Tag: #JīnTiāndeChá

  • 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.

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

    C. sinensis var. unknown; Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, 200m?; Spring, 2019, one bud and leaf, green tea process. Lóng Jǐng Lǜ Chá, 龙井绿茶, Dragon Well Green Tea. #TodaysTea#今天的茶#JīnTiāndeChá#Tea#茶#Chá.

    The dried leaves are a yellowy-green colour and disctly flat, with an aromatic, fragrant, biscuit, and caramel aroma, with a hint of chocolate. The wet leaves are similarly coloured, spongy and have a strong, vegetal scent, with hints of canned peas, broccoli, and a suggestion of dried raw egg.

    3g of dried leaf was infused in 150ml of water for 15 sec@80-85 deg. C. The brewed tea liquor was pale yellow with a faint green tinge in colour, with an aroma that was soft, elusive… almost non-existent. in the mouth it presents creamy, moderately thick, with a mild peppery tingle, as well as a lingering sweetness, & astringency. The taste had subtle vegetal hints, and was mildly floral with hints of orchid and osmanthus.

    This is one of those frustrating “Gift” teas that comes from locally targeted distribution. The packaging has no information whatsoever, and what little there is was gleaned from back and forth inquiries with the person who gifted the tea. It is a perfect example of the divide between science, and philosophy, between introspection and reflection, between getting to know the tea you’re drinking and simple, thought-free, hedonistic gratification.

  • Xuě Shuǐ Yún Lǜ (Lǜ Chá), 雪水云绿(绿茶) Snow Water Cloud Green (Green Tea)

    C.sinensis var. Dāng Shuǐ Green; Baijiang Union Village, Tonglu County, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 75-150 meters; Spring, 2021, pre-Ming, bud only, hand processed. #TodaysTea#今天的茶#JīnTiāndeChá#Tea#茶#Chá.

    The dry leaves are yellow tinged dull green, smallish buds with an aroma that hints of melon, and stone fruits like white peach.
    The wet buds are plump and uniformly yellowy-green with brown stem breaks. They have a vegetal, green pea, and baby corn scent, with a hint of apricot when cool.

    3-4g of dry buds were infused in 150ml of water for 20 sec.@80-90 deg. C The brewed tea liquor is a pale yellow colour, with a faint, barely discernible sweet, fruity aroma. in the mouth it is thick, viscous, oily, with a lingering fresh, spicy, tingling, astringency, and the taste is florist-shop vegetal with a mild sweet fruitiness, and a mouthwatering bittersweet finish.

  • Gǔ Zhàng Máo Jiān Lǜ Chá, 古丈毛尖綠茶, Gu Zhang Mao Jian Green Tea

    C. sinensis var. Bi Xiang Zao; Guzhang, Xiangxi AP, Hunan province, high mountain; Spring, 2021, bud and one leaf, pan fired, hand rolled. #TodaysTea#今天的茶#JīnTiāndeChá#Tea#茶#Chá.

    The dry leaves are curved and twisted and dark green to black in colour with a boiled lolly, caramel, honey aroma. The wet leaves have a vibrant yellow tinged green colour with a vegetal, stewed broccoli/cauliflower stems, baked chestnut, & sweet grass scent, when cooler.

    3-4g of dry leaf was infused in 180ml of water for 20-30sec.@70-80deg. C, producing a pale yellow, clear tea liquor, with a faint, buttery scent. in the mouth it is viscous, creamy, smooth, and mildly astringent with a mild, floral, suggestively meaty, creamy, luscious, taste followed by a mild herbal medicine finish.

    This tea is from Zhang Jia Zhe, and was brought to me by my son after a trip he took with his mum. In general I find this tea a pleasant drinking tea, however, I do seem to have some scratchy through episodes whilst drinking it, “fishbones” so to speak. All in all, an interesting and tasty tea.

  • Táiwān Jīnxūan Gāoshān Chá, 臺灣金萱高山茶, Taiwan Jin Xuan High Mountain Tea

    C. sinensis var. Jinxuan #12, Milk Oolong; Alishan, Taiwan, 1400m; Spring, 2020, 1 bud 2 leaves, light roast (naixiang) oolong process. #TodaysTea#今天的茶#JīnTiāndeChá#Tea#茶#Chá.

    The dry leaves are a vibrant green, rolled into small pearls and have a subtle, herbaceous aroma with hints of apricot, and sweet melon. The wet leaves unfurl quickly and have large plump steams attached. The wet leaves have a butter and mildly floral scent.

    3-4g of dry leaf was infused in 200ml of water for 2-3min.@90-100deg. C. the brewed tea liquor is pale yellow in colour and has a faint almond, nutty aroma aroma. in the mouth it is smooth, viscous, creamy, mildly stimulating, and peppery, with a sweet and mildly bitter finish, whilst its taste is floral, mildly herby, with hints of orchid, a refreshing aftertaste, and touch of minerality on the tip of the tongue.