Review: Mystery Pu'erh produced by Yongde Xinwen Tea Factory

One of my new favorite pastimes in African teas to trawl Chinese stores in search of new and exciting teas to try. At the T2000 shop in Kigali (Rwanda), I came across this little number. I was reliably informed by the T2000 lady that its a Pu'erh Shan, as the packet didn't leave me any the wiser about the type tea.

I was a little suspicious given that I'd never seen a loose Pu'erh before and especially since the leaves looked a rather vivid green in the packaging (they are in fact the usual dark brown colour), but decided to give it a go....

Mystery Pu'erh [Black, China] *** $$$

Other Names: ??

Quite a fine little pu'erh tea, earthy and grounding, i'll be interested to see how it does in the taste test against my cake Pu'erh once I get home. It reminds me of the floral pu'erh tea bags I was given from China.

Produced by www.teatf.com

Simliar teas: Ozymandias Pu'erh, Pu'erh, Pu'erh Shan

With my friend Patel in the background, who used to be one of the finest chai makers in east africa before he was converted to being a coffee drinker :(

Review: Chun Mee by Dogan & Acer

Chun Mee, China [Green, Grassy] * $$ -Dogan and Acer, AT

Other Names: Mai Cha

I picked this up on a trip to Vienna but was never very fond of it, slightly grassy in taste and without much of an aroma, I always feel like its a bit of a “nowhere” tea. I returned to it on three different occasions but it never really clicked. I mean, its a typical green tea but otherwise I cant seem to say much about it.

Similar teas: Xin Yang Mao Jian

Review: Alishan Oolong

A simple green oolong that seems to fall somewhere in the spectrum between Vital Leaf's Thousand Mile green tea and Te Guan Yin, both in terms of the quality and floral taste which is in abundance in Te Guan Yin but almost entirely absent in Thousand Mile (a “straight” green tea).

I've occasionally seen Tekoe selling something called Alishan Oolong but I'm unable to determine if Alishan is a standard tea name or not. Internet search doesn't clarify either and tellingly Alishan doesn't show up in the product lists of the highly specialised tea shops.

Alishan Oolong, Taiwan [Green, Floral] *** $$ - Vital Leaf Tea, USA

Other Names: ??

First Brew:

Second Brew:

Similar teas: Te Guan Yin, green oolongs, Zomba Green

Review: LongJing

For some reason, known as the poets tea. For me this wasnt the most accessible tea at first, its grassy and astringent and I found it bitter. After two years of drinking oolongs and Te Guan Yin I revisited it because I found a Japanese [HL] tea I liked. Also due to a shopping error by Alessandra, but in this case it was getting the right tea by accident.

LongJing, China [Green, Grassy] *** $$

Other Names: Dragonswell

Attention: This tea is very sensitive to temperature, make it with boiling water at your peril!

First Brew: Mild taste with noticable grassy aroma

Second Brew: Flavours develop significantly

Similiar teas: Sencha from Japan, grassy chinese teas, Reserve de Sichuan

Review: Tie Luo Han

I found this treasure in Langassetee and it was love at first....bite...or something. There are no words for my obsession for this tea. Well, maybe there are some words....

Tie Luo Han, Taiwan [Blue-Green Oolong, woody] ***** $$$

Other names: Wu Yi Rock Tea

Fresh, fragrant like a garden after the spring rain...this tea is like the more charming younger brother of DaHongPao. The small packet I bought as a special treat practically drank itself, its woodyness is typical of this kind of oolong but there are dark chocolate notes in the fragrance that are just marvelous.

Similar teas: DaHongPao, Thyiolo Oolong, Fancy Oolong

Review: Buddha Hand

Buddha Hand, China [Blue-Green, Floral] *** $$

Other Names: Fo shou

I'm sure this is a close relative of DaHongPao and I just love this family! Sweet to the taste with an ever so slightly woody finish. Gimme More!

Simliar teas: DaHongPao, WuYi

Review: Bai Mu Tan

Bai mu Tan Superior China [White, Floral] *** $$

Other Names: Pai Mu Dan, Bai Mu Dan

The leaves dont give much smell, slightly grassy if anything but I find the smell of this tea exremely comforting....almost milky. Light floral taste with smooth, sweet finish.

Simliar teas: Satemwa antlers

Review: Pu'erh Shan by Langassetee,

Pu'erh Shan, China [Fermented, Tannic] *** $$

Other Names:

Clove, pepper...there's something spicy going on in these leaves, that makes it seem like its food and not tea. Beautiful golden colour brew but packs an unexpected heavy taste, which might turn off some folks, it feels like it should be a much darker tea. 

I think I like it, but I'm not quite sure...however I do generally need to be in the mood for pu'erh.

Simliar teas: ?

Review: White Needle

White Needle, China [White, Floral] *** $$

Other Names:

Heavier colour than Bai mu dan and somewhere between its taste and that of silver needle. A bit like a version of Bai Mu Dan where the astringency and creaminess have been turned up a notch.

Simliar teas: Bai Mu Dan

Review: Te Guan Yin, Cloud Mist

Once Kenny in the tea shop in San Francisco had determined that I liked Te Guan Yin, we set about trying a lot of different types of Te Guan Yin and also various oolongs. I decided to treat myself to a small quantity of this very high quality Te Guan Yin. It wasnt the most expensive variety but i liked this one better than the rest.

Te Guan Yin Cloud Mist, China [Green, Floral] **** $$$$$ - Vital leaf Tea , USA

Other Names: Cloud Mist Iron Goddess

First Brew: Very light flavour and very pale green colour. The smell is a little floral but I would also say vaguely of potatoes boiling. The taste is a little silky.

Second Brew: The silky quality develops a little more and the colour is noticable green

Similiar teas: Green Oolongs in general, floral chinese teas