2023 年 7 月茶俱乐部

Last month I did a Gong Fu Cha workshop, but only today did I have the time to actually try and replicate at home what I was taught. I introduced two variations, since I like my teapet to be there with me, and especially since I am the only tea drinker in my family, so I only had my own cup to serve. I rewatched my video of the workshop first, just to make sure I did everything else the same way. It was very fun and yet calming to replicate all the steps, it felt to me that I was really respecting the tea I was drinking. I guess that’s why I chose this specific tea, since it’s still one of my favourites. It was even more delicious than I remembered, I think the ceremony mindset enhanced the attention I paid to every sip.

First tea tasted from July myteapal pack. I really enjoyed it, would definitely want to brew this tea again. Sun drying made unique interesting taste. It was a pleasure to watch rainy weather through the window while sipping this wonderful tea.

0 TDS distilled water with TeaCurious Autumn recipe to make 115 TDS water. Nice tea, but a bit too subtle. I tried some longer steeps at the end, but couldn't really get a different aroma or flavor. Very nice dried fruit taste, raisins and apricot, and a slight woodiness. Very nice rounded, smooth mouth feel. Rating Criteria: 0.5 - bad, flavorless, or worse very astringent, teabag 1.0 - mostly bad, flavorless, most teabag tea 1.5 - not good, but maybe something to like 2.0 - slightly disappointed, not my kind of tea, but still can appreciate it - probably the worst rating I would give a loose leaf tea (at least one that hasn't turned bad) 2.5 - mixed feelings, like it, but there is something off about it I don't like 3.0 - good, I like it but nothing stand out about it or a very good tea with one critique that holds me back - probably the highest I would give a teabag tea 3.5 - very good, a tea that I was very happy to have but content with what I had, wouldn't seek it out for additional purchase 4.0 - great, very happy with the experience, would seek out for purchase, but only occasionally 4.5 - a favorite, one I love and want very often 5.0 - life will be very sad without it, reserved only for my favorites (roasted Tie Guan Yin & Dancong Red), room for more hopefully

A bit of an erratic tasting session in terms of the collection of notes, but this tea is what I LOVE in a shai hong. Such a simple style of tea but the material and processing have to do the talking, without much to hide behind. And boy do they talk.

Very nice tea, love its fruity taste and it’s nice even when the wooden note becomes predominant. What a lovely tea, excellent pick!

Brewing second tea from the July teapal pack. I enjoyed it, but I like the sun-dried tea which I brewed yesterday more, it was more fruity, sweet and smooth, I also got more different flavours. Forgot to post this one

0 TDS distilled water with TeaCurious Original recipe to make 50 TDS water. Very enjoyable aroma of orange flavored chocolate. Taste was a weird one - things I liked and others not so much. There is a spicyness to it, but can't pinpoint what spice. Not sweet enough to be something like cinnamon, but not savory enough to be something like pepper. When I could taste sweetness like orange and vanilla, I enjoyed it more. If a certain spice would stand out more, this would have been a 3.5. Mouth feel was quite thin Rating Criteria: 0.5 - bad, flavorless, or worse very astringent, teabag 1.0 - mostly bad, flavorless, most teabag tea 1.5 - not good, but maybe something to like 2.0 - slightly disappointed, not my kind of tea, but still can appreciate it - probably the worst rating I would give a loose leaf tea (at least one that hasn't turned bad) 2.5 - mixed feelings, like it, but there is something off about it I don't like 3.0 - good, I like it but nothing stand out about it or a very good tea with one critique that holds me back - probably the highest I would give a teabag tea 3.5 - very good, a tea that I was very happy to have but content with what I had, wouldn't seek it out for additional purchase 4.0 - great, very happy with the experience, would seek out for purchase, but only occasionally 4.5 - a favorite, one I love and want very often 5.0 - life will be very sad without it, reserved only for my favorites (roasted Tie Guan Yin & Dancong Red), room for more hopefully

Delightful black tea. Didn’t taste at all like I was expecting. Hints of malt and honey. Another lovely tea session today with the TeaPals, discussing this very interesting Fenq Qing Dian Hong (and also books!) The tea smelled very much like Jin Jun Mei to me, so that it is what I expected it to taste like, but it was pretty sweet with notes of honey and malt. Delicious!

This is clearly a very high-quality tea, as shown by the strong floral smell and taste that last through infusions. Unfortunately it’s not a tea for me, because I hate floral teas. This one is sure to be a hit with people who do like them, though!

It’s been a while, teapals! I’ve been busy taking notes, doing homework, and otherwise adjusting to the college lifestyle… but there’s nothing like tea to help slow things down and put everything in perspective. I’m immeasurably grateful to tea (and this community!) for making that possible. Here’s to you guys, and to a great dian hong! 🍵 Now, back to pyruvate oxidation and the TCA cycle…

Brewing this tea using Western style. I think that is taste very similar using both western and gongfu style, I didn't get many different flavours using gongfu. It has a taste profile typical for black teas. Still keeping 3,5 stars, not my favourite from this month's pack.

Brewing fourth tea from the Yunnan Black teas. Not bad, but it seems boring for me, common black tea tastes, I liked the tea which I brewed yesterday more. It didn't bring many different tastes, most of the Infusions were vegetal and woody. Will try this one with western style too. Here is leaderboard for the July tea club: 1. Feng Qing Shai Hong 2. Fo Xiang Dian Hong 3. Feng Qing Dian Hong 4. Wu Liang Shan Red

0 TDS distilled water with TeaCurious x recipe to make x TDS water. Very nice tea - only gets a 3.5 though because it's too similar to a "typical" black tea - I feel like I could easily find other teas with the same flavor profile. As my wife put it, "it tastes too much like tea" 🤣Definitely prefer a side pour with this as it removed some astringency. Nice rounded mouth feel. Rating Criteria: 0.5 - bad, flavorless, or worse very astringent, teabag 1.0 - mostly bad, flavorless, most teabag tea 1.5 - not good, but maybe something to like 2.0 - slightly disappointed, not my kind of tea, but still can appreciate it - probably the worst rating I would give a loose leaf tea (at least one that hasn't turned bad) 2.5 - mixed feelings, like it, but there is something off about it I don't like 3.0 - good, I like it but nothing stand out about it or a very good tea with one critique that holds me back - probably the highest I would give a teabag tea 3.5 - very good, a tea that I was very happy to have but content with what I had, wouldn't seek it out for additional purchase 4.0 - great, very happy with the experience, would seek out for purchase, but only occasionally 4.5 - a favorite, one I love and want very often 5.0 - life will be very sad without it, reserved only for my favorites (roasted Tie Guan Yin & Dancong Red), room for more hopefully

Eyes - Dry Leaf: long, narrow leaves with a woody/twig-like appearance Nose - Dry Leaf: honey, malt, and berries Nose - Wet Leaf: sage, rhubarb, cacao, and salted caramel Eyes - Liquor: deep golden-orange honey Mouth - Texture: medium and oily Mouth - Taste: honey, Belgian white ale (Blue Moon?), and a bit of citrus/fruit. Simple and incredibly enjoyable with just a hint of pleasant complexity in its malty notes. Mouth - Finish: sweet and fruity, with remaining notes of honey and malt topped with mixed berries Nose - Empty Cup: warm jalepeño honey in the cup, with additional grain/malt/white ale depth in the gong dao bei Eyes - Wet Leaf: long reddish brown leaves Body - Sensation: relaxed and happy Very interesting brew with quite a distinct note to it. I wonder if anyone else got something similar. Very pleasant tea and one I’d definitely order again for myself!

A very pleasant tea; smells like a lighter Jin Jun Mei to me, but tatses a little more fruity. Nice to drink tea with friends on a Sunday morning. This tea surprised me; once again it smells like Jin Jun Mei, but it tastes a little fruity. A very pleasant drink.

I want to taste this tea again with a bigger cup and longer, fewer infusions. I like it, but less than yesterday’s tea. Now that this month’s teas are available, I copied Sunday’s log to the official entry 😄

0 TDS distilled water with TeaCurious Autumn recipe to make 115 TDS water. Very nice tea. Darker sweet flavor like cocoa and caramel, but in very balanced way. Floral aroma on the gaiwan lid that didn't translate to the flavor. Wanted a bit more body in the mouth feel - was a bit thin. Overall a very pleasant, calming tea. Rating Criteria: 0.5 - bad, flavorless, or worse very astringent, teabag 1.0 - mostly bad, flavorless, most teabag tea 1.5 - not good, but maybe something to like 2.0 - slightly disappointed, not my kind of tea, but still can appreciate it - probably the worst rating I would give a loose leaf tea (at least one that hasn't turned bad) 2.5 - mixed feelings, like it, but there is something off about it I don't like 3.0 - good, I like it but nothing stand out about it or a very good tea with one critique that holds me back - probably the highest I would give a teabag tea 3.5 - very good, a tea that I was very happy to have but content with what I had, wouldn't seek it out for additional purchase 4.0 - great, very happy with the experience, would seek out for purchase, but only occasionally 4.5 - a favorite, one I love and want very often 5.0 - life will be very sad without it, reserved only for my favorites (roasted Tie Guan Yin & Dancong Red), room for more hopefully

Smooth, malty sweetness. Juicy mouth feel. Later infusions I did a stack brew to add to a mug. Added sweetner and milk and it was scrumptious! Warming body feel Slight drying on tongue Ive really been enjoying black teas this summer. After 4 gongfu brews I started to stack brew this into a mug. Added caulk and sweetner. Yummy tea! Vibrant, malty, citrus oil. A bit drying in my mouth so I took off a star, but a great sip none the less.

Complex lovely honey, wheat, resin, fruits. Like taking a walk in the country Another wonderful session with the MyTeaPal pals! Wonderful complex Fo Xiang Dian Hong: wheat, honey, resins, fruit, earthy. Like a nice walk in the country

Eyes - Dry Leaf: curled dark brown leaves with fuzzy golden trichomes Nose - Dry Leaf: malt, cocoa, burnt wood, and blackcurrant jam Nose - Wet Leaf: deep woods and cocoa, with underlying notes of caramel/malt and blackcurrant Eyes - Liquor: viscous, golden honey colored liquor with orange undertones. Deeper brandy red in later infusions. Mouth - Texture: thick, oily, and lubricating Mouth - Taste: soft, honeyed malty sweetness with an undertone of blackcurrant, leading to an almost marshmallow sweetness and then to a bright, mentholated finish Mouth - Finish: thick, coating, and juicy, with a dryness in the cheeks. Sweet, with a minty freshness. Nose - Empty Cup: caramel and cocoa butter. Apple is prevalent in the gong dao bei. Eyes - Wet Leaf: beautifully delicate and fine reddish brown leaves and buds Body - Sensation: laidback and happy A very nice type specimen of a good dianhong. I will always concede to a shai hong when it comes to Yunnan hongcha, but this had some good flavor and developed a very nice caramelized sweetness by the final infusion.

This tea has a fantastic smell, but it’s too mild for me at short steeping times. I think I’m going to revisit this tea and start with longer times at once. The sixth infusion was heavenly, the others were meh. I need to play more with this tea.