Today is special! I review a type of tea that is often forgotten. Some say it doesn't exist... I beg to differ, you unbelievers!
Yellow tea is very real, very rare and precious...
I bought a few yellow teas from the Camellia Sinensis Store in Montreal and I thought my blog -- and you guys -- deserved to get a yellow tea review!
Without further ado, here it comes! Slowly, mellowly and deliciously:
Jun Shan Huang Mao Jian
from the Chinese gardens of Jun Shan Island, sold by the Camellia Sinensis store in Montreal
This tea was processed in the Mao Jian style as stated in the name.
Dry leaf:
- Curled twisted leaves
- White fuzzy leaves amongst dark green ones
- Light mimosa flower smell, with a hint of peach and cream
- Creamy sweetness to it with honey wax scent
Steeping method: teapot (500ml / 2 cups yield)
5 minutes - 2 cups (500 ml) of water - 3 teaspoons of tea - 80C
Liquor:
- Clear and shiny with a creamy viscosity to it
- Fragrant
- Light peach/ apricot, creamy smell
- Soapy mimosa smell, hay and sweet notes
- Yellow-hay colour
- Clear taste, light sourness
- Sweet, no bitterness
- Flowery aftertaste reminding me of rose petals and how they almost feel bitter but aren't
- Light jammy feeling like raspberry or strawberry jam (as opposed to jellies)
- Some astringency
- Hay with some light mineral or metallic taste but that could have been me and not the tea as I've had this tea before and don't recall any metallic taste
- Smooth in the mouth
- Taste is light and delicate like a white tea and long in mouth
- Round and flowing
- Ascending notes that dissipate quickly into a less complex taste
- Mild spices like cinnamon and vanilla final
- Mild greenness to it
- Uncurled buds, some bud and 1 leaf duos
- Creamy medium yellow-green colour
- Chocolatey, cinnamon, asparagus, green, and mild spices smell
I would say that compared to white teas, yellow teas are a bit stronger in taste, and may offer a broader palette of flavours and aromas, but are as delicate.
Happy tasting and may you end up with amazing discoveries...