The Tao of Tea

A really great, every day tea. One of my favorites.

I haven’t had a lot of darjeelings before. I think that I recall maybe having tried a couple, but for whatever reason I never revisited them and I can’t really remember what I thought.

I figured now was a good time to start trying them again because I got a couple from Auggy, so I brewed this one up today.

I think I like it? Unfortunately, I was trying to read a textbook at the same time, so my attention was a little divided. It definitely wasn’t unpleasant, but being at a disadvantage both because I couldn’t fully concentrate it and I don’t have a lot to compare it with, I can’t say anything definitively.

What I can say is that it was…I don’t know if light is the right word. It wasn’t light like a white tea, or even some greens. Maybe soft is more accurate. Yeah, that sounds right. I tasted a sweetness that wasn’t grassy, and it wasn’t sugary either… It almost tasted like the sweet taste I associate with green beans or peas, but…I don’t know, with more of a floral touch? I also, at times, got a woody taste and there was a bitterness to it when it began to cool. I steeped it a couple of times, and it didn’t change much from one to the next. I probably could have gone for more but then my stomach started telling me it was time to eat so when I got back I decided to move on to something more familiar since I was having difficulty focusing.

This probably isn’t helping you very much; I’m losing my trail of thought, too. But I wanted to get this down so that I would remember it when I inevitably try darjeeling again. It wasn’t unpleasant, but I definitely need to be drinking it when I can pay attention. If I remember what I’ve read about these correctly, they’re supposed to be relatively complex.

This is my first experience with Jasmine and I have been experimenting with greens. I am pleasantly surprised by the nice flavor of Jasmine. Very enjoyable experience. Steeped x3 with good results.

Quite nice. Pretty basic green tea taste

Very pretty color. Strong floral flavor-cannot pick up the ginger. Good x 3 steeps. Each sip becomes more enjoyable.

I’m not a huge fan of white teas but I have found some that are very good. This tea I got from one of my favorite tea shops, the Tao of Tea. It’s an organic white tea from southern India, in the mountainous Nilgiri region. The leaves a long and hard, reminding in looks to some pine needles at first. The liquor steeps up a pale golden yellow color. I find the flavor very subtle and uninspiring for me. It’s ok… but I prefer a little more flavor.

A very nice, almost-white light tea, with good honey and melon. A little mineral/chemical character comes a little forward for me.

This is a delicious darjeeling tea I bought from Tao of Tea in their walk-in store. The label doesn’t say which flush it is but it appears to be first flush. However, unlike other first flush darjeelings, it does not have the typical vegetal “grassy” flavoring found in other first flushes which I tend to avoid. The leaves almost look like a white tea, with a lighter green appearance with some oxidation showing in places. It almost looks like Oriental Beauty Oolong leaves.

The muscatel flavoring is subtle but nice, not overpowering. There’s a mild honey like flavor aftertaste that’s very nice. I really enjoy this tea and since this is the last of my supply, I will look forward to getting more next store visit.

This is my current favorite 2nd flush Darjeeling. As with most of the teas I get from Tao of Tea, this one is an excellent quality tea. The muscatel flavor and aroma from this organic tea is very good and I enjoy sipping it this morning.

Drinking this fragrant tea again and I have to say that I stand by what I said initially. Very nice…

Very fragrant and a pleasure to sip…very enjoyable!

I always start this off way hotter and stronger than I’d like it plain, so I can add lots of milk and clover honey. Feel good tea!

Delicious and delicate, with a great after taste.

Shorter steeps and lower temps helps this lose astringency and allow for multiple steeping.

Only thing that could make this better is if it had some infused Ginseng! =0

~paganbuddha

First some Dead Guy Whiskey, then some Daily Red wine.

How to finish the night?

Some of most delicious tea the great spirit could ferment for us: pu-er, and it’s certified organic!

~paganbuddha

I LOVE green rooibos. While I love the red as well, I find green to be much more mellow. It also blends well with other tisanes- tonight it is lemongrass, and a little bit of peppermint. I really enjoy experimenting with herbal blends in the evening. I’m too caffeine sensitive for “real” tea at night.

I blend half and half with lemongrass. Green rooibos is more mellow than the red- quite a different flavor.

Had this favorite this morning. It is always very good. A great go-to tea when you need a great no-surprises tea that is there time after time. It’s a really mellow golden yunnan tea that is less strong than some of the golden yunnans out there. If you aren’t sure you will like a golden yunnan, go for this one. Flavor is delicious!

This is one of my all time favorites. This tippy Yunnan black tea has a wonderful flavor, not quite as strong as Emporer’s Gold from Tao of Tea but has plenty of good strong flavor. If you like Yunnan tea this is an excellent representative of tea from that region.