Fujian Rain from Adagio Teas recent order. 3.1 g sample pouch in stainless steel infusion basket with 8 oz 190°F spring water for 30 sec. Dry leaf had light toasted aroma, which intensified during steeping. Tea flavor was of toasted rice, rock mineral, and a flash note of honey midway through the first steep. No astringency or bitterness, no defects, absolutely no fruit flavor or fragrance. Nondescript aftertaste and afterscent of toasted rice. Re-steep using same parameters, gave essentially the same result, except halfway through a vegetal flavor and aroma arose and the honey note persisted a bit longer. A little woodiness appeared and the toast flavor subsided a bit as I finished off the 2nd steep. A third steep used 195°F water and ran for 60 sec. By this time the leaves had fully expanded, and the toasted aroma diminished and became slightly floral. The liquor was just as amber in shade as prior steeps, but tasted more watery. Still never got any fruit or nut or chocolate or earthy or smokey or leafpile flavors. Just not much bang for the buck here and I won’t waste much more spring water on it. Fourth and final infusion used boiling water and steeped for 5 min., producing a cup that was as unexciting as the third, devoid of floral or honey or vegetal notes, and tasting more of toasted sawdust. Rating it a 65, just because it’s a bit more interesting than sipping hot water, and does have caffeine.
Flavors: Honey, Mineral, Roasty, Sawdust, Toasted Rice, Wet Rocks
