Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Radiance Tea House
Tea Description:
Like a symphony to the senses, you will discover an ensemble of fragrances that will delight the palette.
Taster’s Review:
This tea – the third and final tea from my March “Perfect Pairs” Steepster Select Box – is full of surprises!
Before opening the pouch, the name of the tea suggests to me that it is a white tea. “Snow Buds” sounds like a white tea, doesn’t it? And when I opened the pouch, I was greeted with large, pale green leaves covered in fluffy silver fuzz that gave it the appearance of a very high quality Bai Mu Dan.
The dry leaf aroma is fruity, reminiscent of fresh peaches, a scent I did not expect. My mouth actually began to water, it smelled so delicious.
The brewed tea is very pale, and again, it appears to be more like a white tea than a green tea. But the truth is in the flavor. And while it doesn’t taste as “green” as some other green teas that I’ve tried, for it lacks much of that grassy/vegetal flavor that green teas possess, it tastes more like a green tea to me than it does a white. Then again, it does have some similarities to a white tea, too.
The flavor is delicate, but not as delicate as a white tea. It has a creaminess to it, and it is remarkably sweet, reminiscent of rock sugar candy. The fruity tones are there too, with background notes of peach and possibly a hint of apricot. It is very smooth and has a broth-y kind of mouthfeel. There is virtually no astringency to this cup, only smooth, rich flavor.
Really, they can call it what they like. Green tea or white tea, this tea is fantastic. I am really glad that this was part of the Steepster Select box, and that I had this opportunity to try it. It is SO good!
Coconut Pouchong from Golden Moon Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Pouchong
Where to Buy: Golden Moon Tea
Tea Description:
This South Pacific delicacy is composed of long, green leaves of rare elegance that produce a serene, light Cocount Pouchong tea. The subtle nectar of young coconut instills a tropical sweetness in this exquisite bouquet. Because of its simple sweetness, you will enjoy this delicious loose leaf Coconut Pouchong tea hot or iced.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
As I have already tasted and reviewed this tea previously, you might think that I was less than enthused to have received it as part of this month’s Steepster Select box. But, truth be told, I was actually quite happy to have more of this tea! It’s one of my favorites from Golden Moon Tea and I’m very pleased to be able to revisit it.
The theme for this month’s Steepster Select is “Perfect Pairs.” On the theme card, Steepster wrote this about the theme:
Some things just go better together. Like wine, the complexity and range of flavors in tea make it a perfect complement to many meals. Pairing these not only accentuate the taste of both but helps train your palate to identify and relate flavors.
I was very happy with this theme, mostly because tea pairings is something that interests me as well. With most of the food reviews on my foodie blog, I try to include a tea suggestion on each post, and while I do not consider myself an expert on what flavor profiles go best with what types of foods, I know what tastes good to me. I thought it would be interesting to explore the idea of “Perfect Pairs” with Steepster’s recommendations. Here is what they recommended with this tea:
Pair with: Chocolate. The sweet nuttiness of coconut is a classic dessert pairing that blends smoothly with a hearty chocolate flavor. The light flowery oolong notes soften the richness of chocolate for an ideal balance. We have Marcus from Golden Moon Tea to thank for our Coconut Pouchong. A childhood visit to Hong Kong and a quick stop at a parisian tea house after culinary school cemented his love for unique flavors which carries through to his many offerings today.
So, I rummaged through my stash to find an appropriate piece of chocolate… unfortunately (well, not unfortunately for me, but unfortunate for the purposes of this review) most of the chocolate that I have on hand at the moment are confection type of chocolates … however, I did come across a bit of raw dark chocolate from Stirs the SOUL that I happened to have on hand.
Raw chocolate lacks the richness that the roasting process imparts on the chocolate … and I really noticed that with this pairing. However, I also noticed how the flavors of the Coconut Pouchong really came into focus with this simple pairing. The Coconut Pouchong really brought out some of the fruitier aspects of the chocolate, which really appealed to me. While the chocolate is not quite as rich with the roasted flavor, the pairing brought out the deeper flavors of the raw chocolate that I did not notice before, and I love how the fresh coconut really POPS when chocolate becomes part of the tasting.
I can’t wait to try this coconut Pouchong with the Hot Chocolate On A Stick that I have coming later this month!
Organic Dragon Well from Rishi Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Rishi Tea
Tea Description:
Dragon Well (Long Jing) is the most famous Chinese green tea, named after the Dragon’s Well landmark in the West lake area of the Zhejiang, where the tea originated. Dragon Well is a pan-fired green tea flat fried by hand in large woks one small batch at a time. This artisan processing technique yields a tea with leaves shaped like the blade of a sword. Each spring, during the prime Dragon Well harvest, we select a unique quality that has a balance of fresh green and smooth toasted flavors. Rishi’s Dragon Well is mellow and smooth with a fresh bittersweet finish and roasted chestnut aroma.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This month’s Steepster Select Box was a celebration of the Chinese New Year which marked the beginning of the Year of the Dragon. To celebrate this occasion, the Steepster Select Box included three Chinese teas: Two Dragons and a Pearl; a flowering tea from Teavivre; Dragon Well (Long Jing) from Rishi Tea; and Pheonix Yunnan Gold from Tea Valley. The flowering tea and the Yunnan tea are two teas that were new to me, and I’ve already reviewed them this month, but this Organic Dragon Well from Rishi Tea is one that I’m familiar with as I reviewed it several years ago.
This Dragon Well holds a somewhat special place in my heart as it represents the first Dragon Well tea that I tasted that I enjoyed, having had somewhat of a bad experience with a Dragon Well quite some time ago, I was hesitant to try it again. Since that time, I’ve realized that I’m actually fond of most Dragon Well teas, and I therefore must assume that it was how I brewed the tea, and not the tea itself that I found distasteful those many years ago.
The tea has a light to medium body and a crispness to it that is quite refreshing. It is sweet and smooth, with a very pleasing nutty flavor in the background. While the description on the Rishi website (provided above) describes this nutty flavor as a chestnut taste, I find it also tasting vaguely of roasted almonds, a flavor that is especially pronounced toward the finish. It tastes very much the way I think a roasted nut butter made of both almonds and chestnuts might taste.
While this Dragon Well has a somewhat grassy taste to it, I find that the grassy flavor can be toned down significantly by lowering the water temperature to just 175°F and steeping for about 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. With this cup, I taste almost no grassy tones, only a hint of it in the distance.
A delicious Dragon Well, one that I’m very happy to be enjoying again!
Phoenix Yunnan Gold from Tea Valley
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tea Valley
Tea Description:
Our Phoenix Yunnan Gold is quickly becoming a favorite in our fine selection. The lasting sweetness in every cup will keep you brewing for more. If you enjoy black teas, this is certainly not one you would want to miss out on.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve been busy trying to get my tea stash organized – that’s my only excuse with being so behind on reviewing the teas from February’s Steepster Select box! Of all the months to be behind … February is not the month is not the month I would have chosen (fewer days to get caught up!)
This is the first of the three teas that I’m reviewing, and it is the only black tea of the three selections. This month’s theme is “Year of the Dragon” to commemorate the Chinese New Year. About their choice of this tea, Steepster stated:
The Yunnan Gold varietal uses the robust leaves of classic Yunnan black teas with a healthy portion of young, golden buds. In Chinese culture, the Phoenix is a complement to the dragon, forming both sides of Yin and Yang respectively, and we think the bold, fruity flavor of this brew is a fitting complement to the other teas in this month’s box. It’s a tea for coffee lovers, and it comes to us by way of The Tea Valley, a company founded by a China expatriate named Chaozhou, who returned to his birthplace to rediscover tea and its heritage.
Whatever reason they chose to put this tea in the Steepster Select box for this month, I’m good with it … because this tea is fantastic. It is a richly flavored tea with a delicious spiced overtone. I find that this tea is best served hot, but not piping hot. After it’s had a few moments to cool, the aforementioned spice notes seem to really come alive.
In the above description from the minds at Steepster, they mention that this is a tea for coffee lovers, and I understand where they’re coming from with that statement. It is a very full-flavored tea, quite bold and in that way it is quite similar to coffee. Fortunately, though, this lacks the bitterness that I have experienced with coffee – instead, I get a lovely honey-esque sweet note that I can’t ever recall tasting with coffee.
This is a remarkable Yunnan – deserving of high praise!
“The Big Chill” – January’s Steepster Select Box
I hope you’ll bear with me as I do something a little different with tonight’s post.
As a subscriber to the Steepster Select program, I receive a box with three different teas. Each month there is a different theme. This month’s theme is “The Big Chill.” The box also includes a postcard size card that offers some insight on the theme, as well as the teas that are chosen.
Here is the description of The Big Chill:
For when winter seeps into the bones and dull skies numb the spirit, we have just the teas to warm you through and through.
A smokey black tea, fire crackling at your feet.
A chai with warming spices, heat spreading from sip to fingertips.
A peppermint-blended green tea, the remembrance of holidays past.Seasons greetings from Steepster.
This month, I have already reviewed the smoky black tea and the chai with warming spices, but have not yet reviewed the peppermint-blended green tea. That’s because I already reviewed this tea back in November, and since it was such a short time ago, I didn’t feel the need to review it once again. My thoughts on this tea haven’t changed: it still tastes crisp and minty and refreshing. However, I didn’t want to let January close without having mentioned the third tea.
The teas that were chosen for this month’s Steepster Select were all wonderful teas and were perfect for the chosen theme. The smoky tones of the Lapsang Souchong evokes thoughts of a warm, cozy fire roaring in the fireplace. The spices in the chai warmed me from the inside out, helping me to stave off winter’s cold. And this delicious Moroccan Mint from Earthbound Tea is cool and sweet, reflective of the crisp chill in the air.
I can’t wait to discover what next month’s Steepster Select has in store!