I have drunk many teas in the last few years, and this is how I remember the ones I would like to drink again (and those I feel should only be remembered to ensure I don’t). The thoughts below are a combination of mine and Fodo’s, and are for loose leaf teas (as opposed to teabags full of dust).
Tea Tasting Green vs White: There’s a difference? If you’re unsure, check out this post here.
Where to get Tea
Although we get tea from anywhere and everywhere, there are a few places that stand out in our mind that we use again and again. And possibly even again.
- Dragon Tea House, Wild Tea Qi, We are Tea, Adagio Teas, Nothing But Tea
- Michael Matthews Fine Teas and Coffees (Cambridge Market stall)
Sencha Claus: Green
Smells like marzipan, with cinnamon and orange, which then changes to charcoal (the sauna type). Tastes as it smells, Christmassy. Not as sweet as you’d expect, but add a small amount of sugar and this is something you’d enjoy after a cold day shopping mid-winter.
Result: We like it, but wouldn’t buy it again. Something to pull out in the festive season for the visiting parents and grandparents. (Jan 2016)
Kenya Tinderet: Oolong
Smells warm and earthy. The taste has hints of black tea with an astringent bitterness hiding underneath a warm earthiness. As it cools the maltiness comes to the fore obscuring most other flavours. Goes well with some creamy milk chocolate while hot.
Result: Neither of us particularly like this. Possibly better as a ‘standard brew’ (with milk and sugar). (Jan 2016)
Organic Ceremonial Koyu Matcha: Green
Earthy, like a lot of Japanese teas. Very grassy with a thick texture. Col got lumps – Frodo needs to train his whisking arm a bit more!
Result: Not a regular tea. Frodo loves it, Col doesn’t. (Jan 2016)
Moonlight Buds: White
Wow, this tea has two distinct layers to it. Deep and earthy, and light and fruity at the same time. Beautifully complex. the earthy taste coats the tongue while the lighter fruity aroma seems to go through the roof of the mouth, through the nose to the brain. Weird, but lovely to drink. If Banana Man drank tea, he would drink this one (because the leaves look like very mini bananas).
Result: A very complex and interesting tea that I really enjoyed drinking, but doesn’t really do it for me after the 2nd cup, which makes it a bit more expensive. Still worth it though, and I am looking forward to drinking it more often. (Oct 2013)
Ancient Gan Tong: Green
Silky and smooth, like wrapping yourself up in a thick snuggly duvet by a fire with the mists of time floating around you in a haze. Very warming and relaxing, the leaves had a fruity aroma, but this was subdued by its thick sluggish texture when drinking. It reminded me of drinking hot chocolate in terms of how it coats the mouth, but it doesn’t linger too long afterwards. I could almost feel my body relaxing and the tension draining away as it ran down my throat.
Result: I love it. Definitely an unwinding tea – I’m glad I didn’t have to shoot off and do anything after drinking it as it’s a real lazy day drink. I will be drinking a lot more of this. (Oct 2013)
Ancient Baked Heart: Green
It had body. It had depth. It was a smokey, earthy, woodland mushroom. It put me in mind of something I imagine them drinking in Lord of the Rings, sitting in a forest around a camp fire. As it cooled it developed into a slightly more viscous cream of mushroom soup-like taste. Don’t ask me how, but it did.
Result: It is very similar to the Ancient Gan Tong, same mountain just higher, though the taste itself is less deep. Thicker and more murky seeming, but with a bit less body and substance. (Oct 2013)
Green Pine Needle: Green
There was a deep green forest smell while hot. As it cooled it became smooth and light, calming and gentle. This cup lightly coated the mouth leaving a warm after taste. The second cup with the same leaves had a dry aftertaste that lingered around for a few seconds, even with a similar brew time. Hmmm.
Result: Not really very interesting, even though it’s more expensive. Perhaps I was missing something. (Oct 2013)
Organic Green Jade: Green
Wow, as smooth as a baby’s-well no, as smooth as a builders brew with half a sugar and a load of milk. This is a stealthy little tea indeed! Not very strong looking in colour, but it’s full of surprises. It’s such a nice texture in the mouth and settles well in the stomach. The leaves did indeed dangle down like sleeping bats and then dive like Hawk-men on a mission.
Result: An incredible taste that is really not expected by the look of it. The real question is: why does anyone drink black tea with milk and 1/2 a sugar when this does it so much better? It has more class, more hawkmen, and is good for multiple rebrews. Not majorly expensive either, so do pop around for a cup sometime. (Oct 2013)
Mao Fang: Green
This green tea was my first ever ‘non-bag’ tea, from before I even knew there were different types! Quite a fruity aroma, without being what I would call ‘strong’. It was delicate, yet clear and crisp. Rather refreshing, even though it was the last vestiges of the tea leaves.
Result: This cup was a great start to the day. (Oct 2013)
Ancient Moonlight White Premium: White
Far fruitier smell than the non-ancient non-premium Moonlight White buds, but a lot heavier in taste. Very warm and dark in the mouth, it has an ‘old’ feeling to it (which shouldn’t be a surprise considering it is called ‘Ancient’). Dark, warm and green, slightly mushroomy. Tastes like it would go well with a steak and mushroom pie. Result: Lacking the higher layer of the non-premium’s fruitiness, it definitely has an increased bass range. (Oct 2013)
Silver Needle Premium: White
I’m not sure I should be drinking something this posh with breakfast. The leaves are very soft and fluffy giving a very soft, soothing, warm smell. It had a subtle and delicate flavour in the mouth, doesn’t shout out with big bold statements of fruit or anything. Smooth. Very smooth and melty.
Result: Lovely, tasty and relaxing. (Oct 2013)
(Ancient Artisan) Bi Luo Chun/Pi Lo Chun Premium: Green
I watched this brew for 2 minutes, and the leaves changed massively. From tightly rolled up nuggets of hidden delights they unfurled beautifully. This is a very full bodied, warm, bright taste. Definitely what I needed after my breakfast of porridge and pears.
Result: A really enjoyable tea, and a really good way to start the day (or afternoon).
* non premium, not so nice. (Oct 2013)
Wild White Moss: White
It is the most floral smelling tea I’ve tasted yet! Almost as if it was a mixed fruit tea, instead of a white tea. Wow! Very pale, yellow, and delicate, it’s like a fruit salad in your mouth.
Result: An incredibly fruity light tea, very refreshing, and lovely to drink. (Oct 2013)
Jasmine Dragon Phoenix Pearl: Green
A silky smooth, subtly delicate aroma and taste, it’s definitely a sippable cuppa. It actually feels wrong to be drinking it wearing jeans and a tee shirt!
Result: This is what you serve when the posh people from next door come round to impress their gold-leaf socks off them. One word: Beautiful. (Oct 2013)
Green Earl Grey: Green
An enormous bouquet of floral flavours streaming forth from my mug of tea as this is another Sencha blend that is fantastically smooth, rich and fruity to the taste.
Result: Definitely something to entice across those who prefer their morning builders brew, this is a lovely tea! Very green and fresh, and possibly my new breakfast tea. (Oct 2013)
Japanese Cherry: Green
A sweet aroma, not heavy to the taste, with a mid level expansion in the mouth. A pleasant after taste. Having not enjoyed the Sencha on it’s own I feel that it’s the Cherry in this tea that draws to me, as opposed to the tea it’s mixed with.
Result: An after dinner tea, instead of dessert. (Oct 2013)
White Peony/Bai Mu Dan/Pai Mu Tan: White
Very flowery aroma which was backed up by an amazing bouquet of flavours bouncing around in the mouth with a crisp tang on the tongue. Very refreshing.
Result: A beautiful aroma of flowers and fruit, this is a joy to drink. (Oct 2013)
Green Dragon: Green
A thick texture with lots of subtle hints that tease the tongue.
As it cools, it spreads and fills the mouth with a lovely bouquet of floral flavours. Smooth, very ‘green’ and tranquil. Reminds me of a Gunpowder Green with a soberingly slight bitter aftertaste.
Result: This has become one of my staple teas.