659 Tasting Notes
Yep, really kicking myself now for being so scatterbrained and finishing off the H&S golden monkey before I could compare it to this one. Because they’re definitely really similar, but my taste memory is not so good that I can say exactly how. I think this one is a bit sweeter. The leaves are bigger too. (They look so tiny dry, it’s amazing how big they get once they’re steeped). I think I like this one just a bit more than the H&S, but it’s a really close call, and well, the H&S is at a disadvantage for just not being here. Also, I notice a lot of Teavivre’s black teas call for a slightly cooler water temperature (194 F) than the boil normally recommended for black teas, and I’m really liking the results. It makes me wonder what other black teas would benefit from this treatment.
Preparation
This tea is so beautifully crafted! Each and every perfect little hand-rolled pearl :) Just amazing quality.
I did my first steep of this for 1 minute, by which point the tea had just barely uncurled. It was still very flavorful.
Second steep was for 3 minutes. Strong! This could easily have passed for a first steep.
Third steep, probably about five minutes. Wow, still punchy!
Because I’m so sensitive to jasmine, I think I actually prefer the milder jasmine silver needle white tea that Teavivre offers, but I still have to say I’m impressed. Between the show-stopping presentation and the remarkable staying power, it’s easy to see why this tea is so popular.
Flavors: Jasmine
Preparation
I needed something soothing after dealing with the headache of a company that is UPS.
I can relate! I called them to tell them that a package en route had been mistakenly directed to my old address. Would they change the address? No, that would be too logical. They said that the delivery person had to attempt delivery at the false address, and then only if the company contacted them could they bring it to the correct address! Insane! They even know my address, because I have had packages shipped here. I even have a UPS profile! TOTALLY INSANE!!!!
Yes, they are insane! I’ve gotten into a complete shipping saga with them because I needed to ship a piece of artwork internationally. It turns out there were extra fees that no one told me about, and when the gallery director refused to pay these surprise charges (and who can blame him) the package got thrown into limbo. I contacted ups every which way, and when I finally got a hold of a human being, and asked why someone hadn’t just told me about the fees, she said they couldn’t possibly have told me because the fees hadn’t been assessed yet. I asked how people managed to pay fees they never knew about, how did they usually handle this situation? She hemmed and hawed and when the company finally got back to me with an answer (days later) she said I could pay the $10 fees with a credit card if paid ups a $58 dollar brokerage fee. I thought this was outrageous. I told them to just send the package back. It turns out there’s a whopping fee for that too. So now my poor painting is being held hostage while I fume and try to calm myself down enough to deal with them. Now I check the tracking on my other package, to Seattle, and notice that it has gotten delayed for no discernible reason at all, other than UPS hates me (the feeling is now mutual). I didn’t realize they were this bad. I don’t understand how they stay in business.
Delightful! I really love jasmine tea, but at the same time, I’m a complete wimp about it — if it’s too strong and perfumey, it gives me a walloping headache. So I’m super happy to discover this sweet smooth tea. It’s just strong enough to be flavorful, not overwhelming or astringent at all. The floral flavor blends beautifully with the white tea; I’m not generally a white tea fan, so I’m surprised I like it as much as I do. Really excellent.
p.s. I feel that photo doesn’t really do justice to the fuzziness and just, well, leafiness, of the leaves. They’re a lot fuller and curlier in real life.
Preparation
I have to try this one! ;-)
Super! I don’t think I would ever have thought to order it, because it doesn’t seem as exciting as some of Teavivre’s other jasmine offerings (such as the beautiful pearls). So I’m really glad they included it in their sampler and I got to try it that way. It’s definitely a find :)
A nice mellow floral oolong with a touch of vegetal flavor. It reminded me a bit of the formosa jade oolong I had from Upton, though this one wasn’t quite as sweet. Leaves are a dark olivey green. This is the last of the four teas that came in Teavivre’s Flavored Oolong sampler, and while It’s good, for me it pales a bit beside Teavivre’s Milk Oolong and Strawberry Oolong, both of which knock it out of the park.
Preparation
This came in the flavored oolong sample pack, otherwise I probably wouldn’t be trying it as I’m not keen on ginseng. That said, this is the best ginseng tea I’ve had; there’s a cream flavor to it that really smooths out some of the ginseng weirdness, and the oolong is a great base. If you DO like ginseng, you’ll probably love this tea.
Preparation
I guess I was expecting something more exotic, but expectations aside, this is a very smooth balanced black tea, very good quality. I’m trying to expand my horizons, but unflavored blacks just don’t seem to move me right now.
Preparation
funny how we go through phases with teas, isn’t it? I’ve sort of temporarily burned out on some blacks, but am quite keen on others….
It is! Plus I’ve noticed that over time, I pick up on nuances in a tea that I didn’t taste the first time I drank it. So what I like always seems to be in flux. I guess we’re fortunate that there are so many teas out there to choose from!
The last of the sample :( This tea is good, but I think, strangely enough, I might actually prefer the bagged version that I get served (just as the description says) in restaurants. It seems stronger and fruitier all around. I don’t know maybe I just wasn’t using enough tea or maybe this sample wasn’t the freshest.
Preparation
Love this one! I’m always slightly apprehensive about fruity teas, because so many of them are hopped up on artificial flavors, but this one tastes really natural. The strawberry strikes a nice balance with the oolong. Very smooth. Plus is smells amazing :)
I brew a lot of my teas around this temperature. It often helps in emphasising, the chocolate, honey/caramel, and nutty notes that you may find and helps to reduce astringency. I often get more steeps in gongfu brewing when I keep the temperature lower. Having said that I do have teas that I prefer at boiling. As well sometimes have different natures at different temps. Often higher temps can emphasise the fruitiness of some teas, though sometimes it is a sharp fruitiness. I have a dark that is almond at lower temps and is citrus at higher temps. Not all depends on what I want. Higher temp teas tend to have a thinner mouth feel as well whereas lower temp ones tend to have a bit more creaminess.
Thanks, yyz! That is good to know. I’m going to start experimenting :)