There are two highlights for me, one of which is a blend called Nostalgia. It is a pretty tea, and make no mistake, lovely to look at, delightful to smell coming out of the bag. It is a blend of 2012 Da Hong Pao Oolong, Fujian Black, and some red sandalwood for color and pizzazz. Clearly there is also some vanilla in it, and I was able to determine that the blender did indeed put some high grade vanilla beans in with the tea which I could taste, and did delight in. Didn't taste fake or syrupy. It was not overpowering and in fact, my newbie nose didn't know what it was, only that there was a hint of something subtle that made me want a cookie. I managed to make this small 4 gram sample last for multiple steeps. It really does taste like dessert, and if that wasn't the creators intention, he shouldn't worry if people find it's the connection they make with it. It was a great tea and one I could easily share with my non-tea family. Personally I want more and will be 'making it so' soon.
All the teas looked beautiful. The best by far was Elixier #9. This was a Vietnamese Tung Ting which is a green Oolong according to the information given to me, my first Vietnamese tea, peach blossoms, which were quite beautiful to look at and unseen before in my Gaiwan, and a flavoring which I can not place but hope to discover from the maker to pass on to you. The sample was large at over 7 grams but I decided to use it all, assuming those fat blossoms were making up much of the weight. I have been drinking it for an hour with no loss of pleasure. Below is a photo of the first steep, after a wake-up and a rinse in the Gaiwan.
I believe I would head straight for Nostalgia or Elixir #9 first thing in the morning if I had it around. Both would make good daily drinks with a feminine softness to each of them that pleases me!
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| Very pretty tea and a novel experience for this new-comer! |