Tea of the Week – Yunnan Golden Curls

Black Tea

Name: Yunnan Golden Curls

Type:  Black

Region:  Yunnan, China

Bought At:  Adagio.com

Price:  $29 for maestro sampler set (4 teas)

First Impressions:  Hay Smell, Softer leaves

Review:

First let me just say I was very excited to try the maestro collection, and my first tea, Yunnan Golden Curls, didn’t disappoint.  It is a black tea although the leaves were very light in color.  The “hay” smell that the raw tea gives off is totally different from the scents of the brewed tea.  Once brewed it has a wonderful nutty/smoky smell.  The taste was very good, a mellow black without almost no bitterness.  It has a smoothness that a lot of black teas are missing.  One note: I did prefer it with the shorter brew time of 3-4 minutes (The label says 3-5); when I let it go the full 5 minutes it did pick up a bit of a bitter over-brewed taste.  Overall, it was an interesting black and a good all around tea.  Can’t wait to try some more!

My Rating:
3.5 / 5

–brent
 (Teageek.org Founder)

*Disclosure (AND Thanks!): This was part of a free sampler I got from Adagio to preview.

Adagio Maestro Collection Sneak Peek!

Misc.

Hey Everybody –
I am excited to let you know that I just got my free samples of adagio’s upcoming maestro collection!  I was chosen for a preview of the new collection of 8 premium teas they are releasing April 10th. I will be reviewing the first later this week – look for them!

–brent
 (Teageek.org Founder)

P.S. – If your interested in ordering these before they are “officially” released, you can check them out here: http://www.adagio.com/maestro/ (Shh, don’t tell)

Tea of the Week – Anji Duet

Green Tea

Name:  Anji Duet

Type:  Green

Region:  Anji Zhejiang, China

Bought At:  Adagio.com

Price:  $3 for a 10-cup sample

First Impressions:  Grassy, Mildly Sweet Smelling

Review:

This week is Anji Duet, another green tea completely new to me.  I thought it would be similar to last week’s Green Needle, but it actually was quite different.  It is a very light green tea, though not necessarily sweet like most. It doesn’t have any bitterness,  just a crisp, light flavor.  It actually reminded me of white tea more than most of the darker greens I normally drink.  There is some flavor that I can’t quite put my finger on (maybe a hint of nuttiness?) that keeps it from being bland though.  A smooth and refreshing tea, I think this would be a great tea for anybody who enjoys white tea and is looking to expand into some greens.

My Rating:
3.5 / 5

–brent
 (Teageek.org Founder)

Tea of the Week – Green (Emerald) Needle

Green Tea

Name:  Green Needle

Type:  Green

Region:  Unknown

Bought At:  Adagio.com

Price:  $4 for a 10-cup sample

First Impressions:  Grassy, Hint of Fruitiness

Review:

Got a new order in today with some white tea and a few new greens, this is the first one I tried.  Before that though, let me clarify something that was confusing to me.  The tin I received is labeled “emerald green” but I had ordered green needle.  I chatted with adagio via their website and it seems they had to change “emerald needle” to “green needle” because they got sued by another company who owned that name.  Just thought I would share  that in case any of you were confused too!  On to the tea – It smelled grassy at first, but there was definitely a hint of fruitiness hidden as well.  As far as taste goes it is a milder tea, although it did go down very smooth.  Nothing really overpowering in the flavor category, it is just a nice mellow green with just a hint of a smoky aftertaste.  While it might not be ground breaking, I found it a good day to day tea that more often than not I had finished before I realized it.

My Rating:
3 / 5

–brent
 (Teageek.org Founder)

Tea of the Week – Irish Breakfast

Black Tea

Name:  Irish Breakfast

Type:  Black

Region:  Sri Lanka and India

Bought At:  Adagio.com

Price:  $2 for a 10-cup sample

First Impressions:  Strong, Dark

Review:

Since today was St Patty’s day I thought it would be fitting to try the Irish breakfast that I hadn’t had a chance to drink.  It was a good morning drink, a strong black tea, but not bitter.   Like it’s name it was a lot like the English Breakfast that I enjoy, but a little lighter.  Looked it up and found that it’s a blend of Ceylon from Sri Lanka and Assam from India.  I really liked it with a touch of milk, it smoothed it out nicely.  In the end I think I like English Breakfast a little better, but this would do in a pinch!

My Rating:
3 / 5

–brent
 (Teageek.org Founder)

Tea of the Week – Genmai Cha

Green Tea

Name:  Genmai Cha

Type:  Green

Region:  Japan

Bought At:  Adagio

Price:  $3 for a 10 cup sample

First Impressions:  Popcorn!!

Review:

I was very interested to try Genmai Cha.  I was very intrigued by the popcorn/rice/tea combo and was hoping for something really different.  In that respect, I wasn’t disappointed – it definitely is different!  It has a heavy popcorn smell and taste.  It reminded me most of popcorn that is overcooked to just short of truly burnt.  The tea serves more as an undertone to the rice and popcorn, and was almost lost in their over powerful taste and smell.  Overall, I didn’t really enjoy this.  It was different, but not something I am in a hurry to have again.

My Rating:
2 / 5

–brent
 (Teageek.org Founder)

Tea of the Week – Kukicha

Green Tea

Name:  Kukicha

Type:   Green

Region:  Japan

Bought At:  Adagio

Price:  $2 for a 10 cup sample

First Impressions:  Staw like look and smell

Review:

Kukicha is a tea that I have had before and wasn’t overly impressed with, but I thought I would give it another try.  It does have an interesting appearance, combining stems with the typical tea leaves gives it a very unique look.  As far as taste goes it is okay.  The problem I have with this tea is there is just nothing that jumps out at you.  It’s not that it’s necessarily bad, just sort of “blah.”  It is little on the light side with a grassy aftertaste.  Overall, I’ll drink it, but I don’t think I will order it again when it’s out.

My Rating:
2.5 / 5

–brent
 (Teageek.org Founder)

Book Reviews

Learn

Besides drinking tea, one of the things that I wanted to do this year was learn a little more about tea – its history, how its prepared, what the differences are between the different types, etc.  Along those lines I am planning on reading a few books about tea and thought that I would share my thoughts on them.  If you know of any good ones, be sure to let me know in the comments.  Right now I am reading The Way of Tea and should be done soon.  Hopefully will have the first one up within a week or so.

-brent swisher (Teageek.org Creator)

Tea of the Week – Rhubarb Green

Green Tea

Name:  Rhubarb Green

Type:  Green

Region:  Unknown

Bought At:  Adagio

Price:  $2 for a 10 cup sample

First Impressions:  Sweet, almost sugary smell

Review:

This week I tried a green I have had for a little while but never tried: Rhubarb Green.  I was curious at the sweet smell because I was expecting it to have a hint of sourness to it (Like real rhubarb).  It has a lighter taste, and is very pleasant and sweet.  I have to say it didn’t remind me too much of rhubarb.  It isn’t earthly or smoky like some greens.  It is sweet, with just a hint of sour.  Overall a good tea, it provided a nice break from some of the more intense greens that I have had.

My Rating:
3.5 / 5

–brent
(TeaGeek.org Founder)

Tea of the Week – Dongshan Dolce

Green Tea

Name:  Dongshan Dolce

Type:  Green

Region:  Zhejiang, China

Bought At:  Adagio

Price:  $3 for a 10 cup sample

First Impressions:  Sweet grassy smell

Review:

The second of my new green teas is Dongshan Dolce from Adagio.  The tea leaves themselves have a sweet grassy smell that reminds me of alfalfa.  The tea itself is a mild green with a very mellow flavor.  Slightly sweet, it is a very smooth cup of tea.  It is a little “grassy” tasting, but not to the point that it is unpleasant at all.  Not a new favorite, but still a nice cup of tea, especially for true green tea lovers.

My Rating:

3.5 / 5

–brent
(TeaGeek.org Founder)