Spring 2014 Yunnan Purple Beauty Black Tea of Simao

2nd purple tea varietal that I’ve tried. I like it. Medium fullness in the mouth. Has slight green apple notes to start and then finishes with an Agave (‘malty honey’) aftertaste which lingers on for a while. It is slightly astringent and a bit sharp but no bitterness when steeped at 185 F for a few minutes. I will tweak this review a bit later, as I don’t feel like I have the full grip on it yet.

Purple tea! Yep this is the tea that got me interested in sharing LP’s Yunnan Sourcing Order. Thank you!

It was a little odd pouring purple tea out of my gaiwan. For some reason I just thought the tea would be purple and not the brew. I expected this tea to be malty. It was not. It was very floral without the vegital notes that you normally get in green oolongs. The way I brewed this lent to it being slightly bitter as well. I enjoyed being able to get to try this unique tea, but I am not sure it was one for me.

This is easily becoming one of my favorite teas.

It’s a black tea, but it’s not a black tea.

For when I really don’t know what I want to drink.

Temperature was a robust 96.8 an hour after I got off work. Had only climbed to 97.1 in two and half hours after that. Some tea drinking and sweatshirt wearing must be in order. :P

As of today, I have drank every black tea in my collection (33) this month!
One of my goals was to drink one black tea per day, and admittedly, some of them have been drank more than once. Another goal is to drink every oolong & green tea, and I’m closing in on that goal as well, I have 10 to go. I’m also trying to complete my sip down extravaganza, at least for now, but enjoying anything that I only have one serving left of. I’m getting close!

So this tea…I’ve already reviewed it a few times: heady aroma, both sweet & floral, even a little incense to it. I can’t think of anything else to say, so I think it’s time for something else to drink…