TeaQuest

On a quest to enjoy the unique beauty of teas around the world, one cup at a time.

[teaquesting]

DaYuLing Oolong

This rare competition grade Oolong won first place at the North American Tea Championship 2012 in the Green Oolong class. Once you breathe in its luscious aroma, you will absolutely understand why. It is unlike any Oolong I have ever tasted: its gentle, yet complex and sweet. The quality of this tea is attributed to the incredibly high mountains it is grown on, above 2000m in Taiwan. This height leaves the tea trees shrouded in fog and slows the growing of the leaves.

You can only truly appreciate the beauty of the flavor by taking slow sips and massaging the liqueur around your tongue. The first taste on the tip of your tongue is vastly different from the honeyed aftertaste left behind. The sweet, creamy aftertaste, is what made me fall in love with this DaYuLing.

This tea will be appreciated by all, but should be given the appropriate time and attitude to come to life in the drinker's mind.

Brew Method:

Water: 165F - 200ml filtered

Tea: 1 tablespoon DaYuLing Oolong

Time: 45 seconds

Teaware: Vivid Brewpot

Steeps: Up to 5 (2nd steep is my favorite, add 15s per add'l steep)

Where to find it:

MountainTea Co. - 2oz - $25.

On the beauty of DaYuLing teas:

"DaYuLing oolong tea is one of the rarest and most sought after teas.  Grown at elevations higher than 2000m above sea level, DaYuLing tea is exceptionally aromatic and sweet.  Our offering is no exception. " - MountainTea website

[teaquesting]

Organic Handpicked Midori First Flush Sencha

A few days ago I tried this handpicked midori sencha from NaturaliTea as part of the Yunomi.us tea club. It’s definitely a very unique tea and unlike most other senchas I’ve had. At first taste, I hate to admit, it was not quite the tea for me. The astringency of it during my first warm water steeping left a very bitter aftertaste on my tongue. However, it also has an overwhelming umami flavor—which I am learning to love—akin to well grown gyokuro. I think with an even lower temperature and shorter first steep, this tea could be quite good.

On the second and third steepings, the tea grew on me. I switched back to the traditional 175F water temperature and short steep time. The umami flavor persisted somewhat, but the bitterness was toned down quite a bit. What was left was a slightly more savory sencha that still tipped towards the bitter side. 

I wouldn’t recommend this tea to beginners. However if you are looking to try something new and expand your teabuds, give it a sip!

Brew Method:

Water: 120F & 150ml (1st steep); 175F water & 300ml (2nd steep)

Tea: 4g Organic Handpicked Midori First Flush Sencha

Time: 3 minutes (1st steep); 30 seconds (2nd steep)

Teaware: Indigo Tokusa Kyusu 400ml

Where to find it:

Yunomi.us Tea Shop - 10g - $5.50

[teaquesting]

Samovar Ryokucha

This ryokucha is delicious! It is like genmaicha on crack. In addition to the standard genmaicha—which is a blend of genmai (toasted rice) and sencha (japanese green tea)—this ryokucha is blended with matcha powder. The matcha expands the flavor with a vibrant earthiness and paints the tea a rich green.

This is a perfect everyday tea for beginners and experts alike.

Brew Method:

Water: 175F - 325ml filtered

Tea: 4g ryokucha

Time: 45 seconds

Teaware: Vivid Brewpot

Steeps: Up to 3 (matcha starts to wear out after 3)

Where to find it:

Samovarlife.com - 5oz - $35

In person at a Samovar tea lounge