茶笔 Chá Bǐ – The Tea Pen

Category: Today’s Tea

  • Zá Jiāo Bái Chá, 杂交白茶, Hybridized White Tea

    Autumn, 2020; var. Camelia sinensis (hybridized sub-varietals); (Lucy Wang YNteas Agri Tech Co., Ltd.) Menglian, Yunnan; bud and 1-2 leaves, EU Organic, white tea process; 1400-1800m; #TodaysTea, #今天的茶, #JīnTiāndeChá.

    Infusion: 3g in 150ml for 20-30sec@85-95 deg. C

    Dry Leaf Aroma: spicy, sweet melon, fragrant;
    Wet Leaf Aroma: sweet, palm sugar, vanilla, pleasent;
    Liquor: pale amber with a soft, loquat scent;
    Mouthfeel: creamy, thick, peppery, stimulating, moderately thick finish and mildly fresh, bitter aftertaste;
    Taste: dried tangerine peel, pomello, ginger, with a hint of star-anise/licorice, and very soft honey sweet finish;

    Opinion: This is a pleasant, spicy tea with vague, faint sweet and floral retronasal hints. It is fresh and stimulating on the palate, and drinks easily. I would go so far as to say this is a good candidate breakfast tea.

  • Fó Xiāng Bái Chá, 佛香白茶, Buddhist Incense White Tea

    Autumn, 2020; var. Camelia sinensis (blended sub-varietals); (Lucy Wang YNteas Agri Tech Co., Ltd.) Menglian, Yunnan, (YNteas Agri Tech Co., Ltd.); bud and 1-2 leaves, EU Organic, White tea process; 1400-1800m; #TodaysTea, #今天的茶, #JīnTiāndeChá.

    Infusion: 2x 3 finger pinches in 200ml for 30-40sec@90-100deg. C

    Dry Leaf Aroma: sharp, touch of apricot, and molasses;
    Wet Leaf Aroma: sweet, honey, musk stick, candy cane, sharp, minerally;
    Liquor: dull amber, with a slight candy floss scent;
    Mouthfeel: thick, viscous, syrupy, stimulating, tingling, mouthwatering, astringent, spicy, savoury, with a late onset of sweetness;
    Taste: hints of tangerine, licorice, lychee, with a mild, melon-like sweet finish;

    Opinion: This is a dark, murky, “savoury” tea, that invokes fantasies of walking through a burning coil-draped temple hall into the sunlight. Although it has a balance of sweetness, it’s hallmark is its pronounced, spicy, savoury presence.

  • Zá Jiāo Jīn Sī Diān Hóng Chá, 杂交金丝滇红茶, Hybridized Yunnan Golden Silk Black Tea

    Autumn, 2020; var. Camelia sinensis (hybridized sub-varietals); (Lucy Wang YNteas Agri Tech Co., Ltd.
    ) Menglian, Yunnan; bud and 1-2 leaves, EU Organic, Dianhong black tea process; 1400-1800m; #TodaysTea, #今天的茶, #JīnTiāndeChá.

    Infusion: 3g in 150ml for 20-30sec@90-100deg. C

    Dry Leaf Aroma: toasted fruit bread, bready, biscuity, sultanas, currants, and dried plums;
    Wet Leaf Aroma: sharp, aromatic, pungent, hints of apricot;
    Liquor: amber colour with a baked bread and warm cooked rice scent;
    Mouthfeel: viscous, sticky, mildly stimulating and astringent with a sweet and fresh spice finish;
    Taste: malty, bready, ginger, dried tangerine, earthy.

    Opinion: This appears to be an experimental, hybridized tea. I don’t know much about it, but it seems to be very different to the #10 Golden Silk Dianhong that I’ve previously reviewed. Where the #10 had a distinctly watery finish, this tea has more presence and lingers longer on the palate. Very interesting and enjoyable.

  • Shí Hào Jīn Sī Diān Hóng Chá, 十号金丝滇红茶, Yunnan No. 10 Golden Silk Black Tea

    Autumn, 2020; var. Camelia sinensis (blended sub-varietals); (Lucy Wang YNteas Agri Tech Co., Ltd.) Menglian, Yunnan; bud and 1-2 leaves, EU Organic, Dianhong black tea process; 1400-1800m; #TodaysTea, #今天的茶, #JīnTiāndeChá.

    Infusion: 3g in 150ml for 20-30sec@90-100deg. C

    Dry Leaf Aroma: dried apricots and tangerine peel;
    Wet Leaf Aroma: spicy, white pepper, ginger, green apple, dried tangerine, allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon, black cardamom;
    Liquor: amber brown colour with a spicy, malty aroma;
    Mouthfeel: spicy, peppery, tingling, moderately thick with watery finish, sweet;
    Taste: malt and dark honey, with dark floral notes like orchid;

    Opinion: The last tea drink for the Year of the Rat. This is a sensation filled tea, bright and boisterous however it’s watery finish, much like this Year of the Rat, leaves the overall experience somewhat flat. However, a stronger brew drinks well alongside a Goose Island IPA. Let’s hope the Year of the Ox brings more joy and happiness to everyone’s lives. Take care of your loved ones, one and all. Best wishes.

  • Yuè Guāng Bái Chá, 月光白茶, Moonlight White Tea

    Autumn, 2020; var. Camelia sinensis; (Lucy WangYNteas Agri Tech Co., Ltd.) Menglian, Yunnan; bud and 1-2 leaves, EU Organic, White tea process, unfixed; 1400-1800m; #TodaysTea, #今天的茶, #JīnTiāndeChá.

    Infusion: 3-4g in 150ml for 30-50sec@85-95deg. C

    Dry Leaf Aroma: noticeable, dominance of juicy, semi-dried apricots;
    Wet Leaf Aroma: aromatic, spicy, vegetal, with an undertone of vanilla;
    Liquor: light green-golden colour, with faint, indistinct aroma, and a late suggestion of sweetness;
    Mouthfeel: creamy, smooth, minty fresh, stimulating, sweet;
    Taste: pleasant, sweet, floral, with a spicy fresh finish;

    Opinion: This is my first time drinking this particular tea. Whilst creamy, it has a thin finish, with a sweet minty freshness. After several infusions in quick succession it leaves a dry sensation on the back of the throat. However, the taste is very pleasant and overall enjoyable.

  • Xíng Jiàn Bái Mǔ Dan, 行健白牡丹, Xingjian White Peony

    Autumn, 2020; var. Camelia sinensis; (Lucy Wang YNteas Agri Tech Co., Ltd.) Menglian, Yunnan; bud and 1-2 leaves, EU Organic, White tea process; 1400-1800m; #TodaysTea, #今天的茶, #JīnTiāndeChá.

    Infusion: 3g in 150ml for 20-30sec@75-85deg. C

    Dry Leaf Aroma: sharp, pungent, like dried raspberries, red berries, and tropical fruits;
    Wet Leaf Aroma: sharp, aromatic, vegetal, a hint of wintergreen, and subtle undertone of honey;
    Liquor: thin, pale yellow colour, with a vague peach blossom aroma;
    Mouthfeel: syrupy, viscous, sweet, tingling on the tongue, and late, mild buttery finish;
    Taste: mellow, comforting, luscious, sweet, mildly peppery, fresh, with retronasal floral hints;

    Opinion: This is a pleasant and entertaining Tea. It reminds me of a, “face dancer” one moment you see one face, then the next moment it is something delightfully different. Most enjoyable.

  • Yúnnán Féngqìng Gǔshù Hóng Chá, 云南凤庆古树红茶, Yunnan Fengqing (Wild) Ancient Tree Black Tea

    #TodaysTea, #今天的茶, #JīnTiāndeChá.

    This is a spring picked, 2019 Yunnan (Dian) style black (hong) tea, sourced from wild/ancient (gushu) tea trees (>100y.o.) growing in the Fengqing region at an elevation of around 1600-220m.

  • Wèn Xiāng Jīn Zhēn Diān Hóng Chá, 问乡金针滇红茶, Yunnan Wen’xiang Golden Needle Black Tea

    Autumn, 2020; var. Camelia sinensis; (Lucy WangYNteas Agri Tech Co., Ltd.) Menglian, Yunnan; bud and one leaf, EU Organic, Dianhong black tea process; 1400-1800m; #TodaysTea, #今天的茶, #JīnTiāndeChá.

    Infusion: 3g in 150ml for 20-30sec.@90-95deg. C

    Dry Leaf Aroma: carob, malt, and honey
    Wet Leaf Aroma: strong, aromatic, sharp, orchid?
    Liquor: reddish amber colour with a faint malty aroma;
    Mouthfeel: tingling, a slight bitter bite, moderately viscous, moderately sweet finish, and late onset of mild, lingering astringency;
    Taste: malty, with retronasal honey and floral hints;

    Opinion: This is a mature style of tea, insofar as its flavour, whilst notably malty, is complex and nuanced mostly in its aftertaste and finish. This tea demands your attention, and refuses to be ignored, in a good way. Worth drinking.

  • Wǔ Hào Sī Xiāng Jīn Zhēn Diān Hóng Chá, 5号思乡金针滇红茶, #5 Golden Needle Yunnan Black Tea

    Autumn, 2020; var. blended cuttings; (Lucy Wang YNteas Agri Tech Co., Ltd.) Menglian, Yunnan; bud & 1 leaf, EU Organic, dianhong black tea process; 1400-1800m; #TodaysTea, #今天的茶, #JīnTiāndeChá.

    Infusion: 3g in 150ml for 20-30sec.@90-95deg. C

    Dry Leaf Aroma: roasted malt and chocolate, with a slight suggestion of cherry;
    Wet Leaf Aroma: spicy, peppery,
    Liquor: brassy gold in colour, with a faint malty, buttery aroma;
    Mouthfeel: immediately creamy and smooth followed by a watery thinness, sweet with a mild tannic presence;
    Taste: mildly sweet and very malty, with a familiar vegetal finish.

    Opinion: Both the wet leaf aroma and the aftertaste of the tea has a familiar vegetal presence, that left me wondering for a while. It “kinda” reminds me of the aroma of Yǎ Shī Xiáng Oolong Tea All in all a pleasant, not particularly confronting, easy to drink tea.

    Particularly nice with fresh baked bread. This bread was a Parsley and Onion bread from last night’s bake.

    A special thanks 🙏 to Lucy Wang from YNTeas Agritech Co., Ltd for supplying this, and several other tea samples for #TodaysTea.

  • Today’s Tea Project

    #TodaysTea, #今天的茶, #JīnTiāndeChá has been an interesting and compelling project for me. I started it to, a) drink my way through my, “small” collection of tea, and b) to learn a little more about the tea I was drinking. I have definitely achieved both those goals.

    However, though they are complete, I have come to some kind of impasse: What to do now? What’s next for me and this brief journey into tea?

    “My cup is empty, but the promise of tea remains…”

    I am far from an expert on any of these teas, and whilst I have grown in knowledge of them and Chinese Tea in general, there is still much to learn. So, what to do now? Let’s drink our way through them again, but this time talk about them in a somewhat different way.

    I hope you will continue to join me along the way.