China Cangyuan Yunnan Organic Black Tea from Simpson & Vail…oh…how I adore, thee!
I’m not going to hide it! I’ll shout it from the rooftops, folks! I think this is a fantastic loose leaf wonder!
It’s been said time and time again that Yunnan teas are particularly delightful as breakfast or early afternoon teas. I would have to agree! When I first experienced this lovely cup it was bright and early in the morning and it surely slapped my butt and got me moving and ready to face my day!
This tea is described as an exquisite organic tea that is grown in Cangyuan county which is a remote location in western Yunnan. To give you a visual of this loose leaf is has long black, tippy leaves ‘interspersed with ample golden buds’ (S&V’s phrase – not mine – but I couldn’t think of a better way to put it). This lovely tea brews to an amber colored cup with the slight aroma of pipe tobacco and a smooth, creamy, slightly sweet full-bodied taste. That pipe tobacco aroma reminds me of my grandfather and brings back some of memorable quirks that I will NEVER forget!
This is more than a cup of tea for me. It’s flashes and flickers of my grandfather with his smirky grin, his joking around, his strut, his overall being. It’s funny what aromas trigger, isn’t it?
Thanks S&V for this trip down memory lane – and a terrific cup of tea – to boot!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Simpson and Vail
Description
Yunnan, known as the birthplace of tea, is a province in southwestern China that borders Vietnam, Burma, and Laos. Yunnan translates literally to “south of the clouds”. Its diverse landscape offers everything from tropical rainforests to mountainous terrain and is home to a wide variety of plant species. The Yunnan region focuses heavily on agricultural production.
Yunnan teas are particularly delightful as breakfast or early afternoon teas.
This exquisite organic tea is grown in Cangyuan county, a remote location in western Yunnan. It is comprised of long black and tippy leaves interspersed with ample golden buds. It brews to an amber colored cup with the slight aroma of pipe tobacco and a smooth, creamy, slightly sweet full-bodied taste.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Honey Gingerbread Pancake Yunnan Tea from A Quarter To Tea. . . .
Even the name of this tea is downright exciting! It is beautiful to look at, with pearly Yunnan snail black tea as the base. And with pancake in the name, I had to have it for Sunday breakfast with the family!
The dominant aroma is ginger. I also found it to be the dominant flavor. (It really reminds me of fall and Christmas because that is the only time we use much ginger. Note to self – get more near the holidays!) The black tea base is strong enough to come through and not be masked by the added flavors, though. They didn’t skimp there.
I took mine sans additions and found it to be awesome as a breakfast tea, but it would also be very good with afternoon sweets.
My husband sniffed it and said, “It is okay, but you know I don’t care for ginger much and I don’t prefer flavored teas.” He then proceeded to empty the pot by drinking three cups in a row. So I guess that is a thumbs up for this flavored tea. He always adds milk and sugar to black tea and this tea can handle it.
I resteeped and I must say the Yunnan snail base performed beautifully. Of course the added flavors are diminished, but this still has nice, rich color and as much flavor as many teas have on their first steep, making it a wonderful follow-up to sip on through the morning.
Looking at their website to learn more about this tea, I saw and just had to order some Badger Breakfast Tea, too! I can’t wait to get that one and review it! German hops in tea? Yes, please!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: A Quarter To Tea
Description
A malty, high quality yunnan tea offers a platform for this sweet breakfast treat of cinnamon, ginger, spices, and honey.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Peach Crostata Yunnan Tea from A Quarter to Tea. . . .
I have never had a peach crostata. After having this tea, I sure would like to have some.
I have never had a peach crostata. After having this tea, I sure would like to have some.
I have had several peach teas and some are candy-like and some have a high, thin alcohol note from peach flavoring as it tries to mimic fresh peaches. This tea was all baked peaches and warmth, oven roasted deliciousness and heavenly scents. The tea had really nice body to go with the baked vibe, so you really know you are drinking TEA and good base at that.
The most surprising thing about this tea was that we re-steeped it for four minutes…and it was great. The color was still good and only slightly lighter than the first steep. The tea base still gave out lots of flavor and the peach was there, too. Then…another steep a good as the second. Then….how can it be? A fourth steep from that same original teaspoon of leaf came out just as tasty and still had lots of peach flavor. Even on steep four there was no doubt that we were drinking a peach tea. At no point did I taste really strong anise. Perhaps I didn’t get a piece in my infuser but I didn’t miss it, although I like anise and would not have objected to anise flavor being more prevalent.
Lots of teas re-steep pretty well, but usually the flavor either of the tea base or of the flavorings diminishes so much that the latter cups don’t have a huge resemblance to the first. The staying power of this tea was really impressive. Heck, I may even try for infusion number five!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: A Quarter To Tea
Description
A take on a late medieval version of a peach crostata, with warming spices and a rich peach flavor.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Apple Crisp from A Quarter To Tea. . . . .
Well, this blend has me curious because I can see pieces of oats! I mean, come on, we all know the best part about apple crisp is the cinnamon, sugar, and oat topping. I really love fall and I really love fall desserts. I mean don’t get me wrong, spring is great, but right now I am wishing for fall. Especially after drinking this blend. With every sip I am dying to go apple picking and then come home and make a freshly baked apple crisp!
I am dead serious when I say that steeped, this blend smells just like apple crisp. Cinnamon, oats, apples, brown sugar….its got everything! I steeped this for 4 minutes and I used just a small dash of agave to sweeten it up and bring out the flavors. I think that this is definitely fall comfort in a cup. I wish so bad that I was sitting on a front porch looking out at the pretty orange, red, and yellow leaves while drinking this! Okay fall is definitely my favorite season and it cant come back fast enough!
On taste, the Yunnan is very smooth and the apples & cloves are present. It slightly resembles apple cider. I don’t know if the oats completely translated over like I had hoped, but you can taste them if you’re looking for them at the end of the sip. Im not sure that I would say that this tastes just like apple crisp, like it smells. I think that if I didn’t know what this tea was called I would call it maybe apple cider. Either way, its very yummy and definitely screams fall and comfort!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black Tea
Where to Buy: A Quarter To Tea
Description
Sweet apples with warming hints of cinnamon and clove paired with touches of caramel cream, brown sugar, and toasted oat.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Yunnan Imperial from Tea and Tins
Hello Tea Friends!
Anyone who knows me is aware I adore Yunnan teas, that is why I jumped at the chance to review this one. I’m going to jump straight into the review so I c an get my ‘drink’ on.
Opening the packet reveals dark brown leaves that are long and thin with quite a few golden tips among them. The leaves appear to be good quality ie no discolouration or holes, and they were 3/4 in length for the most part so pretty full leaf with a few broken parts here and there.They have a slight smoky wood scent that is also dry.
Steeping Parameters: 1 tsp. Boiling Water. 3 minutes.
The resulting tea soup is mahogany in colour and bares a malt scent with a touch of smoke. Not as wooden nor dry as it’s raw state.
The first few sips reveal a rich, malt flavour that is sour and with a soft smoke aftertaste. Little astringency considering there is no milk nor sweetener. As it cools it becomes thicker and the smoke increases though remains in the aftertaste. Wonderful mouth feel as it cools a little more, filling my mouth with sour malt and smoke. Beautiful.
This had good flavours and was easy to drink, even without milk or sweetener. The ‘gulpability’ of this tea is a good! I recommend this for other Yunnan fans, or anyone looking for a good straight tea.
Happy Steeping!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: Tea and Tins
Description:
The principal growing regions in Yunnan are located in altitudes of 4,000 to 6,500 feet. At annual average temperatures between 53 F and 73 F, high-grade, black and green qualities are produced.
The very large portion of large, golden leaf tips gives the full sweet-spicy taste and malty, soft aftertaste to the Yunnan Imperial. The large leaf is dark, matt green and contains many bronze-colored tips, the infusion is heavy and dark.