What Black Are You Drinking

[LeoFox]

Some basic assam tea today- 3g/150 ml - 3 min

[GaoShan]

Today I opened a bag of Zijuan Hong from Daxue Jiadao. Wow! There's no astringency and just a hint of the funkiness I get from other purple teas. I get hay, cereal, and lots of jammy red fruit. I steeped 6 g in 120 ml at 195F for 10/12/15/18/20, etc., but I probably could have steeped it longer and with hotter water. Sometimes I think really good tea is as much about what's not there (astringency, off flavours) as about what is.

[debunix]

Sounds just lovely! I completely agree that was not there is every bit as important as what is there for me, sometimes even more important, because I’m such a bitter phobe.

[GaoShan]

Sounds just lovely! I completely agree that was not there is every bit as important as what is there for me, sometimes even more important, because I’m such a bitter phobe.

I also tend to avoid bitterness, which is why I like Fujian and Taiwanese black teas more than teas from Assam or Yunnan. I was kind of shocked that this Yunnan tea was so smooth.

[pepson]

Sounds just lovely! I completely agree that was not there is every bit as important as what is there for me, sometimes even more important, because I’m such a bitter phobe.

I also tend to avoid bitterness, which is why I like Fujian and Taiwanese black teas more than teas from Assam or Yunnan. I was kind of shocked that this Yunnan tea was so smooth.

Try Yunnan Pine Needle, sweetness without any bitterness

[Baiyun]

I don't like the signature taste of red tea polyphenols and thus never buy it, so I was not overly excited when two bags of red arrived in the EoT tea club February package. And whilst the higher quantity comparison red tea is likely going to be one for me to give away (to someone who appreciates it more), I have somewhat befriended the fancier tea that came in the smaller bag after my first session with it today.

So this is a wild purple buds red from Da Hei Shan (SiMao), few hundred years old wild forest growth, once a year spring picked and sun dried. It does not readily brew as dark red as other teas, which is perhaps why I like it more since it does not quite have that same profile I don't get along with. The wild/purple character is not as evident as in white teas but it it's very agreeable and definitely worth exploring to see what I can tease out of these leaves.

r1.jpg (285.72 KiB) Viewed 12071 times

r2.jpg (321.41 KiB) Viewed 12071 times

[Andrew S]

I don't like the signature taste of red tea polyphenols and thus never buy it, so I was not overly excited when two bags of red arrived in the EoT tea club February package. And whilst the higher quantity comparison red tea is likely going to be one for me to give away (to someone who appreciates it more), I have somewhat befriended the fancier tea that came in the smaller bag after my first session with it today.

I've had a similar experience; I never enjoyed the taste of hongcha (apart from Darjeeling, which was one of the teas that got me started on this adventure) until quite recently, after trying some old tree and wild tree samples and gifts over the last few months.

The one I'm trying right now is all about a pure, delicate and tingly mouthfeel, and a cool, herbal, minty, and almost zesty aftertaste that lasts for a long time. The aroma and flavour of this one aren't important to me at all; instead, it's all about those other aspects that come from old and wild trees.

I guess that teas like this are a reminder that there are teas within any category that can really impress us just from their quality, even if they're not made in a style that we tend to enjoy.

I also guess that teas like this are a good example of why I don't believe in 'scoring' teas. Something like this one would probably score pretty poorly ('low' aroma and flavour, not very 'rich' or 'thick', etc) but I think it's excellent.

Andrew

[Ethan Kurland]

I also guess that teas like this are a good example of why I don't believe in 'scoring' teas. Something like this one would probably score pretty poorly ('low' aroma and flavour, not very 'rich' or 'thick', etc) but I think it's excellent.

Andrew

+1
Words of wisdom, thanks Andrew. May seem amateurish, or too simplistic, but a tea that pleases drinkers is good, even if it is a black that seems a bit like a white or whatever.... cheers

[Teafortea]

JAPANESE BLACK TEA FROM SASHIMA, YABUKITA- Thes du Japon. Harvest June 2022 2nd flush

Zero astringency, zero bitter after taste. There is this sweetness to it that it is not over powering but very present in each infusion. I wonder if using a yixing teapot will enhance it even more? This one is definitely my top favorite japanese black tea. I've had it for breakfast and lunch and will probably enjoy it again after work today.

[Victoria]

JAPANESE BLACK TEA FROM SASHIMA, YABUKITA- Thes du Japon. Harvest June 2022 2nd flush

Zero astringency, zero bitter after taste. There is this sweetness to it that it is not over powering but very present in each infusion. I wonder if using a yixing teapot will enhance it even more? This one is definitely my top favorite japanese black tea. I've had it for breakfast and lunch and will probably enjoy it again after work today.

Nice freckled pair @Teafortea, reminds me of my own Konishi kyusu w/Shiraiwa cup pairing. Also, Asako Isobe shared a Japanese black (Wakocha 和紅茶) with me that sounds very similar to the one you are enjoying. Hers was a rare black tea from a century and a half old tea farm in Toyota-shi, Aichi with very old tea trees harvested only a few times per year.

[Teafortea]

Wow that tea must have been so special. Enjoyed reading about it.

The teapot is from Inge Nielsen and the tea cup is from Fujita Tokuta ( thes du japon).

[pepson]

Hello.

I found DJ lost from last year. Tea is still very nice, full aroma, rich taste.
Darjeeling FF-FTGFOP1 Liza Hill.

Chamotte clay pot, Huaning pottery cup and pitcher.

[Teafortea]

Travelling around as messy as it can be with kids dogs, turtle and a hamster, i forgot my small box of tea I was suposed to drink during my time away and left it at the door outside. I must have droped it for a moment for who knows what. . So after we arrived i needed so bad a cup of tea. Hubby had gone out to buy some groceries and he came home with a smile. He had found an earl grey that may be his sad wifey could appreciate.
The smell was real bergamote and the taste was a brisk clean and very tasty black tea. Brought back so many memories when all I drank in the past was Earl Grey. I had seen it before in small farmers corner but never thought of trying it. The mountains are absolutely beautiful and I'm not so sad now without my tea.

[Victoria]

Travelling around as messy as it can be with kids dogs, turtle and a hamster, i forgot my small box of tea I was suposed to drink during my time away and left it at the door outside. I must have droped it for a moment for who knows what. . So after we arrived i needed so bad a cup of tea. Hubby had gone out to buy some groceries and he came home with a smile. He had found an earl grey that may be his sad wifey could appreciate.
The smell was real bergamote and the taste was a brisk clean and very tasty black tea. Brought back so many memories when all I drank in the past was Earl Grey. I had seen it before in small farmers corner but never thought of trying it. The mountains are absolutely beautiful and I'm not so sad now without my tea.

The Alps right? Spectacular. The tragedy of forgetting your tea in such an amazing landscape, can possibly be overcome by enjoying local elixirs made from mountain herbs An uncle use to collect Piemonte alpine herbs to make Genepy that he would then send to us yearly here in the states. We could taste the Alps.

[Teafortea]

Yes!!! Haute-Savoie. Genepi is amazing. How special you were able to try it. Its our favorite digestive. I tried it in simple infusion also and found it very relaxing.