tea

[merchimerch]

So I recently splurged on a tea order and decided to try a bunch of sample sizes in addition to my 4 oz orders of yunnan and rooibos. I got 5 samples to try and stretch my palate and options and really like a couple of them - almond rooibos, white pear, and hojicha (a smoked green tea) are all awesome. I'd definitely consider ordering a larger tin of those.

I also ordered a green tea called kukicha, which was supposed to be a tea including lemongrass with the appearance of twigs. It was right, it looks like little green twigs, but really instead of lemongrass I taste very green alfalfa, I swear. Nice tea, a little strange, but not something I'd order in a larger size.

Last but not least, I ordered some pu erh, which was described on the website as "earthy." Boy was it right. Smells like dirt from the tin. I brewed up a pot and guess what, it tastes like dirt, I add orange peels and honey and now it tastes like orange, honey, and (you guessed it) dirt. On a positive note, at least it tastes like the freshly rained on muskeg dirt that I used to play in as a kid in alaska, instead of gross chemical laden city dirt. Needless to say, I won't be ordering any more of that.

Comments

[ame-chan.livejournal.com]

kukicha is not traditionally made with lemongrass. It is intensely "green" tasting, absolutely. Alfalfa taste would definitely bear up with my experiences. I'm not crazy about it, personally.

[ame-chan.livejournal.com]

also, yeah, pu ehr. It is dirty tasting. Notoriously so. I call it POO ehr because it tastes like, er, well. Poo.

If you want a tea with a nice hint of 'earth' that is not 'dirt', try a Golden Monkey or a Keemun. You get these glorious earth/chocolate tones with some of the China blacks. Yunnan also has the mocha earthiness but with more of a maple/sap note and sometimes, if you're very lucky, a black peppery bite.

[(Anonymous)]

thanks for the recommends - I love Yunnan teas and have been drinking them for a few years now - my attempt to branch out with "Poo" erh was definitely not the best experiment - I'll have to try some Keemun next time I'm feeling adventurous.

Maybe I was mixing up the greens that I ordered - I read a lot of descriptions of green teas. Kukicha is not my favorite, but I can imagine certain times when it will hit the spot.

[merchimerch.livejournal.com]

uh - that was me up there...

[ame-chan.livejournal.com]

It seems to me that there is less "pepper" and more "floral" in the Yunnans in the last few years. Not as much intensity of flavor but more of a sweetness overall.

[merchimerch.livejournal.com]

huh - I'd never thought of that - I think you're right. I though my palatte was just desensitized to the peppery flavor I used to detect. Yunnan is one of the sweeter/mellower blacks,especially now. I don't think I've had a cup labeled Yunnan that I disliked, but there does seem to be a range of flavors.

I wonder if it has to do with climate change, or over harvesting or something.

[mehitabelmmoss.livejournal.com]

I've become a huge roibos fan in the last year.
Provence roibos, Orange, Vanilla, plain. I love the strongflavors and the non-caffeine for afternoon and evening drinking.
Think I'll make a brew now.....thanks.

[merchimerch.livejournal.com]

Yeah, rooibos is great - My R loves them, and the non-caffiene factor is great for his insomnia. We've had 3 that we really love, Pooped Rooibos, Almond Rooibos, and now Caramel Rooibos.