The Fat Lady Sings

Tea Time!

More cool samples – more delicious tea!  I really adore green tea.  I drink it for my health, number one – but I must say the variety and complex flavors make it a welcome part of the day.  Especially Dragonwater.  These guys just really know how to do tea (whish is why I post their logo).  Their supply changes regularly – meaning there is always something unique for me to try.  And this stuff really tastes different depending on what you get – amazing how the leaves of one plant can vary so wildly in taste and texture!

Well – here we go.  Once again I pulled the basic description directly from the Dragonwater website.  It’s just easier that way.  Note they offer up brewing instructions.  I would recommend following them.  If they say use boiling water – let it come to a rolling boil.  Along those same lines – steaming means just that.  Letting it boil will detract from the flavor.  What water you use will also affect the taste.  Don’t ever use mineral water, for heavens sake!  I also don’t like water that has been distilled, or softened.  It just tastes weird.  Plain, filtered tap water works just great as far as I’m concerned.  Anyway – on to the tea! 

Temple of Heaven Gunpowder:  Will Buy Again!

Temple Of Heaven Gunpowder Tea. Chinese green Gunpowder tea, Temple of Heaven grade, highest-grade available.

Use 1/2 teaspoon per 6 oz cup. Heat water until steaming. Steep for 3 minutes.

Actual Taste:

                               

Good everyday tea – and that’s saying a lot.  A tea has to really hold up to handle daily use.  Too much one way or the other and it will either cloy or bore the hell out of you.  This particular tea is delicious - lightly scented with plums with no overwhelming bitter taste of any kind.  Very nice balance, in other words - flavor is naturally slightly sweet, but I think it needs just a touch of honey to fill it out.  No heavy kick like some of the heavier flavored teas.  I had several cups, and found myself wanting more.  This is quite simply a very good tea.  I enjoyed each and every cup – delicious from the first to the last.  It even tasted good a bit cold – with no discernable change in either aroma or flavor.  Definitely something I’d order for everyday use.  Also (and this is a real plus), it can be drunk late in the day.  There is no caffeine kick or buzz to make you restless or keep you awake.  We shall have to see if I feel the same way with a second pot.

Second time through:  OK – I still really like it.  Better light than dark, however.  I left the teabag steep a bit long in the cup, and it affected to flavor somewhat – made it a bit ‘green’ – vegetative.  Not bad, mind you – just stronger than I like for everyday.  So if any of you ever decide to try this – brew the cup a tad on the light side.  The delicate plum taste and aroma is much more prevalent in a delicate cup.  There’s a version of this tea called simply ‘Gunpowder’.  I tried that as well, and I definitely preferred the Temple of Heaven version.  It’s a very good everyday tea.      

So – there you have it.  What do you all like to drink?  Are you into tea or coffee?  Now – I really do like coffee – but coffee doesn’t like me!  Neither does heavily caffeinated anything.  That’s why I drink herbal or green teas.  They taste great – with no caffeine to fuck with my system.  My hubby is a coffee person.  He’ll smell the tea – and then just walk away.  Ah well – to each their own!

More Tea!

Its tea time once again!  I got myself a pack of samples; and I plan on going through each and every one.  Dragonwater teas, of course (best in the business) – so I figured I’d try another one and tell you all what I think.  Well – here we go.  Once again I pulled the basic description directly from the Dragonwater website. 

Dragonwell (Organic):  Still Not Sure

This entirely handmade, organic, superior-grade green tea is the most famous of China's Fifty Famous Teas.  Produced in the small Chinese village of Lung Ching (Dragon Well) west of the famous West Lake in Zhejiang province, this tea is known for its "four uniques": its green color, mellow taste, aroma, and beautiful shape.  It has long been celebrated in both prose and poem, including mention by Lu Yu himself in Cha Jing (Classic of Tea) and famed Tang dynasty poet Su Donqpo.  One of the true congou teas, this one requires great gongfu, or skilled discipline, to harvest and create.  Only the most tender buds and leaf are plucked by skilled fingers.  They are then pan-fried in woks at carefully controlled temperatures to give the leaf its flat, dark green appearance. No other processing occurs.

Legend (this tea comes with its own provenance!):

The tea was named after the village, but the village got its name, Lung Ching, Long Jing, or Dragon Well, from a Taoist priest in 250 AD who told the villagers they could end the drought that was upon them by praying to a dragon who lived in a nearby well. They did so and the rains came. It was named Dragon Well and a monastery bearing that name stills stands next to the well to this day.  In the Qing dynasty, Emperor Qian Long drank this tea at the Wugong Temple on Lion Peak just southwest of the lake. He was so impressed that he had eighteen of the tea trees that were growing outside the temple designated as Imperial Tea, reserved for the Emperor himself.

Basic brewing method:

Use 1 heaping teaspoon per 6 oz cup. Heat water until steaming. Steep for 2 minutes. Try multiple infusions.

Actual Taste:

You aren’t going to believe this – but this tea smells exactly like fresh baked ham with a side of greens! My husband said it reminded him of bacon.  This is a very yellow tea, and the scent is discernable whether the cup is made strong or light – though it doesn’t fill the room like Jasmine.  The flavor – well, it’s definitely different!  There is a natural sweet/salt taste that lingers on the tongue.  I would describe this green tea as savory; and that is quite unusual!  I have never tasted a savory green tea in my life.  It has body – this tea could stand up to a full meal; hell – it’s almost a meal in itself!  Satisfying, like Sunday dinner.  I recommend against sweetening it though.  Adding honey really didn’t do it any favors.  It altered the taste, masking the natural saltiness.  Now – I’m not someone who likes sweet with my salt; as some people do, so I’d say try it both au natural and with honey and decide for yourself.  This is a single cup tea – not something to be consumed by the pot.  It’s quite filling – I mean it when I say satisfies like a meal.  Frankly – I’m not sure I liked it – though the Japanese-like undertaste (slightly vegetative) was quite appealing.  Final judgment will have to be deferred to a second cup. 

Second Cup 

The scent of ham is still there; but there is also a very distinctive mossy/turf-like undertone to it.  That vegetable scent and taste comes through as strong as ever, though.  It changes as the cup cools; which is interesting.  The aroma diminishes, the flavor becomes muted – especially the salt on the tongue; that and I don’t smell the ‘ham’ quite as strongly.  I have to say I still can’t make up my mind about it.  I prefer it hot as opposed to cold; cold it’s like eating a meal through a filter.  I suggest trying a sample before ordering any huge amounts.  Preference, as always depends upon individual taste.  If you like teas with body – Dragonwell will suit; if you prefer your tea light and flowery – I’d suggest trying something else.    

Dragonwater Tea

I’m sure some of you have noticed that nifty little logo over near my all-seeing eye.  If you click on it – it will take you straight through to the Dragonwater Tea Company.  Tea is a passion of mine; most especially green tea.  It is my late afternoon ritual – treating myself to a small pot of delicious, delightfully scented tea.  It’s an addiction – I admit; and I’m quite unrepentant!  Why Dragonwater tea?  Because it’s quite simply the best.  This is all about flavor, folks.  Tea serves a function – to relax, to inspire.  The better the tea, the more complete the seduction.  I go to Dragonwater because it’s affordable (they offer 1/2 oz. samples for a couple of bucks – you can’t do better than that!), the quality rocks and the selection just can’t be beat.  You see – I like to try the more obscure teas – going off the beaten path, as it were.  Dragonwater updates their inventory almost daily – so I always have something new to indulge myself with. 

Anyway – I wanted to share this with all of you.  I guess you could say we have a new feature.  I plan on reviewing a different tea every week.  Just tell you what I think – so should you decide to try some yourself, you’d have an idea what to expect.  I’m grabbing the basic description direct from Dragonwater (saves time).  I’ll let you know if they got it right.  So without further ado – on we go to the first tea!

Jasmine Dragon Pearls:  Will Buy Again!

Jasmine Dragon Pearls Tea. Tender green tea leaves are rolled into tight pellets and scented 8-10 times with Jasmine blossoms. A rare, handmade tea treasured for generations.

Use 1/2 teaspoon per 6 oz cup.  Heat water until steaming.  Steep for 2 minutes.  Try multiple infusions.

Actual Taste:

HIGHLY scented!  The odor of jasmine absolutely fills the air – quite flowery.  Delicate taste as well – very sweet without any honey, though some honey definitely accents the flavor; just be careful not to add too much.  You wouldn’t want to break the lace-like filigree of blossom aroma.  I can actually taste the Jasmine.  It lingers on my tongue; the perfume filling my head like a good, red wine.  This is a very romantic tea – the perfect adjunct to an afternoon’s read, or while spending some quality time with your sweetie.  I find myself thinking of my wisteria arbor.  The scent may not be an exact match; but the feel is right.  As for everyday – I don’t know if the perfume might not be too much.  It really fills your nose every time you take a sip!  After a while that might begin to cloy.  I’m going to have to give this a second go before making a decision about that.  Careful about adding too much tea to the pot.  A very little of this tea goes a very long way.

Second Cup

Ahhhhh!  How satisfying.  Just as good as the first, though much stronger.   I’m back in the middle of a warm spring day.  But I think I’m right about saving this tea for special occasions.  The flavor and perfume have a candy-like quality.  Not desert, mind; this isn’t like having a sweet sherry as an aperitif.  But then everyone’s taste is different.  Try it and tell me what you think. 

Heaven in a Cup (Updated!)

First off, I have to say I absolutely love and adore Green Tea.  It is a passion of mine, akin to some people’s worship of Starbucks.  All of the tea sampled here came from one supplier - Dragonwater Tea Company.  They offer the rarest and sweetest of teas - AND the supply is constantly updated and added to - I cannot say enough about the company or its practices.  If you want the best tea, check Dragonwater out - I promise you will not be disappointed.

Each link will take you to the tea itself.  Here you will find an exacting description, including region and harvest, infusion recommendations, as well as expected taste and aroma.  Sometimes I agree, sometimes not.  Each and every tea is an adventure for the palate - like the proverbial box of chocolates - 'ya never know just what you'll get!

You will notice some of the teas listed haven’t been commented on.  There's a good reason for that - I simply haven't gotten around to 'em yet!  Don't worry - I hereby swear to faithfully record each cup in all its vegetative glory!