Li Shan Black Tea

Thought I posted a review for this, since I drank it first out of my samples, but I guess I forgot. So here’s my second time around.

Dry, it smells like drop fruit, as well as something like malt chocolate; can’t say 100%, just notes that remind me of an assam varietal.

First steep (after a rinse): 15 seconds. Dry spices. Like bark, maybe cinnamon. Actually more spices than I remember the first time around I drank this (I remember there being a lot more ‘fruit’); still, there’s a deep honeyness that makes me think of drop fruits—the darker fruits like plums, rather than bright, like peaches.

Second steep: 15 seconds. Spices and sweetness; the syrupy fruityness is coming through more. It’s reminding me less of an assam, which usually has more malt than spice in my experience. This isn’t astringent. In fact, it’s very smooth thus far. Spiced sugar plum almost? Maybe?

Third steep: More spice again. Sweet—the description suggests baked bread, but it’s less yeasty, and not toasty.

Fourth steep: 20 seconds. Wow, feels a bit thicker, like chocolate. Spice and honey. Actually, very cinnamon-and-honey. Reminds me of honeycarrots with cinnamon, growing up.

Started playing TF2 around this point, and wasn’t paying as much attention. It’s actually a very nice, naturally sweet tea.

Edit: Fourth or fifth steep? Starting to get a more ‘baked bread’ taste out of it.

This was sent to me by Green Terrace Teas for review. Thank you very much!

1.5tsp/10oz
pre-boiling

First steep: 2min
This tea is wonderfully smooth! It’s light but it has a velvety texture and a nice weight on the tongue. There are light, flowery notes that mingle with a dominant fruitiness. Stone fruits, certainly. Peach specifically. I’m getting very strong notes of honey as well! As it cools grain-y, bread-like flavors begin to emerge. I love finding those in a black tea.

Second steep: 2min 30
I’m getting many of the same notes as before, but it seems that there’s an element of cinnamon/spice that came out in the second steep. That was unexpected! Honey is still going strong. There’s just a wee touch of woodsy flavor. Mouthfeel is smooth and almost creamy. Naturally sweet, with honeysuckle and peach in the aftertaste. Lightly toasted bread, drizzled with honey. Mhmm. I MUCH prefer this steep to the first one.

This is mouth-watering delicious. I suspect it would do very well as an iced tea. Maybe cold-brewed overnight? I don’t know if I’ll keep it in my cupboard because I prefer black teas with “heavier” flavors: nuts, chocolate, malt, etcetera. I know that I’ll enjoy the rest of my sample and, who knows. Maybe I’ll keep some around for a blue moon.

Keep in mind this review is coming from someone who normally doesn’t drink black tea and doesn’t like black.

When I opened the package it smelled so wonderful. Fruity sweet. There was an element that reminded me of how Bi Luo Chun smells (and that’s one of my favs).

I kept the steep time really short – 30 sec at boiling. The aroma was intoxicating- fruity , floral , sweet. Every sip was perfection. There were strong honey notes , stone fruit notes ( peach comes to mind) , and floral notes. I couldn’t place the floral notes. They were so intertwined with the fruit notes.

Excuse me while I go for my second infusion.

Thank you to Green Terrace Teas for sharing samples of your teas, including this one.
Sometimes I like to sit with my cup of tea while it’s still too hot to drink, & just hold it under my nose & breath it in. When I did that with this cup, it was like I was breathing in the essence of a bowl of cream of wheat, drizzled with honey, & topped with a big spoonful of peach preserves. The preserves are melting, from the heat of the cereal, & it’s like anticipating that first bite of a favorite childhood comfort food.

Yup, the pretty much nails it.

I’m not sure I have ever quoted George Takei before but, “Oh My!” Yeah this stuff is really good. With Honey Black, I pretty much thought Green Terrace Teas nailed the description. Here I am not getting peach. Instead, dry I get sweet and malty with grape. Not Darjeeling muscatel, just grapes. Maybe the difference is in the prep? I used 195 F with a 2 minute steep. Once water hit it the nose was cinnamon raisin whole wheat bagel covered in honey. Love! The taste is malt and wheat, cinnamon and raisin, and honey. I am not saying they taste alike, because they don’t, but my reaction to this was similar to my first exposure to Golden Tips. It is just so good and hits all the right spots in my taste requirements. This is one of the few black teas that I think does not benefit from additions, and this from a sugar junkie. If you don’t resteep this is probably a bit pricey but it is definitely worth trying a sample.

I’ve enjoyed a lot of Li Shan oolongs, so when Green Terrace Teas offered free samples for reviews, I jumped at the chance to try two black teas from Taiwan.

This is the kind of tea I really enjoy. It is big and rich with a complex mixture of flavors.

This sample was sent to me by Green Terrace Teas for review. Thank you!

I am really liking this tea. There are light fruit flower notes, and notes of stone fruit. The fruit note is peachy, but there is something that reminds me of plum as well. Then there is the honey note. This is another very nice honey tea, but the floral and fruit notes make it so much more. It’s a truly beautiful tea. This is one of those teas that I will make when I have the time to really enjoy all that the tea has to offer. Cup after cup (I did four infusions) the layers of flavor were so good. Winner!

Time to make room in my cupboard. I need more of this tea.

Thank you Green Terrace for the generous samples of your teas. I was very excited to try this one based on the description.

I steeped it for 2.5 minutes at 95C and found this tea to be absolutely delicious. It has juicy fruity notes, with honey on top. I can’t wait to re-steep it. Even as the liquor cools at the end of my cup, I have to say that it is still very good with no trace of bitterness.

I was surprised to see that it’s $39.60 for 100g of tea though! Maybe I need a more fully refined palette to appreciate the depths of this tea? OTOH, that’s pretty close to what I pay for Laoshan Black. :P And this was very good tea.

Mmm, honey. That’s the biggest note I notice here. The mouth feel is quite thin, but pleasant. I’m also getting a bread-like aroma, and together it’s like eating a piece of fresh warm bread smothered with honey in the morning. I dont know if it because of my method, but I’m not getting much fruit notes, just lots of sweet delicious honey. I was able to get 5 cups out of one serving.