I received a package from Sil today. Thank you very much!!!!
In the package were a couple of mystery packages. I have no idea what this is. Little gold package with lots of Chinese characters. The only English on the package is “Refined Chinese Tea”, that doesn’t tell me much but I’m game to try almost anything. Cut the package open, took a look at the leaves. This is a black tea. LOL I know nothing, I’m not even going to guess anything other than that. I was a bit cautious with steeping. Might have underleafed a touch, and only steeped it for 2.5 minutes. Yep, this is a black tea. This is a decent black tea. Not the best one I’ve ever drank, but pleasant enough. I’m calling this light and bright, rather than the dark and malty that I really like. I’m going to add more leaf and steep it a bit longer and see what happens.
OK so I dumped the rest of the package into the infuser with the previously steeped leaves added water and steeped about 4 minutes. This still looks really pale to me. Better, but still not as bold as I normally like.
Thanks for the sample Sil, has been an interesting experience. I normally look up a tea before I drink it to have an idea what to expect. Going in “blind” as been interesting. I’m not sure what to compare this too, different than any others I’ve tried, but not completely to my taste.
This is You :-D
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C.S. Lewis – “You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”
I needed to update my profile. I joined Steepster 03Mar13. I am just amazed at how much my tastes have changed since then.
When I discovered loose leaf tea about a year and half ago, I didn’t know anything other than my local Davids and Teavana/Teaopia. Stumbling onto Steepster CHANGED EVERYTHING.
Hello, my name is Dex I’m a tea addict.
I’ve been through the “I need to try every single tea out there” phase. I really hope the worst of that has passed. I’ve learned enough to know that I only need to try HALF of all the teas out there. LOL
When I started this journey, I was all about the flavored rooibos and fruity tisanes. Don’t get me wrong there is still room for dessert (chocolate/caramel/nutty) Rooibos teas in my cupboard and I still do enjoy them, BUT I am quickly learning to appreciate the some of the straight teas of the world.
Big bold (but not icky)pu’erh is suddenly my favorite, followed by woody/roasted oolongs. I’m just starting to explore straight black teas, and have found some that I really like.
Generally speaking I’m not into greens at all, only like the occasional green oolong, and white teas are just too mild for my tastes (unless they are fruit flavored). I still enjoy really good fruit tisanes, but am now cold steeping them.
I don’t like floral/herbal blends, and mint anything is not on my preferred list.
I am still exploring new teas, adapting to my changing tastes, understanding more every day how little I really know about tea. Ultimately I would love to find approximately 50 teas that I just “can’t live without” and always have them in my cupboard. That might not be practical, but that what I’m searching for. It’s going to be a fun journey.
All in all, I love this site. I’ve met some wonderful people, and have gotten to try some amazing teas because of them. It really restores your faith in humanity when you get a note saying “oh by the way I sent you some tea”. Wonderful, generous, people here.
Location
Manitoba Canada
hahaha My work friend from china sent me that – her and her friends drink it at work when they don’t have time for puerh :) She’s also sent me two puerh cakes that i have yet to bite the bullet on and try