Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Teavivre
Tea Description:
Being the first one among Fujian’s three best Gong Fu Black Teas (Bai Lin Gong Fu, Zheng He Gong Fu, Tan Yang Gong Fu), Tan Yang Gong Fu Black Tea has tight and thin leaves, looks glossy, which could be seen from TeaVivre’s product photo. When looking at this tea, the golden pekoe is particularly eye-catching, strongly connected to its high quality. Under the effect of photosynthesis, fresh buds contain the largest amount of beneficial substances than other parts. Moreover, the traditional making method of black tea has retained the nutrition in the most volume.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Having tried several different Fujian Gong Fu Black Teas, including Teavivre’s stunning Bailin Gongfu Black Tea, I was looking forward to trying this Superfine Tan Yang Gong Fu Black Tea from Teavivre. But, my previous experiences with Fujian black teas did not prepare me for what this tea had in store!
This is simply different!
It is still quite similar to other Fujian black teas in that it has the sweet, satisfying flavors of chocolate and caramel. But whereas most of the Fujian black teas with which I’ve had experience would be vaguely reminiscent of say, an Assam in its rich, malty tone, this Superfine Tan Yang Gong Fu Black Tea is much more reminiscent of a Ceylon. It has that bright, brisk tone to the cup that reminds me of a very high-quality Ceylon, but with the sweet, chocolate-y and caramel-y tones that I love from a Fujian black. With this tea I get the best of both of those teas in one cup!
This tea is not quite as rich and not quite as full-bodied, in my opinion, but that isn’t a bad thing. Sometimes, a crisp, exhilarating cuppa like this is just what you want! This would make an exceptional afternoon cup – it makes a great pick-me-up for those times when you’re starting to feel yourself wind down but you still have stuff to get done. This will help energize you without causing you to start bouncing off the walls!
This is a pleasantly sweet tea, as I mentioned before, with notes of chocolate and caramel, but there is also a sweet fruit note to this as well. I think that the lightness to this tea allows the fruit notes to express themselves a little better than in a typical Fujian black tea. Hints of a flower seem to float in the far-off distance.
A really enjoyable cup of tea – courtesy of Teavivre – a name that has become synonymous with fine teas!
Organic Superfine Keemun Fragrant Black Tea from Teavivre
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Teavivre
Tea Description:
Keemun Black Tea is one of the four famous black tea in the world, while Keemun Fragrant Black tea is one of the best of it. Keemun Fragrant Black tea only use spring tea leaves as material, in the form of one bud and two leaves. Making process of this tea will take 8 – 9 hours, including lightly sun withering, rolling, fermentation, drying, and manual kneading. The dry leaves are tight and thin. Keemun Fragrant Black tea is fully fermented, presenting a color of coppery red, and revealing abundant golden buds. The unique Keemun fragrance and fruity floral flavor makes the tea suitable for either brewing with Gaiwan or drinking with milk.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When a tea has ‘fragrant’ in its name, you know you just have to smell it! The dry leaf possesses a deliciously wonderful aroma. I smell notes of cocoa! Deep, rich, dark chocolate notes dominate, while hints of freshly baked bread linger in the background. I can smell a malty tone, as well as notes of caramel. It smells so sweet and rich. The fragrance of the brewed tea is much softer when compared to the dry leaf, but, it is still very alluring. So much so that it beckons me to take a sip!
Wow … so good. This is the Keemun I’d recommend to someone who usually finds Keemun to be on the smoky side, because while there are some whispers of smoke in the distance, they are such distant notes that they’re barely distinguishable. This tea focuses on the sweeter side of Keemun with pronounced notes of cocoa, malt, and caramel.
It is also a milder Keemun. Many Keemun teas are very invigorating and have a hefty, almost rugged kind of flavor and texture … a good amount of gusto. And while this Keemun is indeed invigorating in its own way, it doesn’t have that same robust boldness that other Keemun teas that I’ve tasted possess. That is not to say that this tea lacks anything in terms of flavor, because this tea is incredibly full flavored.
Instead, I would say that this tea, while stern in its own way, takes the softer, “nice cop” approach. It tempts the drinker with its sweet, delicious notes of chocolate and warm, freshly baked bread. It entices the drinker with its luscious caramel tones and envelops you in the delicious complexity. Rather than strong-arming the drinker to an alert state of mind, it lulls the drinker into a sense of attentive consciousness. It’s really quite lovely!
Organic Superfine Dragon Well Long Jing from Teavivre
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Teavivre
Tea Description:
This Organic Dragon Well Long Jing tea origins in organic tea base of Tianmu Mountain in Lin’an, Hangzhou. The organic tea base of Tianmu Mountain, has passed the organic certification of European, USA and Japan, is a significant base of planting organic dragon well and green tea. This dragon well long jing tea persists a high level in picking and producing while meeting the standard of organic certification. The tea should be picked as one bud and two leaves or three leaves in order to reach the standard. Tea workers also have excellent skills, which help keep the natural features of fresh tea leaves. Combined with the advantages of organic tea and high grade tea, this dragon well long jing tea is suitable for tea lovers of organic tea as well as dragon well green tea.
Learn more about this green tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I like Dragon Well tea (I didn’t always, but that’s another story), so it doesn’t surprise me that I’m enjoying this Organic Superfine Long Jing from Teavivre. I knew I’d like it. And I do.
But, what I didn’t expect is how much I’d like it. This is one of the very best – if not the best – Dragon Well teas I’ve encountered. It tastes so crisp and clean. It tastes sweet and slightly vegetative, with buttery undertones. Vaguely reminiscent of steamed fresh veggies – sweet, mild tasting veggies. Like fresh lima beans with just a touch of melted butter. Delicious and mouthwatering!
What I really like about this tea, though, is not the vegetable taste but the taste of freshly roasted chestnuts! Because of this sweet, nutty flavor, it tastes very much like autumn to me, and is making me look forward to a time when it will be cool enough to start a fire in the fireplace and roast some chestnuts! YUM!
Drinking this Long Jing offers a great sense of calm and satisfaction, but at the same time, I can feel it rejuvenate me. I feel invigorated as I drink it – but not so invigorated that I am bouncing off the walls. It leaves me feeling refreshed and relaxed.
Another exceptional tea from a company that seems to offer nothing but exceptional teas – Teavivre!