Somehow I haven’t tried this one before. I grabbed it during the black tea sample sale. The leaves here are huge and mostly black, which is odd to me for a Dian Hong. But I’m willing to try it! So the leaves are definitely different than the Yun Nan Dian Hong – Full Leaf, as those are gold and black. But this tea also looks like huge “full leaves” to me! The scent of the dry leaf is very much like a freshly harvested field of hay. Either the two teaspoons was too much, or the three minute steep was too long, as this has a little more astringency than I’d prefer. But I’ll like it even more when I adjust the parameters. It’s a unique one…. I wouldn’t say it tastes like the other Dian Hongs that Teavivre carries. It’s certainly a different flavor profile. The cup is dark and I’m tasting flavors of coffee, that dried hay, flowers, malt, and something fruity about it. It’s almost like an Assam tea. It has a HINT of the fruit flavor that is in the incomparable Nonpareil Yunnan Dian Hong Ancient Wild Tree which makes since if it’s also a Dian Hong. The leaves actually look very similar, except the Nonpareil has a slight red color to the leaves. But there the comparisons end, as the flavor of the Nonpareil is very light and this tea couldn’t be deeper and stronger. I’m actually very surprised that such a dark brew resulted from these huge leaves. I was expecting a very light cup. If you like your teas strong, this is one to try and it’s quite affordable! I would certainly stock up.
Steep #1 // 2 teaspoons for a full mug // 19 minutes after boiling // 3 minute steep
Steep #2 // 3 minutes after boiling // 3 minute steep
Harvest: 2018
This is You :-D
Profile
Bio
Hi! I love tea and trying new ones – it adds a bit of variety to my day! Books, music, TV & movies are my thing… and tea, of course.
Some of my favorite tea shops (still operating):
birdandblendtea.com
teavivre.com
52teas.com
svtea.com
teakruthi.com
harney.com
angrytearoom.com
Dammann Freres
Yunnan Sourcing
fusionteas.com
AprTea.com
Javateaco.com
Lupicia
Plumdeluxe.com
Octaviatea.com
Davidstea
eco-cha.com
what-cha.com
justea.com
singleoriginteas.com
teasenz.com
tealyra.com
whisperingpinestea.com
Mandala
verdanttea.com
thenecessiteas.com
Favorite tea shops (RIP):
butikiteas.com
steapshoppe.com
steepcityteas.com
aquartertotea.com
dellaterrateas.com
zentealife.com
theteamerchant.net
joysteaspoon.com
tealiciousllc.com
Rivertea
Specialteas
My icon photo is Richard Mayhew from the graphic novel ‘Neverwhere’ by Neil Gaiman, Mike Carey & Glenn Fabry.
Most of the teas listed in my cupboard are actually sample sizes. I don’t really have 2,000 ounces of tea around here! Many of my teas have only one teaspoon left… maybe two. But I like keeping them in my cupboard list for reference to what I could be sipping. Usually, I write tasting notes once for each tea. I’m still drinking them, just not writing tasting notes each time!
My dislikes: hibiscus, ginger (unless in chai), turmeric, bee pollen, charcoal type flavors
My ratings:
95-100 – Super awesome deliciousness favorites – cupboard essential
80-95 – Also pretty delicious
65-80 – Pretty good
50-65 – Okay
1-50 – Probably won’t want to sip it again
I’m planning on being a Steepsterer as long as there IS a Steepster, so if you’re not hearing from me, that means something happened to my health… if you know what I mean. (Or as evidenced by the great computer hiatus of 2019, something happened to my computer.) :D
Happy sipping!
Location
USA
One day, I’ll make a teavivre order and pick up all sorts of samples of things like this! Sounds delicious.