Tea Trekker
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Experience buying from Tea Trekker http://steepster.com/places/2820-tea-trekker-online-northampton-massachusetts
Tea Leaf: The leaf is CTC, but still quality.
This was my first exposure to a quality, loose-leaf Ceylon, and my wife and I have both enjoyed this tea (I also showcased it at least once and got a good response). I found scant notes on this tea (from an old notebook I just remembered I used to keep notes in), and it looks like it had good flavor through three steepings, and still a little on the fifth. Evidently, it was also good iced. Impressive!
(I still have some of this, so I may update this review at a later time).
Preparation
Experience buying from Tea Trekker http://steepster.com/places/2820-tea-trekker-online-northampton-massachusetts
I liked this tea, too. : )
Preparation
Backlogging. I’m tired of wanting to do these reviews and still not doing them (because I don’t have much to say about them, and the tea is long done been drunk up). So I am going to knock a bunch of ‘em out by keepin’ ’em simple.
Experience buying from Tea Trekker http://steepster.com/places/2820-tea-trekker-online-northampton-massachusetts
I liked this tea. Can’t get any simpler than that, now can ya!?
Preparation
Sometimes, in the words of Monokuro Boo: Simple is best. :)
(I love your long reviews, and your short reviews!)
http://www.sky-wallpaper.com/uploads/2011-04/monokuro-boo-wallpaper/1303696020-988NU2U.jpg
Cute little buggers.
Thanks for your kind words! : – )
I agree – not every review needs to be spectacular nor do all teas merit it. Sometimes a good tea is just good because its simple. :)
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Thanks, Azzrian. To be honest part of my reluctance to review these Tea Trekker teas is that I can’t really remember much about them, and they are long gone, so I feel a little guilty that I can’t do them justice; and that’s compounded by my perfectionism—I expect more from myself then just saying, “It was good.” shrugs Not much I can do about it now, though.
A great lightly oxidized oolong from a new region to me. The sweet flavor and large uncurling leaves make this great for sharing with friends who might be new to tea. The best part was I received this as a free sample, Tea trekker is great about that.
Preparation
Advertised as one of “Bob’s favorites” I can definitely see why. It’s a great everyday black tea that you really can’t get sick of.
Brewed at just about 200 degrees the tea gave off a great aroma and turned the water to a chocolate brown color. The flavor was exactly as described with a biscuity richness and it really was pleasure to drink.
I am often shocked how closely Mary Lou and Bob’s descriptions match the tea they are talking about, their evaluation of flavors is incredible and they often notice subtleties in flavor that a novice would have to really look for when tasting the tea.
Preparation
Experience buying from Tea Trekker http://steepster.com/places/2820-tea-trekker-online-northampton-massachusetts
Age of Leaf: Harvested spring 2010. Received spring 2011, brewed up summer/fall 2011.
Brewing Guidelines: I have brewed it four times so far: three times on its own, and once with another green tea (Specialteas Yunnan Silver Tips). I tried brewing it at both my standard green tea temperatures (170, 175, 180) and at my standard white tea temperatures (160, 165, 170). Each time was a full pot (six 8-ounce cups) in my glass Bodum with metal infuser/plunger. Stevia added.
Appearance and Aroma of Dry Leaf: Very large and fluffy (two TBS for each serving). In some ways it looks more like a mid-grade Bai Mu Dan white tea with its large multi-colored leaves—a mixture of whitish, light green, and dark green looking leaves. Smells somewhat like a black/red tea, thus it does not have that vegetal and sometimes sweet smell typical of a Chinese green tea.
Appearance and Aroma of Tea Liquor: amber colored, with a somewhat smoky aroma.
Appearance and Aroma of Wet leaf: The largest leaves of any green tea I have seen, yet. Even the buds are huge. A sight to see!
Blends well with: Specialteas Yunnan Silver Tips.
Flavor: The flavor profile is unusual for a green tea; in some ways it tastes similar to a black tea, especially on the later steepings. It is mildly smoky, and somewhat sweet, not astringent.
Value: Good. Sale price: $10 / 4 ounces. Normally: $14 / 4 ounces.
Overall: Since it undergoes light withering—warm air-dried—I am not sure it has the theanine content in a typical green tea (which is a big reason why I drink green tea).
I have had brewed up this tea at least four times so far (as of this writing). The first time I was a little disappointed in the flavor as I was expecting something like a more standard green tea flavor profile (using my standard green tea temperatures). The second time I recognized the similarities of the flavor to that of a black tea and opened myself up to the possibilities of a more complex flavor profile (again using my standard green tea temperatures). Now I have brewed it at least four times and I am really starting to like it (although, ironically, my wife is now decidedly against drinking it). Recently, I brewed it using my standard white tea temperatures, and it seemed to brew up a good tasting cup.
I have never experienced this kind of swing in how I experience a certain tea. Previously, I have been brewing it up and enjoying it on occasion. Now I that see this tea in a more favorable light I have been brewing it up more often. This change in how I experience a particular tea over time gives me hope that other teas I do not currently like may gift me with some hidden treasure at some later date!
Meng Ding Gan Lu or “Sweet Dew” definitely belongs to one of my Chinese green favourites, this high grade tea needs a special care when being prepared, IMO, might taste a little strange (somewhat sweet-bitterish at first), a palette of tastes later develops. I prefer preparing it with Gongfu style, 4-6g / 100ml, first two infusions 20-30s with water rather colder, 65-70 °C. It is a delicate tea and might evoke many forgotten memories, I wouldn’t recommend it to green tea beginners though.
