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Golden Snail Yunnan Black Tea – Whispering Pines Tea Co.
http://whisperingpinestea.com/puretea/pureblack/golden-snail-yunnan-black.html
vs
Pure Bud Bi Luo Chun Yunnan Black tea Autumn 2013 – Yunnan Sourcing
http://yunnansourcing.com/en/yunnan-black-teas/2603-pure-small-bud-bi-luo-chun-yunnan-black-tea-autumn-2013.html

I haven’t drank either of these teas before so I’m going into this with no preconceived notions on what to expect.

I am again using Davids steeping baskets in my Noble Cups. Yunnan Sourcing doesn’t really give steeping instructions so I’m going with WP recommendation.
1 tsp/8 oz 95C 3 min

Dry – The YS version is more loosing rolled (less snail like) and has more golden leaves in it.
Dry – The YS version is more fragrant and smells a bit chocolate. WP is more subtle and I want to say fruity.
Steeped – the WP version is lighter in color but more transparent (clear) – YS is darker richer but more opaque.

This is really interesting to be drinking them side by side. These are completely different teas. YS is deeper richer but with less defined flavors. WP is lighter and sweeter, but has definite chocolate notes, smooth creamy, buttery is a good word.
I’m going back to my last comparison – YS is more adult not as sweet, somehow you think this is black tea – WP is more kid friendly sweet, what this black tea?. WP is easy to drink, really tasty, easy to pick out the flavors. The YS is deeper, more complex (in that you need to hunt and think about what you are drinking). I’m on the fence right now – like them both for different reasons. I’m going to re-steep the leaves and see what happens….

Second steep – water still 95C but upped the time to 5 min….

WP is darker this time – that’s interesting, not lots darker but some.
I think that WP re-steeps better – less flavor loss than the YS. Don’t get me wrong, the second steep of YS is still very drinkable, but it seems like a second steep – I’m not noticing much difference between the first and second steep of the WP. The YS has taken on some slight fruity notes – WP is still full of sweet chocolatey goodness.

IMHO – I like WP better. It’s just wins on the yummy factor (I don’t think I’m enough of a connoisseur to appreciate what is probably lurking in the YS version.) YS is bolder, more of a standard Yunnan black tea. It has some punch and would be my choice for a kick in the morning to get going. WP is more desserty – sit down for a quiet moment and enjoy some special tea.
Some people think that price doesn’t belong in reviews but unless you have unlimited funds it has to factor in somewhere. WP is about 3 times the price of YS. Is it fair to compare a Chevy to a Mercedes? Dunno – but with that thought in mind, I think YS is inexpensive enough to drink everyday, nice solid black tea. WP would be more of a special occasion tea for me. It’s not SO EXPENSIVE that I would never buy it again, but it’s a little pricey for every day drinking.
Both these teas could find a permanent home in my cupboard for different reasons.