Tea: 2013 Spring picked Laoshan Green Tea

Tea: Laoshan Green Tea Spring Picked
Company: Verdant Tea

This is one of Verdant’s staple green tea that is made by the He family. Their tea, grown between the slopes of Taoist holy Mountain Laoshan and the ocean is shaded by mist helping it grow sweet and rich. Currently they have the fresh spring picked version up for sale. I received mine from their Classic Tea of the Month Club Box, along with other spring picked teas that I will be reviewing later this month. This is the first one that I tried, and I brewed this tea gonfu style so that I could see how its’ flavor changed over time.

Tea: Hand Picked Autumn Tieguanyin

Tea: Hand Picked Autumn Tieguanyin
Company: Verdant Tea

I was meaning to do a more in-depth review of this fine tea, but I am out of time for it. Verdant Tea has it on clearance at just $4.20 an ounce! Ok, on to the review.

So far out of all the oolongs that I have tried, my least favorite is  non-roasted or un-aged Tieguanyin. I mean they taste good with there buttery greens and floral flavors, I just a little boring. However, this tea is different. It was processed in such a way that it while having those classic flavors it has a nice tangy gram flavor to it. It adds a lot of depth to it. I recommend brewing it in 6oz of water for western style; the flavor is way stronger.

So if you always drink Tieguanyin, want to try something new, or can’t resist a sale I highly recommend checking this tea out. I would hurry though. Last I checked there was only 4 pounds left.

Tea: Laoshan Genmaicha

This wonderful tea comes from Verdant Tea. It is there awesome Laoshan Genmaicha. I have had a genmaicha once before, but didn’t really get excited over it, but I decided to give this one a try…….. glad I did. It has a nice robust flavor without being to overpowering or burnt tasting. Unlike most genmaicha this one is a Chinese green tea base. This one in particular that has a rich green bean and buttery taste. With the addition of the toasted rice it almost seems like it just makes the base tea a little more fuller tasting, and adds a great nutty flavor. I just love sipping this tea during my meals. It is almost like I am getting my greens in with out having to eat them; which is good when you are eating sloppy joes. You can also get a good bit of steeps out of it as well. Not to mention the fact that I  love the symbolical combining of the wonderful green tea that Verdant brings in and the use of Verdants’ local rice fused into one tea. From what I have heard from reviewers that have had more experience with genmaicha, this one in particular has a supreme quality and taste compared to most genmaicha. 

Overall I would recommend this to some one who likes Genmaicha or wants to try one that is out of the ordinary.

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Specifics

• leaf: 1tsp
• Pot: porcelain
• Water: 8oz
• Temp: 185F
• Steep: 2 minuets 

Tea: Quangzhou Milk Oolong

Today I decided to do a review for one of DAVIDs TEA. The tea I made was Quangzhou Milk Oolong; I have no idea how to say it. I received this as a sample with an order from them. I have had a few green oolongs before, but not a milk one. With that being said this was quit a wonderful tea, but first rant time.

When I looked at the steeping instructions on my sample packet, I was shocked at the steeping instructions. It wanted me to use almost boiling water ans steep it for 4-7 minuets. That is way to long to steep a green oolong; or most teas n general. I thought that maybe it was just cause it was a sample packet the instructions might not be accurate  since they tend to be standard. However, when I went to their site it was the same instructions. GAH! I HATE IT WHEN TEA COMPANIES POST BAD STEEP TIMES! It’s like when you get bagged green tea and they want you to pour boiling water over it. From what I have seen, for green oolongs you want the temp to be around 190F and you want to use soft water (not tap). I also find that the leaves open up better if you put them in after you put water in your brewing vessel.

Anyways with that aside and using my own steeping times, and a tad more leaf I found that this made a really great cup. It was supper creamy and sweet I didn’t even need sweetener  It wasn’t really vegital flavor either. It was just buttery and sweet with light notes of orchid. My only thing with this tea is that it wasn’t very strong  but on some days it is nice to drink a nice light tea that is sweet and creamy on it’s own.

Overall it was a very enjoyable tea, and for the price and the many steeps that you can get from it (I think I went to 5?) it’s a good buy. The only bad thing is that I wish it was a bit more complex, but still very good.

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Brewing Specifics

• Pot: Porcelain
• Water: 8oz per steep
• Leaf: 1.5 tsp (5 grams)
• Steep Time: 2 minuets (then added 30 sec each steep)
• Sweetener: Don’t need it
• Temp: 190 F

Tea: Cocoa Canela )Organic

This was from one of my samples from my last order from DAVIDs TEA. I was wondering how well this would taste with the chocolate in it. Chocolate teas don’t always seem to do to well. However, I was pleasantly surprised. Even with out any creamer it was very chocolaty. Plus the cinnamon in it was awesome, not too little, not too much. Just a good amount of cinnamony goodness. Though if your not a fan of cinnamon, you should probably pass this one up.

After having a few sips of this I thought I might try to put a little bit of cream or milk in it to see how it does. Sadly we were out of Almond Milk, so I had to try to use 2% milk. Now I am horrible when it comes to warming up milk. It always seems to get that weird flavor or I end up curdling it. This time it was weird flavor, plus it subdued the chocolate cinnamon flavor; but in a bad way.

The only thing I kinda have a beef with this tea is the choice in mate’. They used Yerba mate’, which is the greener, lighter flavored one. I wished they had used toasted mate’. I think it would have complemented the flavor a lot more then the Yerba.

Overall it was a good tea. Not something I am dying to go out and buy, but not bad by any means. I would recommend it to someone who likes hot chocolate and cinnamon.

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Brewing Specifics

• Pot: Porcelain
• Water: 8oz per steep
• Leaf: 5g
• Steep Time: 6 minuets
• Sweetener: just a pinch of light agave
• Temp: 205F

Directions

1. After getting your water boiling poor it into the pot
2. When it is done steeping strain it off into a mug
3. Add sweetner if desidered and choice of creamer
4. ENJOY