81 Tasting Notes
I received this sample from Crimson Lotus Tea, thank you.
Flash steeped in a gaiwan I found the tea clean, sweet and vegetal. Quite mellow and easy on the stomach. I noticed a slight tingling feeling on the front of my tongue.
When pushed a bitterness came to the front but sometimes I enjoy that kind of bitter.
I may order a cake so I can revisit this tea down the road to see how it changes.
After the gaiwan I got out my dragon egg Jian Shui from Crimson Lotus which I hadn’t dedicated. In went the Hidden Song, the tea found its pot.
This was a sample and I let it sit for awhile.
I wasn’t in a rush as brick and mortar store bought Assam was disappointing and finally used up by making chai.
I opened the packet and was pleased to see real leaves, not bits.
Sometimes I like a big cup of tea rather than gongfu so for that I may use a Chinese mug with a porcelain filter basket or a Japanese Kyusu.
This tea is perfect for that, nice and malty with a hint of fig. I can use the same leaves for several steeps before returning to my little pots and gaiwans for the rest of the day.
I plan to try more What-Cha teas from India, among other countries.
Saw this tea discussed on Tea Chat when the 2016 batch was first released in limited quantities. Wanting to experience it myself I purchased 100 g and brew the tea in my Mini Shudei Tokoname teapot, 140ml.
I have limited experience with Sencha but can say this Yutaka Midori is everything the reviewers here describe. An exceptional tea.
I received this Dragon Ball as a sample with an order.
Using a 170ml gaiwan and water off the boil the loosely compressed ‘planet’ opened quickly.
Because it was very clean I gave this tea one quick rinse instead of my usual two for shou. Smooth and sweet with nice earth, enjoyable on a snow day.
I rested this cake for several months before completely opening the wrapper.
The dry leaf was tantalizing fruity, I picked off a small piece to rinse and flash steep in a gaiwan. The steeped tea offered fleeting stone fruit mouth feels with raw bitterness and taste of char. After a few steeps I decided to break the cake and let the tea rest in a stoneware container. I check and taste it occasionally to see how it is coming along. Think I have to forget it for at least another year.