Tea Reviews | It's All About The Leaf

Posts Tagged ‘Anticipation’

Keemun Hao Ya B is one of the very best grades of  Keemun teas from China, so I brewed Vicony’s import with great anticipation.  I was not a bit disappointed–indeed, I felt rapturous.  A good Keemun tea opens up a universe of surprising and complexly melded taste treats.   This tea is fairly tippy and has a distinctive floral aroma in addition to the naturally malty taste that a good Keemun provides.   There’s an underlying but subtle smoky aroma and taste which serves as a vehicle to enhance the floral aroma.

The deep brownish-red liquor is splendidly inviting to look at and would grace a glass pot.  As one continues to drink, other flavors unfold and rise up.  I could detect a bit of toasty chocolate and chestnut.  I enjoyed this Keemun Hao Ya B from Vicony teas black and appreciated a touch of natural sweetness.  The tea is strong and robust enough to stand up to additions of cream and sweetener. 

After enjoying this tea, my mouth was left with the an exceptionally  pleasant smoky, toasty, floral flavor.    All of the best Keemun’s I’ve enjoyed are both hearty, robust teas with a capacity to roll out waves of wonderful flavors that can be almost ethereal.  Vicony’s Keemun Hao Ya B outstandingly  highlights the complex beauty of tea.  I plan to make a full purchase because Vicony’s tea morphed, in just a few minutes, from an unknown brand and brew to an essential ingredient to my happiness.   Strongest recommendation.

You can purchase the Keemun Hao Ya B directly from the Vicony Tea website.

Ok, a warning up front that this review will be slightly more technical, and full of jargon that is not usually characteristic of my writing. So if you want to get to the juicy bit fast – bottom line – this tea gooooood.

Tea from the Darjeeling region of India is known as the “Champagne” of tea. Until now, I have never really understood why that is, but after drinking this TeaGschwender Darjeeling Phuguri FTGFOP1, I have a clearer idea of what it means.

First of all, the technical details. FTGFOP1 stands for Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe 1. Plainly put – it doesn’t get any better that this. It is important to note that tea gradings like this are based on the appearance of the tea only, not the taste, and are not standardized. However, in this case, given the reputation of the vendor and the estate (Phuguri) we are going to take it at face value, backed up with the white tips in the dry tea that is a character of the “Tippy Golden” part of that grading.

Along with the tea, TeaGschwender included their measuring device, the Teelamass, which is basically a plastic tea spoon. As well, a thick book with all of their teas and the appropriate measurements for brewing (based on the Teelamass) was also included. I could have figured it out, but for beginners, that would be a very much appreciated bonus I am sure.

Before I brewed up my “tasting” cup – I had brewed a couple of cups up just for drinking (trust me, there is a difference, mostly in the note taking…) and I have to say that I went into the tasting with much anticipation. I am not normally big on drinking blacks – I do enjoy them, but not as my “standard” teas. However, my drinking cups were so enjoyable, I could not wait to review this.

I brewed the tea using 2tsp in about 16oz of boiling water, 3 minutes. This produced a light amber liqueur, with a pleasant, almost, but not quite floral aroma. The leaves unfurled nicely, and the high quality of the leaf was again proven with the white tips and greener leaves as well as your standard oxidized leaf.

The brew is slightly astringent (drying in the mouth) with a sweet cooling finish that is again, indicative of a quality Darjeeling tea. The taste is smooth and light, with refreshing muscatel notes that are reminiscent of some muscat wines, but only slightly. Being a second flush, I expected a fuller bodied and bolder tea, and it delivered but not too much so, leaving an enjoyable cup of tea that I will go back to again and again.

There is no need for sugar or milk, and in fact I believe that it would ruin the nuance of the flavouring of this single estate tea. I am not one for milk or sugar in tea in any case, and prefer to drink it au-natural.

It is easy to see now why Darjeeling tea is known as the “Champagne” of teas, it is tea, but on a different level. At $39.90/100 grams I am not about to go and stock up on it, but it is certainly a wonderful treat, and it will become a permanent addition to my Christmas list for the relatives that just never know what to get me!

You can purchase TeaGschwendner Darjeeling Phuguri FTGFOP1 directly from their website.