Eco-Cha Artisan Teas

Hmm, for my first steep of a steepster select tea I went with the directions on the packaging. It was supposed to be the equivalent of one serving, right? Because I got two packages of each of the 5 teas and I thought you got two servings of each varietal.

Given my tasting of this I’m not sure though.

It came off REALLY astringent when prepared according to the package directions. There wasn’t really any mint, mayyyybe there was cloves, but no other spices. Just an astringent black tea. It smelled amazing dry – earthy and malty like a strong breakfast black (assam, mainly). But something just gets lost in translation between scent to taste.

I have one more of this to try so I guess I’ll give it a try via Gaiwan and shorter steepings to see if that makes a difference. This one was a meh, though, which makes me sad because it was the one I was most looking forward to out of the box.

This was definitely interesting. Not really what I was expecting. I’ve been trying a TON of different black teas lately, and this was definitely an outlier. BUT…it was pretty good, I guess. I followed the Steepster Select steeping instructions, and I feel like it might have been a bit too strong; for the second sample, I’ll probably lower the steep time to 2:30 or 2:45. I definitely got hints of the advertised “cinnamon, clove and mint,” which is I guess why it tastes so different.

I don’t know. It certainly wasn’t awful, but it wasn’t fantastic. Definitely my least favorite of January’s Select teas.

♡Love this Tea♡
My favorite from Steepster Select.
Nicely floral,but pleasantly sweet with just a touch of stevia.
With the second steeping I get a bit of fruitiness and honestly
I steeped this about 3 times…I simply enjoyed it all throughout the day.

I’m thankful that my taste buds have finally sorted themselves out after my cold, I really missed writing and sampling teas.

I found this tea to be unusual and I love black teas so that was my overall purpose for buying this one. It looks so cute, like brown little leaf buds, thick and very autumnal looking. Like rough formed brown droplets.

The tea is light brown and has a wonderful wooden yet fruity scent. Very elegant.

Flavour has elements of wood, musk, honey suckle, prunes and spice. It’s a pleasant medium strength which remains light and full of flavour, it’s the sort of black tea that you could drink many pots of and enjoy the full array of flavours each time.

Further sips have a mature flavour which is hard to define. I looked at the companies page for this tea and they say it has a savoury flavour, I’m thinking it could be that. But savoury or mature, it’s just hard to pin point what it tastes like exactly.

It’s a nice black tea, it’s light yet has character and is very drinkable. So clean tasting and sweet yet full of life. Very nice, happy I picked this one up.

Backlog:

Correction – I had written a tasting note for the Shan Lin Xi High Mountain Oolong … and put it under this listing: the Shan Lin Xi High Mountain Concubine Oolong. Oops! Since I don’t see a place where I can delete this tasting note, I’ll just submit this correction and write my thoughts on the Concubine now that I’ve tried it: http://sororiteasisters.com/2014/04/08/shan-lin-xi-high-mountain-concubine-oolong-tea-eco-cha/

And even though the teas sound as though they are probably pretty similar in “name” they do taste different. This tea smells more vegetal, and the flavor is delicate, sweet, and tastes of vanilla, orchid and offers hints of vegetative taste. I taste notes of pine and delicious nutty flavors.

The concubine seems less astringent than the “non-concubine.”

Both are good, both are worthy a try, and I think that Oolong enthusiasts would love either of them.

Very light and floral.

Reminds me of a lighter Laoshan black from Verdant. Since I mostly stay away from roastier oolongs, the coffee/malt flavors are a surprise to me. Still, it’s a smooth, comforting cup, and very satisfying. I’m a fan, even if I’m not exactly the target audience.

I’m not a dark tea drinker usually, but I actually liked this tea. I brewed it in my Gaiwan, and as I’ve come to find, the packets of tea in Steepster Select aren’t really big enough for a single serving in it, so I went with less water, maybe 3 oz. I found the flavor profile really interesting and can see where the Steepster description comes from. Though I found it more of a mashup, which might be why some people find it difficult to discern. I really was compelled to get my nose in there to try wrap my head around the interesting aroma. I had a bit of a hard time putting my finger on it, something kinda sweet, candied and citrus. Kinda like orange flavored rock candy, like those inexpensive suckers wrapped in plastic, twisted on the ends. Color is a lovely red hue, like a amber rose. Get the light astringency that people speak of, a dry mouthfeel and a lightly sweet aftertaste long after the cup has been put down. Caffeine-wise, I felt a nice alert kick after savoring my 2nd cup. On my 3rd now. Doubtful 4 or 5 will offer much in the way of flavor, but I’m open to being surprised. Each steep time I have increased by about 45 secs to a min. Overall pleased, and will happily return to my second sample. Perfect for a rainy Los Angeles evening…

Just to put this in context, this is a terrific tea, and if you like the greener end of oolongs, you’ll love it. Really. BUT, I’ve had far too many really gorgeous oolongs lately, and this one doesn’t cut it in tough company. Maybe it’s a little too light for my tastes, since I like a good body in all my teas, but it’s a nice, light, vegetal flavor with, oddly enough, a smoky overtone (very light – and more in taste than in character, if that makes any sense at all). I’m following it up with another cup of Eco-Cha’s Shan Li Xin High Mountain Concubine, and it’s making me quite a bit happier.

Oh I love my Eco-Cha oolong sampler. This was a surprise! As evidence of my limited oolong knowledge, this most closely reminds me of…American Tea Room’s Lavender Sencha. I’m guessing other lavender teas similarly have that round, floral, warm, back-of-the-throat taste, and this oolong does too, but of course on a light, green oolong base instead. I didn’t know oolongs were ever that floral. It’s really working for me, and I’ll definitely keep this around.

Interesting. It’s like they took the Mandala milk oolong and dialed it back a touch. Just a touch. It’s still terrifically tasty, but for now I continue to prefer the Mandala.

Backlog:

This is quite possibly the best “milk oolong” type Oolong teas that I’ve ever tasted. It is amazing.

It is remarkably creamy and has a fresh, exhilarating flavor. Notes of cream, notes of fruit, honeyed flavors, and you know that milky, smooth consistency and flavor that those of us who love milk Oolongs … well that consistency and flavor is why we love milk Oolongs isn’t it? This tea … has got it in spades.

Here’s my full-length review: http://sororiteasisters.com/2013/12/06/jin-xuan-oolong-tea-from-eco-cha/

I’m with the crowd on this one. #18 isn’t a tea I love in general, but I’ve had a few that are really good. This one is not the best in my opinion. Still happy to have tried it though, as I tend to enjoy most black teas from Taiwan

For 2014, this is a different tea, and I’m placing it here because the “High Mountain Concubine Oolong” description notes "This farm is located just across the valley and to the south of our Shan Lin Xi source, at about the same elevation. " It seems to be this year’s substitute offering. I was absolutely nutty over last year’s Shan Lin Xi version, and despite knowing full well that concubine tea is inherently a craps shoot year to year, I jumped in an ordered 150 grams (it worked out to about $60USD after discounts and shipping). I just have to say that was a mistake this year. I’ll certainly drink it, and not unhappily – it does have that character – but…the price is simply too much for something that doesn’t knock my socks off. It’s a pretty pale version of last year’s and not particularly special. I suppose it just adds to the suspense over next year’s batch, which I will absolutely still buy. No disrespect to Eco-Cha – I’d rather have a tea that really reflects the conditions on the ground than any sort of technologically standardized version. Not every year can be a winner.

My first Eco-Cha! I got the oolong sample set, and if it all lives up to this first cup, I’ll be moving to Taiwan. It reminds me of eating carrots I’d just pulled from the garden when I was little, complete with just a touch of dirt and that crazy freshness and vegetal tang, with a touch of sweetness. When my tea collection finally arrives where it appears to be heading (toward an exclusive, oolong-only club), this tea will be there.

I got this from the January Steepster Select package, and it was definitely one of my favorites. I haven’t had a ton of experience with oolongs, but this one reminded me lot of a Taiwanese Pouchong I got from a tea room in Colorado – one of my favorite teas I’ve ever tried.

It has what I assume to be the characteristic flavor of a lighter oolong – very smooth and almost buttery. It takes extremely well to multiple steepings, so it can last you a while.

Here I am: so excited for tea-time (always a big occasion in our house) and I brew Red Jade. I take a sip, and do a double-take. What is that flavor? Is it the cinnamon, clove, or mint that the package speaks of? No. I freely associate the flavor and come up with: meat. Specifically, raw tuna fish. Yet, I love raw tuna fish. This tea? not so much.

This is a light, airy tea. I can imagine that it would be a great tea for meditating, so that one would have time to puzzle out its subtle flavors. However, with a long day ahead of me and a slight cold, I was hoping for a strong tea to wake me up.