1749 Tasting Notes
I got this two months ago, and I can’t decide on how I feel about it. I nearly picked a Taiwan Baozhong done in a Dancong style. I had too many Dancongs samples I’ve barely touched, so I opted for something I thought was going to be sweeter.
I’ve only done this western once and gong fu once, though I didn’t get to many differences. Gong Fu was a little bit more floral, western was more filled out and preferable. In terms of taste, it’s a bougie tasting Dianhong that’s not super expensive. Extremely woody and heavy on the sandalwood department in a bright red malty body. I can kinda see the coconut. Not so much with the lavender, but it’s got a floral quality that’s bordering herbaceous like some lavender.
Main criticism was that it was drying. Granted, I already know I prefer Taiwanese and Fujian Blacks anyway. Weirdly, I thought it was better cold. I should cold brew it some time. I recommend it for yunnan lovers for sure, though I’m not decided on my rating or enjoyment yet. I was expecting something a little bit more comforting.
Flavors: Coconut Husk, Drying, Floral, Herbaceous, Malty, Sandalwood, Wood
Sipdown of the Fushoushan, and this one I’m plugging away at. I’ve gotten too many black teas yet again and not enough oolongs. Then again, I have expensive taste in oolongs. This year is a lot more floral for 2025. Plumeria leaning. The Fushou was fruiter, and so was the 2024 harvest. I thought 2025 was supposed to be better? My Wang ones were. This is still in the 97-100 range, moreso 97.
Finally tried this western a few days ago. I agree that it is saline for sure. Green, fruity, and very floral. Strong melon notes and pineapple skin notes. Strong milky/coconut milk aftertaste with strong orchid vibes. Definitely Long Feng, though I see some Lishan similiarities in its florals.
Finally tried this year’s batch western. Really floral and fruity, fruitier than the last time I had it. Strong notes of yellow citrus, hovering between lemon and yuzu. Mid and later steeps had more plumeria vibes. The leaves smelled kinda liked spinach or grassy farts, but the taste was thick and floral.
I’m keeping the rating the same at the moment, but I like it more than the first time I tried it.
Flavors: Floral, Lemon, Plumeria, Spinach, Yuzu
Decent surprise. I got it at the recommendation on here along with the True Blue Oolong. I have been pretty tame in my oolong purchases lately, and figured I’d like this one. The aroma smells like Horchata instantly opening the tin, and waftes heavily of nutty vanilla and cinnamon.
Tasting it, it’s a on the thinner side. Aroma still great, the oolong is a bit overpowered by the cinnamon for me personally, but there’s a definite rice and vanilla note too in a generally nutty profile. The liquor is a little bit more darker yellow/brown than I expected in part from the cinnamon, and the oolong is a little darker than I expected overall, but still on the greener side. Rebrewed faintly.
I do like it, but I’m not sure about rating. I think a little bit of sugar or rice milk/almond milk might make this taste better, but I’m fairly pleased with it.
Flavors: Cinnamon, Nutty, Rice, Thin, Vanilla
I’ll create full pages for these, but I’m running out of time.
I got to try the Goddess London Fog (likely mispelled or mislabeled) from Magic Hour, and it’s a floral earl grey blend with Tie Guan Yin. Vanilla, Lavender, rose, jasmine, and of course, the bergamot are added to it. It’s floral, it’s creamy, and it makes anyone feel like a Fairy princess.
The Butter Assam from magic hour is interesting. It’s not as smooth as the Pu-Erh butter tea, but it’s very good. It tasted like a scottish breakfast with cream and sugar already in it from the butter flavoring, even though it’s more butterscotch in profile overall. I oversteeped it, so I splashed some milk to cut back on it. I can see it being more of a morning cuppa, but pretty good. I’m glad I got to try it.
I’m so close to rating this one a hundred. I mostly get the same profile every time, but it’s so comforting. Butter, chocolate, smooth, malt, sweet potato, caramel, florals-it’s my favorite tea that I got over 300 grams of. I wonder how long it’ll last me.
*Orange Blossoms.
I wanted to try this one in the UK, but Kiani Tea was converting to its physical shop in the Royale Exchange (mispelled), and I wasn’t able to find it quickly enough at the British museum.
I got this one with shipping costing $28 US with the Gilani Glory, totaling out to close to $74 for a hundred grams of tea including the shipping cost, and….I’m kinda dissappointed. The Iranian black tea is not super forward, and a little green bordering on a softer oolong bell pepper flavor. The cardamom pops out more in the second steep, and the orange and rose are not super forward. It’s a relaxing tea, but I need honey or sugar to bring out the rose and orange blossom. I like floral black teas that are lighter, but it’s kinda flat on its own.
Because I’m lazy, I’m just going to write about the Gilani here too. It’s got a slightly different base, and it’s more floral with blue borage flower, yellow roses, and orange peel, it’s a more vague citrusy black tea. It’s like a Belgian Blue Moon in tea form, and not a whole lot of aroma or flavor.
I hope I change my mind on it because I was hoping for something unique, but I feel like a paid a whole lot of extra money for just ok tea. I’m sorry to be so critical of tea that’s trying something different and unique, but I’m not impressed for this price point.
Flavors: Bell Pepper, Cardamom, Grass, Orange Blossom, Rose, Tea
Makes total sense to me, it’s an Earl grey cream! :P
That was my hope. Usually, protein shakes have a grainy or artificial taste to them. This one was heavier on the vanilla and monkfruit, so it worked out okay.