Tea ReviewsWould you like to review our tea? Here is your chance to tell others about the taste of great teas. Send us an email at teareviews@TheChineseTeashop.com and tell us about your experience with tea. Select up to 3 different teas from the Online Store and we'll send you free samples. Remember to include your shipping address in the email.
2012 Tian Rui Xiang Lao Ban Zhang
The dry leaves are a multicoloured mix of medium young fuzzy leaves, mainly buds, which give off a savory-meaty odour with thin tobacco smoke, strong pungent deep forest odours and sweet light fruit smells under all of it. The first infusion pours a pure vibrant yellow. Sweet, cool, pungent tastes expands in the mouth there is a light, savory base that is barely noticed underneath it all. A long pungent pure tingling occurs on the tongue. Minutes later sweet, slightly creamy, root beer tastes
The third infusion has an initial taste that is pure, sweet, and stretches into a cool, sweet taste. The mouthfeel sticks to the teeth, saliva pools deep in the throat, and a strong vibrant banana-melon, sweet creamy-candy aftertaste is
The fifth infusion is much the same with more distinct sweet candy-like fruits in the initial taste. A cool sweetness starts to gain momentum in the throat then slowly expands outward. There is a very light pungent taste caught in the mouthfeel which adds separation and depth from the dominating sweet high notes. This depth is clear in this fifth infusion.
The sixth infusion has even more distinct fruits and sweet high note tastes up in the initial flavour. The thick mouthfeel overtakes these light flavours somewhat and leaves a long, fruity-sweet aftertaste behind. In the seventh and eighth infusions everything becomes slightly softer with the high notes still quite strong but more smooth, less distinctly vibrant here. There are noticeably tangy melon edges now. These high note tastes are most noticed along with distinct returning coolness in the aftertaste where they maintain there overly vibrant quality. The qi strongly brings up the mood, and intensely focuses the mind, and makes the hands and feet feel cool, almost tingling.
The tenth infusion sees a slight, quick flash of savory and bland forest which turns sweet then is washed away with a mouthfeel which later brings sweet-creamy fruits on the breath. The mouthfeel continues in the deep-mid throat and mouth but is becoming slightly less dense now. In the eleventh and twelfth infusions sweet, but mild banana-like fruits are in the initial taste and distinctly span the profile of this infusion. The flavour has softened considerably now. The mouthfeel softens but continues its strong presence. There is a long-candy-like aftertaste left in the mouth.
In the thirteenth infusion there is more wild foresty depth found but still may high notes to be enjoyed. This tea has stamina because in the fourteenth infusion is finally starts to loose lots of its flavour. There is still a faint spattering of previous flavours, the mouthfeel still full in the throat. Put to an overnight infusion these leaves give a pungent, cool, vibrant offering of fruity high notes. Peace
Posted by Matt Mattcha's Blog is one of the best and most popular tea review sites on the Internet. The reviews are passionate, knowledgeable and objective and are beautifully written and presented. Whether you are new to tea drinking or an expert, this site is a must see. Visit http://mattchasblog.blogspot.com for more great reviews.
Rating
(out of 5 pots):
 Quality
of Leaves:
Taste:
Value:
Recommend to others: yes
Reviewed by: red Please describe how you are preparing the tea (brew times, water temperature, type of teapot, etc): I let the water sit for a few minutes after boiling, using a Chinese cup with a lid What did you taste on the First Brew?: very nice flavour, a little grass with nuts. Steeped for about 15 seconds What did you taste on the Second Brew?: Steeped about 10 seconds. Same taste as first brew but more full tasting What did you taste on the Third Brew?: same as second brew but smoother with some other flavours I can’t describe but very good. Steeping 12 seconds. Additional Comments: I like this tea a lot. I’m just starting to drink green tea and this is way better than what I get at the supermarket. I feel energized and refreshed after drinking this tea and it leaves a nice taste in my mouth after. I’ll definitely order this tea again.
Pi Lo
Chun (Bi Lo Chun) Green Tea
Rating
(out of 5 pots):
Quality
of Leaves:
Taste:
Value:
 Recommend to others:
Will definitely recommend to friends.
Reviewed by: Christine
T.Shieh Please describe how you are preparing the tea (brew times, water temperature, type of teapot, etc): I used hot water for 5 seconds on the first brew, 4 seconds on next brew and 8 seconds on the third. I added more time for the additional brews. I was able to brew this tea 9 times and there was still a good taste after that. What did you taste on the First Brew?:This tea had a subtle taste that is surprising, light but full. I liked the wonderful green quality that is not bitter. I definitely tasted tropical flowers. What did you taste on the Second Brew?: : A flower taste like lilac emerged that balances with the green taste. It is stronger on this brew. What did you taste on the Third Brew?: : I thought the taste might start to disappear but it changed and got better. There were some new tastes as well and everything seemed to get softer and blend together better. Additional Comments: it's so subtle and smooth. It's a wonderful tea.
Phoenix
Oolong Tea Natural "Fruity" Flavour
Rating
(out of 5 pots):
Quality
of Leaves:
Taste:
Value:
Recommend to
others:
 Reviewed by: Ben Shieh Please describe how you are preparing the tea (brew times, water temperature, type of teapot, etc): 100 degree Celsius water with Yi-Xing teapot What did you taste on the First Brew?: Light fruity taste with a lot of fragrance What did you taste on the Second Brew?: Fruity taste becomes stronger with sweet after taste in the mouth. What did you taste on the Third Brew?: Fruity taste remains similar to the second brew while the sweetness of the tea increases. Additional Comments: This
type of tea has a delightful fruity
fragrance as well as taste. The sweetness of
the tea stands out especially at the third
brew. I drink this tea commonly during cold
weather, this tea makes me feel both
refreshing and rejuvenating. Pu-Erh Tea Brick, Xiaguan Tea Factory 1990s (Black/Shou)
Rating
(out of 5 pots):
Quality
of Leaves:
Taste:
Value:
Recommend to others: I
would recommend this to anyone looking for a
good, strong shou pu-ehr
Reviewed by: kamitea Please describe how you are preparing the tea (brew times, water temperature, type of teapot, etc): Boiling water in a Yixing teapot that I use only for shou pu-ehr. What did you taste on the First Brew?: 15 seconds. Hints of the flavours to come with a gentle sweetness and a hint of mushroom What did you taste on the Second Brew?: 5 seconds. The strength of the tea begins to come through. Still a gentle sweetness, but the strong earthiness of later brews is more apparent. What did you taste on the Third Brew?: 5 seconds. Strong, clean earthiness. Additional Comments: I drink this tea often and it can have a very strong, dark broth, but if you begin with quick steeping times, early brews will have a nice sweetness that will also return in later brews (7th-10th). After the 3rd brew I increase my times by 5 seconds and the middle brews have a balanced, round, earthy flavour that is very good.
Shui
Xian Rare 20 Year Old Chinese Oolong Tea
Rating
(out of 5 pots):
Quality
of Leaves:
Taste:
Value:
Recommend to others:
Fans of Da Hong Pao or darker Phoenix tea's
should definitely try this.
Reviewed by: kamitea Please describe how you are preparing the tea (brew times, water temperature, type of teapot, etc): Just off boiling water, in a gaiwan What did you taste on the First Brew?: Immediate pouring. The liquor was what I'd call golden brown and had a wonderful smoky aroma. Tasted subtly smoky with a nuttiness towards coffee and chocolate. What did you taste on the Second Brew?: 5 seconds. More golden in colour. Flavours became rounder, and richer, with more nuttiness. What did you taste on the Third Brew?: 10 seconds. Nice round, mellow smokiness. Additional Comments: This
was my first experience with this tea so I
treated it similar as I would Da Hong Pao,
and it was very surprising. Lots of mellow
flavour and aroma with later brews that had
nice toastiness. The dry leaves even seemed
to have a touch of licorice aroma. |
Er and the statistics on tea in Lao Ban Zhang. No doubt, old Lao Ban Zhang is the talk of puerh circles. Let's see what this cake has in store...
The fourth infusion sees a sweet, pure, initial taste that is smothered by a mouthfeel which coats the whole mouth and throat. After this sensation recedes, there are barely savory-pungent notes under more vibrant, distinct sweet creamy fruit notes which open into the throat. The qi is very relaxing and cooling to the extremities. In the core there is a slightly warming sensation.
In the ninth infusion crisp, sweet high notes begin to be muddled with forest notes in the initial taste
