E Alexander Gerster select Send Message

Something so appealing about sitting down to a few steeps of a darkly roasted oolong on this cool first day of Fall. This tea seemed to find it’s way to me at just the right time, with the dry leaves luring me in with their dry, toasty aroma. I did shorter steeps in my guiwan, with more leaf per ounce, and have had an amazing time following a progression of flavors. First nutty with hints of dried fruit, then more creamy vanilla with nuts, and after many steeps a flavor of toast seemed to prevail.

A dry mouth feel follows the creaminess and the aroma stays strong. An interesting citrus tone sneaks in at times as well. A really beautiful example of its type.

Part of a sampler I received, and tried this morning for the first time. Several steeps from the same leaves produce the typical golden hue and very light aroma found in gunpowder green. Slight grassy flavor with second steep producing more tones of light smoke and copper. I am not usually a big fan of this type of tea, but found myself watching the tea pellets unfurl and dance in the pot, and finished 4 cups before I even realized it!

This type of tea is essential in the Maghreb where it is used in the preparation of North African Mint tea (Berber Tea Ritual). This inexpensive gunpowder green would be a good candidate for this purpose.

I was gifted a sampler from ESP, and found this Russian Samovar tea much to my liking. The blend has some nice flavor from Assam leaves, with a very faint smokiness in the background. A bold, hardy brew that is satisfying and smooth.

Receive a sample along with my last order from Mandala Tea, and finally had a quiet, rainy afternoon to enjoy multiple steeps of this wonderful oolong. Loaded up my guiwan, gave a quick rinse and then enjoyed watching the unfurling and expanding leaves do their dance. Wonderful aroma, subtle and slightly floral. Nice progression of flavors through several steeps, becoming sweeter and more creamy with time. A really nice Alishan Oolong.

The Towkak Tea garden is situated on the banks of river Towkak, which also acts as a natural boundary for the garden on its western side. Towkok in Tai language means “dancing tortoise.” In those days it was heard that Towkok river was full of dancing tortoises when the first tea plantation in the area was established on its banks in the year 1885.

I have had a variety of Towkok teas over the years and was really impressed when I picked up a few ounces of loose FTGFOP tea this week from A Southern Season in Chapel Hill, NC. The price is very reasonable, regular price of $4.25 and ounce, on special now at $3.00 an ounce.

Brews up a beautiful color and aroma typical of orthodox Assam teas. Bold, hearty and with biscuity notes that make this a great morning start to the day.

A very fine Oolong from Taiwan with a lightly sweet and floral aroma—without being cloying or overpowering. Multiple steeps yield consistently good cups of yellow/light green liquor. After 3 steeps, the flavor gets noticeable notes of osmanthus flowers and melon. Very pleased with this tea, which is somewhat reminiscent of the Taiwan High Mountain Oolong of TeaVivre.

I drink a lot of Japanese green teas, and am partial to the deeply steamed (fukamushi) senchas, so I was very pleased to see this sample in my first Steepster box. Kabuse is steamed for a shorter time, and the tea plants are shaded before picking to produce a sweeter, deeper flavor.

Upon opening the bag, the first thing you notice is the beautiful deep green leaves and hearty marine like aroma. A very good sign of the brew to come. I steeped the sample in my favorite Tokoname Kyusu teapot, at the recommended time, temperature and proportions, and was greeted by a slightly murky but bright yellow green infusion. Nice!

Flavors are bold, filled with notes of corn, peas, and the sea. Umami flavors predominate with a very slight sweetness to finish, and a very full, hearty mouthfeel. Not at all what I was expecting (I thought it would be lighter and more subtle), but definitely a tea I want to taste more of. This tea would go wonderfully with a meal but is flavorful and distinct enough to be enjoyed alone.

Such a wonderful tea. Opened a fresh bag that arrived from Mandala Teas yesterday, and remembered why I loved this tea. Nice mellow nutty aroma and flavor, with tones of sunshine on green grass. A great tea to sit down and appreciate through two or three steepings.

One of the best Yunnan teas I have had this past year, filled with spicy tones on an earthy background typical of this type of tea. The golden tips make up a bold and smooth brew with a wonderful aroma. Multiple steeps brings out more soft smokiness that haunts your taste buds long after the tea is gone.

I enjoy this tea steeped for less than the recommended time, and it works wonderfully for both western and gong fu brewing.

Not my usual morning tea, just wanted something more robust and brisk to go with my oatmeal. Light aroma, but good flavor and pleasant color. Enough kick to get me going this Monday morning…