, the leaf smells like grapes. I used 1 gram of leaf per 15ml of vessel size, gongfu steeped in boiling water. Tasting of White2Tea’s 2019 WTCCCTV Black Tea First and Second Infusion: 2019 WTCCCTV… Continue reading, hoot!

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Alishan and Sun Moon Lake Black from Song Yi Tea

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Today we are checking out Song Yi Tea, specifically their oolong and black teas. They have a website, but the shop redirects to their Etsy storefront. Song Yi Tea mostly sells Taiwanese oolongs but they also have some Taiwanese black teas and Yunnan puer. Song Yi Tea’s Exquisite Alishan Oolong Tea Exquisite Alishan is a Qingxin cultivar High Mountain Taiwanese Oolong. The leaves are vibrant green with a milky, nutty and floral scent. I used 1 gram of leaf per 15ml of vessel size, gongfu steeped in boiling water. Interestingly, Song Yi Tea has the same instructions on their site. Thumbs… Continue reading, hoot!

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Viridian Tea Company Fantasy Tea Blends

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I encountered Viridian Tea Company while at World Tea Expo. The owner is also a Fantasy novel writer, and that excites me as I read all sorts of goth, vampire, time travel, fantasy romance stuff with a side obsession with Star Wars THRAWN. I had planned to read her books, but I am still going through the massive Black Dagger Brotherhood and this poor tea is still sitting here. Today I got Goth Librarian, The House of Byzantium Blend, Kel Nira Herbal Blend, and Harlem Muse Blend. Goth Librarian from Viridian Tea Company The ingredients in Goth Librarian is Assam tea, whole cloves, whole allspice.… Continue reading, hoot!

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2019 Plum Beauty Black Mengsong Dianhong from Bitterleaf Teas

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Out of Bitterleaf Tea’s new non-puer teas, their new Plum Beauty Black Mengsong Dianhong tea caught my eye right away. This black tea is the same material as their silver grade Plum Beauty sheng. In addition, Bitterleaf Tea’s Mengsong Plum Beauty black tea goes through a roast session. An extra roasting adds some additional oxidation and aging potential. Leaf and Steeping Method These leaves are huge and spacious! You will need a gaiwan or a wide mouth teapot. The scent is strongly fruity. I saw a warning to do an 80-85F water temperature. I first debating hitting 200F/92C, but then said… Continue reading, hoot!

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Jin Xuan GABA Black Tea from Eco-Cha

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Today’s tea is Eco-Cha’s Jin Xuan GABA black tea was a part of their tea club. This is a Summer 2018 tea promised to be rich and fruity. I have been on the hunt for interesting (and not horrible) GABA teas, and Eco-Cha fits the bill. Alas, this GABA black is from an old tea club, but it is an interesting tea and example of the fun teas Eco-Cha gets for its exclusive members. Eco-Cha goes more into this tea in their blog. Leaf and Steeping Method The dry leaf has a soapy plum scent on the twisted long leaves.… Continue reading, hoot!

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Four Different Cultivars of Sun Moon Lake Black Tea from Wang Family Tea

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Wang Family Tea sent me their entire line up of Taiwanese Sun Moon Lake black tea. This was the perfect opportunity to compare the different cultivars. I have the Sun Moon Lake Assam Black (Taiwanese Assam), Red Jade Ruby 18 (Taicha No.18 Red Jade), Red Rhyme (Taicha No.21 Red Rhyme), and Native Black Tea (Taiwan Native Mountain Cang Ya). All teas I am brewing 1 gram per 15ml of vessel size, gongfu style with boiling water. Sun Moon Lake Assam Black Tea As per Wang Family’s information, Taiwanese Assam came to be grown via India Assam seeds during the Japanese… Continue reading, hoot!

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2018 Dabo Black Tea from Old Ways Tea

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Today’s tea is Dabo, a black tea from Old Ways Tea. I am sorry but the sci-fi nerd in me just won’t stop laughing every time I see the name of this tea, as it is the same name as a game on Star Trek (most featured in Deep Space 9). I’m laughing more as the tea is packaged in gold, just like gold press latinum. Anyways, Dabo means Uncle and this is a Spring 2018 large leaf tea from Masu village in China. Leaf and Steeping Method Inside the packet is 5 grams of leaf. Plan accordingly or open… Continue reading, hoot!