Tea notes from my trip to China (part 2 of 2)
I didn’t try that many oolong or black teas on this trip, as green tea had a much bigger presence in the region. I did try a Jin Jun Mei that was truly extraordinary, and a fairly good Da Hong Pao (both of which I have stocked up on). Also, I had a few more encounters with hotel-room bagged tea…which seemed to be at least a little better than its Western counterpart.
One of the more interesting experiences I had with black tea was visiting an English-styled teahouse in Shanghai. The chain is called Annvita and is partnered with Whittard (which may be a more familiar name around here), though it also has many of its own blends. You can buy loose-leaf tea or sit down to a pot of tea and desserts in the shop. It’s a bit overpriced, and the price tag is as much for the experience (fancy tea room and teaware, candlelit pot warmer, high tea, etc) as the product. I went with a small group and tried a few teas there:
-First Flush Darjeeling: very lovely fragrance, floral and delicate, probably one of the best darjeelings I’ve tried. We were given no instructions not to oversteep by the staff, and there was no way to stop steeping (the pot was brewed with loose leaves and poured over a strainer when you wanted to fill a cup), so it inevitably became bitter later on.
-Earl Grey: smooth, with very fresh-tasting bergamot. Presentation probably made it taste better, but it does rank as one of the best EGs I’ve tried.
-iced honeydew black tea: probably Ceylon base, crisp and enjoyable on a hot day, with fresh, natural-seeming fruit flavor.
Overall, it was a fun place to go with friends, with high quality tea, but probably not a spot I would visit often if it was local to me, due to the price markup. The popularity of the chain and their products is proof that English-styled tea, flavored black teas, and tisanes are gaining ground in China as well.
