Category: Green Tea

  • Shī Fēng Lóng Jǐng Lǜ Chá, 狮峰龙井绿茶, Lion Peak Dragon Well Green Tea

    Spring 2023; C. sinensis var. Longjing #43; Wenjiashan Village, West Lake, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province; 330m, bud and one leaf, green tea process; #TodaysTea, #今天的茶, #JīnTiāndeChá, #Tea, #茶, #Chá.

    The dry leaves are pale green with a yellow cast, flat and brittle, with a sweet, biscuity, & candy scent, with a hint of sherbet lollies. The wet leaves are mottled yellow to green colour with spongy bounce, and smell of canned green peas, or cooked green vegetables. 3-4g of dried leaf was infused in 150ml of RO water for 30sec. @80°C. 

    The tea liquor is a very pale yellow colour, buttery and has a slightly vegetal scent. In the mouth it is initially light, and watery, becoming moderately viscous without any cloying stickiness. It is stimulating, mouthwatering, and astringent, followed by a lingering minerality. In general, its taste is fresh, stimulating, creamy and light, peppery and mildly bitter, with a fresh, stimulating, sweet vegetable,and menthol-like finish.

    This tea was sourced direct from the tea farm and makers in Wenjiashan, Hangzhou. They told me that there are 3 Longjing varietals, Old Leaf, #47, and #43. #43 is a newer varietal that has been developed to create a softer, milder, sweeter tea experience in the cup. 

    Over the past few years, I have sampled several versions of Long Jing Tea, including another from the Shi Feng region. Looking back over my tasting notes I am now starting to see, and taste, what might be attributable to, “terror” in the cup. (correction: “terroir…” 😜 )

  • Huáng Jīn Yá Lǜ Chá, 黃金芽绿茶, Golden Bud Green Tea

    C. sinensis var. “Huang Jin Ya”; Anji County, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, 600-1000m, Spring 2021 (early spring pluck), one bud & two leaves, green tea process. #TodaysTea, #今天的茶, #JīnTiāndeChá, #Tea, #茶, #Chá.

    The tea’s dry leaves are flat and pressed, with a khaki yellow color, and they smell light, dusty, and vegetal with a hint of licorice. When wet, the leaves appear soft, supple, and have a pale, yellow color. The wet leaves also have a vegetal scent that reminiscent of boiled corn or cooked greens. 3g of tea was infused in 120ml of water at 80°C for 10-20 sec. The tea liquor has a light, slightly floral, cotton candy sweet scent and a pale, yellow, glossy appearance. It’s slightly oily shimmer also adds to its beauty. In the mouth, the tea is stimulating, creamy, somewhat viscous, with a mild bitterness. After several cups there is a late onset of astringency followed by a pleasant, lingering, palate-cleansing sweetness.

  • Què Cháo Gōng Sī Qū Pǐn De Xīng Bā Kè Mǒ Chá Ná Tiě, 雀巢公司出品的星巴克抹茶拿铁, Starbucks Matcha Latte by Nestlé Dolce Gusto

    late Spring 2022; C. sinensis var. (unknown); (Possibly from) Aiya Co. Nishio, Aichi, or Wazuka, Kyoto, Japan &/or China; Processed in Vietnam; #TodaysTea, #今天的茶, #JīnTiāndeChá, #Tea, #茶, #Chá.

    Two capsules (m non-dairy creamer, and tea powder blend) were pressure infused with 80ml water per capsule at 70-80 C.

    The flavour of the Matcha is lost, in the milk and the sugar which dominates the drink. The mouthfeel is sticky and cloying, underpinned by a powdery sensation from the Tea.

    Not a fan, not by any tick of the clock. (Tickety-tock!)

  • Què Cháo Dolce Gusto Uji Mǒ Chá Lǜ Chá, 雀巢 Dolce Gusto Uji 抹茶绿茶, Nestlé Dolce Gusto Uji Matcha Green Tea

    Spring 2022; C. sinensis var. (blend of Uji varietals); Uji, Kyoto, Japan; #TodaysTea, #今天的茶, #JīnTiāndeChá, #Tea, #茶, #Chá.

    Pressure infused tea powder with 80ml of water at 70-80C.

    The tea liquor is a murky, but vibrant dark green colour with a thick, pale green creama on top. 

    In the mouth, it is powdery, thick, viscous, and it tastes slightly bitter, floury, grassy, and has a long – loooong, lingering, slightly sweet, nutty, vegetal aftertaste. Strong and Assertive.

  • Yǒng Xī Huǒ Qīng Zhū Lǜ Chá, 涌溪火青珠绿茶, Yongxi Huoqing (Gunpowder) Green Tea

    (Sometimes called Jade Fire); C. sinensis, var. yongxi liuyezhong (Yongxi Willow-leaf varietal); Producer Hu Chuansi, Yongxi Village, Jing County, Xuancheng City, Anhui Province, 700m; Spring (April) 2021, bud and two leaves, pan fried, green tea process, ball rolled (pin head). #TodaysTea#今天的茶#JīnTiāndeChá#Tea#茶#Chá.

    Dark green ball rolled leaves with pale yellowish highlights and smell of baked biscuits, pale malt. The wet leaves are sage-green with yellowish cast, and have a vegetal aroma like steamed green vegetables, or cooked green beans.

    5.5g of dry leaves (1 tsp per person + 1 for the pot) was infused in 200ml of water for 30sec@85-95deg. C rendering a pale yellow brewed tea liquor, with a faint steamed snow pea, and honey aroma. In the mouth it has a creamy texture, mildly peppery, a light bitterness, and astringency, followed by a lingering mouthwatering sweetness, and mineral finish. It’s taste is sweet, malty, honeyish, and milky, with a long, lingering anise bitterness on the tip of the tongue.

    I’m in my happy place… la, la-la, la-la…

    The following video in Chinese (with English subtitles), explains where this tea comes from. It’s a fascinating watch – Uploaded to Youtube by “Tea Fairy Bao Lili.” (source from: Top Tea Life)

  • Nán Jīng Yǔ Huā Chá, 南京雨花茶, Nanjing Yuhua Tea, (Rain Flower Green Tea)

    C. sinensis var. unknown; Jiangnan Tea Market, Nanjing County, Jiangsu Province, 20-50m; early Spring, 2021, bud and leaf, traditional hand-made tea, pine needle shaping; #TodaysTea#今天的茶#JīnTiāndeChá#Tea#茶#Chá.

    small 1-2.5 cm long, dry mostly straight leaves with a pine needle shape, are dark brown and yellowy-silver in colour and have short bread biscuit, or Danish cookie scent with a pronounced, buttery greenness. The wet leaves are uniform, vibrant green colour and have a watermelon rind aroma, with hints of Clementine segments, passionfruit, and Monstera deliciosa (Fruit Salad Plant).

    3-4g of dry leaf was infused in 180ml of water for 30sec.@80-85 deg. C. The brewed tea liquor is a very pale yellow-green colour with a light, sweet, fruity scent. In the mouth it is thick, viscous, mildly stimulating and fresh, with an early sweet finish, followed by a lingering, gentle, minerality, whilst the taste is bready, biscuity, buttery, fruity, sweet, finishing with a lingering hint of liquorice.

    Highly drinkable.

    Enjoy the video – it was fun making this one…

  • Rì Zhào Lǜ Chá, 日照绿茶, Rizhao (Sunshine) Green Tea;

    C. sinensis var. unknown; Rizhao, ShandongProvince, Rizhao Original Green Tea Base, elev. unknown; Spring, 2021, Bud and 1 leaf, hand rolled, baked green tea process; #TodaysTea#今天的茶#JīnTiāndeChá#Tea#茶#Chá.

    Today I’m feeling braindead, just want something to drink…

  • Nán Jīng Yǔ Huā Lǜ Chá, 南京雨花绿茶, Nanjing Rain Flower Green Tea

    C. sinensis var. unknown; Yuhuatai, Rain Flower Terrace, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 20-50m; early Spring, 2017, immature bud and leaf, traditional hand-made tea, pine needle shaping, green tea process; #TodaysTea#今天的茶#JīnTiāndeChá#Tea#茶#Chá.

    The small 1-2.5 cm long, dry leaves are relatively pine needle straight, a dark brown and greeny-silver colour and have a sour, “old,” and vaguely fruity scent. The wet leaves are uniformly yellowish-green, and open up to reveal plump small buds with one to two leaves, with a biscuity, nutty, marzipan aroma.

    3-4g of dry leave was infused in a clay pot with 150ml of water for 20-30sec.@80-90 deg. C., producing a pale yellow tea liquor with a faint, sweet, honeyish scent. in the mouth it is creamy, mildly stimulating and fresh, with a sweet finish, followed by a lingering, gentle, minerality, whilst the taste is pleasant, buttery, and semi-sweet, but seems somewhat muted.

    Green tea usually has a 1-2 year shelf life depending on storage. This tea is now 4 years old. It has moved from China to Europe and back. It was clear stored in Europe, and shelf stored in Shanghai. Inspire of this it has held up quite well, but perhaps is now nearing its end.

    The name Yǔ Huā is from a Buddhist legend where a Zen master lectured around the area of Nanjing, declaring that if his teachings were true, flowers would rain from the heavens. When this Zen master taught his dharma, flowers rained! — Perhaps thistle would be better translated as, “Raining Flowers” Green Tea? 😜

  • Lóng Jǐng Lǜ Chá, 龙井绿茶, Dragon Well Green Tea

    C. sinensis var. unknown; Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, 200m?; Spring, 2020, one bud and leaf, green tea process. #TodaysTea#今天的茶#JīnTiāndeChá#Tea#茶#Chá.

    The dried leaves are a yellowy-green colour, flat and brittle, with an aromatic, fragrant, cotton candy, somewhat eggy aroma.
    The wet leaves are uniformly yellowing-green with a vegetal, overcooked green beans aroma.

    3g of dry leaf was infused in 150ml of water for 20 sec@80-85 deg. C., and the brewed tea liquor was a pale yellow, mostly clear color, with a mild vegetal, and faint scrambled egg scent. In the mouth it is luscious, creamy, viscous, with mild peppery tingle, and a lingering, slight astringency whilst the taste is subtly vegetal, with hints of a slow to arise lingering sweetness with late floral notes.

  • Shī Fēng Lóng Jǐng Lǜ Chá, 狮峰龙井绿茶, Lion Peak Dragon Well Green Tea

    C. sinensis var. #43; Hangzhou Shifeng Tea Co., Shifeng Mountain, Xihu District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, 200-300 meters; Spring, 2019, 1 leaf & 1 bud, green tea process. #TodaysTea#今天的茶#JīnTiāndeChá#Tea#茶#Chá.

    The dry leaves are pale green with a yellow cast, flat and brittle, with a sweet, malty, candy/caramel scent, kinda like boiled lollies. The wet leaves are mottled yellow to green colour with spongy bounce, and smell of canned green peas, cooked cooked green vegetables.

    3g of dry leaf was infused in 150ml of water for 10-15sec@85deg. C., the brewed tea liquor was pale yellow with almost no noticeable aroma. In the mouth it is thin, creamy, buttery, and tastes slightly herbal/grassy, nutty, has a soft peppery or mint-like bite in the finish, and a gently sweet, lingering aftertaste, with late hints of liquorice.

    Lion Peak (Shifeng) mountain is located near West Lake, in Hangzhou. The best tea bushes apparently grow in white sandy soil. Longing is widely considered to be one of the best teas in China. This tea from Lion’s is pleasant and engaging.