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I’ve been meaning to try Ruby 18 for some time and finally ordered this one from Floating Leaves.

The tea has a strong note of sweet potato which I really like and a thick somewhat malty mouth feel.
The cooling sensation was just the ticket as I burnt my tongue last night on hot soup.

It is an interesting tea, I will look for other samples of Ruby 18 to experience the differences.

I received this sample from Crimson Lotus Tea, thank you.

Flash steeped in a gaiwan I found the tea clean, sweet and vegetal. Quite mellow and easy on the stomach. I noticed a slight tingling feeling on the front of my tongue.
When pushed a bitterness came to the front but sometimes I enjoy that kind of bitter.

I may order a cake so I can revisit this tea down the road to see how it changes.

After the gaiwan I got out my dragon egg Jian Shui from Crimson Lotus which I hadn’t dedicated. In went the Hidden Song, the tea found its pot.

I received this as a sample from Bitterleaf .
The tea has a lingering sweetness which was enjoyable.
It’s nice enough, I feel their description is accurate, “low on bitterness and roughness, and a good starting point for those new to raw puers.”

This was my first Huangpian blended shue which was refreshing, sweet and light .
If I forgot it was steeping there was more of an earthiness, in a good way.
I must have enjoyed it because the jar is empty and needs a refill.

This was a sample and I let it sit for awhile.
I wasn’t in a rush as brick and mortar store bought Assam was disappointing and finally used up by making chai.
I opened the packet and was pleased to see real leaves, not bits.

Sometimes I like a big cup of tea rather than gongfu so for that I may use a Chinese mug with a porcelain filter basket or a Japanese Kyusu.

This tea is perfect for that, nice and malty with a hint of fig. I can use the same leaves for several steeps before returning to my little pots and gaiwans for the rest of the day.
I plan to try more What-Cha teas from India, among other countries.

Saw this tea discussed on Tea Chat when the 2016 batch was first released in limited quantities. Wanting to experience it myself I purchased 100 g and brew the tea in my Mini Shudei Tokoname teapot, 140ml.
I have limited experience with Sencha but can say this Yutaka Midori is everything the reviewers here describe. An exceptional tea.

My second Lao Cha Tou which I opened after finishing the 2014 brick.
Fleeting fermentation taste which I enjoyed as it added dimension to a simple tea. Otherwise clean and smooth. Around 15 steeps a brew.
I will get the 2016 brick in my next order.

The 2014 was my first Lao Cha Tou brick.
As expected not a complex Shu, it was like filling a cup with coffee from a drip machine, no need to analyze it. Just smooth and enjoyable.
15 steeps from each brew made these nuggets an inexpensive daily drinker.

A lot of goodness has already been written about this well known Oolong.
It was my first tea from Vietnam and easily became a favorite daily drinker.
Moreish.

I received this Dragon Ball as a sample with an order.
Using a 170ml gaiwan and water off the boil the loosely compressed ‘planet’ opened quickly.
Because it was very clean I gave this tea one quick rinse instead of my usual two for shou. Smooth and sweet with nice earth, enjoyable on a snow day.