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Daylon R Thomas drank Taiwan Tea Sampler Box by Zhao Zhou

1729 tasting notes

Backlog/continued from yesterday:

No. 218 Formosa White Jade 2021
5 oz, 10 sec beginning, 10 sec increments, 185 roughly in temperature.
Dark leaves, nearly black with some green thrown in. Sage/eucalyptus like aroma, and trying it out, liquor is a darker orange or light brown. The Red Jade cultivar aroma of cinnamon, fruit, and balmy herbs lingers. The note “Steamed aroma: Summer dried wildflowers and herbs, spicy apple compote, nutmeg and taste of subtle flowers, chamomile, jasmine, tiger balm, sweet spices.Energizes gently.” The taste is extremely sweet and syrupy like ripe fruit, like apple compote. It’s brown like apple compote. Dense, full body every steep highlighted by jasmine green tea like florals like they said, and a healthy dose of eucalyptus/sage/mint/camphor/balm-again, typical red jade stuff. AAAAAaaaand, I could not manage past steep four. Too much for me. I think I can conclude that no matter how high quality and exceptional the tea, I still have a hard time with this varietal.

So, I gave myself a break by going into the green tea.

No. 341 Taiwan Primeur Green 2021
15 beginning, 10 sec increments, other parameters the same.
Again, I’ll borrow their description:
“steamed scent: chestnuts, baked buns, spinach, toasted fish skin, edamame beans
at 85 degrees: the scent of water chestnut, peach, lotus seed, Gingko Biloba, and the typical Maofeng greenish fresh scent, the aftertaste is long and pleasantly green, with typical notes of Qing Xin.”

Tasting notes hit me. Very peachy and forward with the water chestnut, and insanely green and fresh, easy to drink. I could get to steep 5 really easily, and then it was too green. Very creamy. I see the Gingko Biloba in the kind of green notes it has.

That’s all I have for now. I like the green a little bit more. Highly recommend this sampler and any teatasting from Zhao Zhou. I will say it is also re-affirming my biases for oolong and qin xin blacks. Typical.

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First Off, Current Targets:

Whispering Pines Alice
Good Luxurious Work Teas
Wang Family’s Jasmine Shanlinxi
Spring, Winter Taiwan High Mountain Oolongs

Dislikes: Heavy Tannin, Astringency, Bitterness, or Fake Flavor, Overly herby herbal or aged teas

Picky with: Higher Oxidation Oolongs, Red Oolongs (Some I love, others give me headaches or are almost too sweet), Mint Teas

Currently, my stash is overflowing. Among my favorites are What-Cha’s Lishan Black, Amber Gaba Oolong, Lishan Oolong, Qilan Oolong, White Rhino, Kenya Silver Needle, Tong Mu Lapsang Black (Unsmoked); Whispering Pines Alice, Taiwanese Assam, Wang’s Shanlinxi, Cuifeng, Dayuling, Jasmine Shan Lin Xi; Beautiful Taiwan Tea Co.“Old Style” Dong Ding, Mandala Milk Oolong; Paru’s Milk Oolong

Me:

I am an MSU graduate, and current alternative ed. high school social studies and history teacher. I formerly minored in anthropology, and I love Egyptian and classical history. I love to read, write, draw, paint, sculpt, fence(with a sword), practice calisthenics on rings, lift weights, workout, relax, and drink a cuppa tea…or twenty.

I’ve been drinking green and black teas ever since I was little living in Hawaii. Eastern Asian influence was prominent with my friends and where I grew up, so I’ve been exposed to some tea culture at a young age. I’ve come a long way since I began on steepster and now drink most teas gong fu, especially oolong. Any tea that is naturally creamy, fruity, or sweet without a lot of added flavoring ranks as a must have for me. I also love black teas and dark oolongs with the elusive “cocoa” note. My favorites are lighter Earl Greys, some white teas like What-Cha’s Kenyan offerings, most Hong-Cha’s, darker Darjeelings, almost anything from Nepal, Green Shan Lin Xi’s, and Greener Dong Dings. I’m in the process of trying Alishan’s. I also tend to really enjoy Yunnan Black or Red teas and white teas. I’m pickier with other teas like chamomile, green teas, and Masalas among several.

I used to give ratings, but now I only rate teas that have a strong impression on me. If I really like it, I’ll write it down.

I’ll enjoy a tea almost no matter what, even if the purpose is more medicinal, for it is my truest vice and addiction.