Teavivre Organic Nonpareil Ming Qian Dragon Well Long Jing Green Tea

Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: flat, sage green
Ingredients: green tea
Steep time: 20 seconds
Water Temperature: 175 degrees
Preparation Method: porcelain gaiwan
Liquor: very pale

Following the steeping directions on Teavivre's site, I brewed this tea in my trusty gaiwan using progressively longer steeps. It was delicate and vegetal with just a touch of brisk astringency. There was a subtle sweetness that lingered long after each sip. I'm a big fan of playing with your leaves and these were extra fun. There were so many complete bud sets and teeny tiny sprouts. There is nothing I love more than a really good Long Jing and that is exactly what this was. I wasn't familiar with the term nonpareil in a tea name before sampling this tea. Stella from Teavivre was kind enough to explain that because this tea is Te Gong (tè gòng) grade, which means the tea's grade is nonpareil. Also in ancient China, if a tea is Te Gong grade, then it means the tea was used to be paid as tribute to the emperor. I absolutely love that you can view the actual USDA organic certification on Teavivre's website. That's something I've seen other companies do but it's definitely something that I'd like to see more of.

You can find out more about this tea here.

Podcasts for Tea Lovers

When I first got into tea, there were several really cool podcasts that helped me learn and grow as a tea drinker. Sadly most of them are no longer operational but there are still several gems that are worth checking out.

Seven Cups is a retailer in Arizona who has been producing videos for quite some time. Although their iTunes podcast is no longer updated, they still post to YouTube Regularly. Delve into the archives a bit and check out some really great videos. I especially love the videos of their tea tours.

+Ricardo Caicedo of the My Japanese Green Tea blog has launched a podcast. His guests have been varied and very interesting. I've been very impressed because the podcasts are English but Ricardo is not a native speaker. He has done very well so far and I'm excited to see what else he comes out with.

Steeping Around is a great podcast run by Manish of the Maya Tea Company. The banter between the host and the Sarah, the producer, is always entertaining. It's probably the most professionally run podcast on tea. I really enjoyed their episode on pairing cigars with tea.

I've only just gotten started with my own podcast. I need to get a few more episodes under my belt before I can submit to the iTunes store but you can still subscribe through the RSS feed or my YouTube channel.




Speaking of podcasts, I was recently a guest on My Japanese Green Tea and the episode was published today. Is there a great podcast that I missed? Let me know about it in the comments and I'll add it on!

A Gift of Tea's Spring White Tea 2013

Last year was my first time attending +A Gift Of Tea's Spring White Tea. I was particularly excited for this year's event because I would have a chance to finally meet +Robert Godden, also known as The Devotea. My boyfriend also joined in on the fun. This was his first formal tea party and although he's more of a steak and potatoes kind of guy, he enjoyed it very much. A delicious passion green tea juice was served while we waited for the final preparations and Jason positively flipped for it.

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves but both the savory and sweet courses were absolutely delicious. Out of everything I think the the tuiles were my favorites. They were expertly made by Pistache and incredibly delicate. Alongside all of this wonderful food we were served two of +The Devotea's blends, 1001 Nights and Lord Petersham. Lord Petersham is a personal favorite of mine and Jason adored it too. It has been suggested that we purchase a bag to stash at his house.

Getting to meet old friends and new is always the highlight of events like this. The wonderful event organizer +Jo J was in attendance as well as fellow bloggers +Katrina Ávila Munichiello, +Verna L. Hamilton and +Darlene Meyers-Perry. We were treated to readings from Verna Hamilton as well as from the guest of honor, Robert. I enjoyed Verna's reading from her inspirational journal very much. If you aren't already following her on Twitter, you should because her daily tidbits are something I look forward to every morning. Robert's wit and sense of humor were evident to everyone as he read the introduction to his new book, The Infusiast : Diatribes from The Devotea. He also shared some lovely stories ranging from cuff links to the history of Darjeeling tea estates.

I love seeing how tea brings people together and this event was a great example of that. We all took the time out from our busy schedules to share cups of tea, laughter and friendship. Next year's white will definitely be on my to do list.

Butiki Teas Pistachio Ice Cream

Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: dark green, curled with lots of nut pieces
Ingredients: Organic Green Tea, Pistachios (roasted, unsalted), Lotus Stamens, Natural Flavoring (vegan)
Steep time: 3 minutes
Water Temperature: 180 degrees
Preparation Method: ceramic teapot and mesh infuser
Liquor: very pale

I received a sample of this blend as part of an Amoda Tea Monthly Tea Tasting Box. Although I'm not a huge fan of pistachios, the idea of an ice cream flavored tea certainly was intriguing. The taste was sweet, creamy and nutty all at once. The green tea was vegetal and mellow. I appreciate that they used Mao Jian, a higher quality tea than you would find in most flavored blends. It provided the perfect base for the other ingredients to shine. There was just a hint of astringency but it did not come off as bitter at all. I don't really like pistachios all that much but this tea was very enjoyable. Lotus stamens are an unusual ingredient choice and I don't think I've seen them before in a tea. They had a sticky sweetness that lingered in the back of my throat. A touch of sugar would make the flavoring really pop but since this is a green tea I definitely wouldn't suggest adding milk or any kind of creamer.

You can find out more about this tea here.

Wanja Tea of Kenya Floral Pekoe Green Tea

Country of Origin: Kenya
Leaf Appearance: small, dark green. somewhat twisted
Ingredients: green tea
Steep time: 3 minutes
Water Temperature: 180 degrees
Preparation Method: ceramic teacup and mesh infuser
Liquor: gold

The first thing I noticed about this tea was its strong fruity aroma. That fruity sweetness was echoed in the taste. It brought to mind apples or pears. This is going to sound a bit strange but the buttery, vegetal aspect of this tea almost reminded me of string bean casserole. Just add some frizzled onions and I'd be in comfort food heaven. A mild astringency added a refreshing, somewhat dry finish. At just $4 for 1 ounce, this tea would be an economical daily drinker for someone who loves a robust green tea. It is a great example of how the tea industry in Kenya is growing by leaps and bounds. High quality loose leaf demands a higher price and I hope that will ultimately filter down to the workers in the fields. Wanja Tea's commitment to the socio-economic development of Kenya's tea growing regions is a part of that.

You can find out more about this tea here.

Mellow Monk Blissful Buds

Country of Origin: Japan
Leaf Appearance: very small, deep green
Ingredients: green tea
Steep time: 2 minutes
Water Temperature: 165 degrees
Preparation Method: kysusu
Liquor: bright, cloudy green

According the product description for this tea, Blissful Buds™ is a mecha, or bud tea, made from young buds and shoots. For more information on mecha, check out this great article from +Ricardo Caicedo at My Japanese Green Tea. This type of tea is often served alongside sushi (which I'm really in the mood for now). Just as with +Mellow Monk Frosty Garden, I prefer to let the small leaf particles settle before sipping. The taste was grassy, vegetal and somewhat fruity with a lingering sweetness. It had a fresh crispness that brought mind slices of green apple. There was quite a bit of astringency but not so much so as to make it unpleasant. If you enjoy sencha or gyokuro then this tea is definitely worth giving a try. It was very refreshing and I'm sure that I will be reaching for it as the warm summer weather heads my way. It would be particularly good when cold steeped.

You can find out more about this tea here.

Owl's Brew Launch Party

There are very few things that would make me venture into the city after work on a cold and rainy day but tea is one of them. Tea cocktails? Now you're talking! This past Thursday I had the pleasure of attending the product launch party for Owl's Brew. You might remember that I wrote about this exciting new line of tea cocktail mixers when I attended the New York Coffee and Tea Festival. I had tried their Coco-Lada at that event. The intimate room inside of Italian restaurant Asellina was home to a buzzing and vibrant crowd. Five different signature cocktails were doled out with fun paper straws. My first sip was a Manhattan Pink & Black. I'm usually not a fan of hibiscus but it was seriously tasty. It's not that much of a surprise though because the base tea is Darjeeling, one of my personal favorites. Next up was an Arnold Palmer style drink made with their Naked Arnold (LOVE that name!). Just when I thought that I couldn't love Owl's Brew anymore, I was blown away again.

The fabulous drink menu

I had a chance to speak with several of the Owl gals who are partners in this start up and their passion for what they do was very obvious. I love their focus on tea while also celebrating it in a fun and different way. At the end of the night I got a goody bag complete with a beach ball, #FollowtheOwl bracelet and a sample bottle of Pink and Black Owls Brew. My boyfriend and some friends tried some and they all went crazy for it. Being the tea nerd that I am, the wheels are already turning for uses beyond just mixing with alcohol. I may just have to adapt the ice cream tea float recipe Jee over at Oh, How Civilized posted recently. I have a feeling that Owl's Brew is really going to take off. Bottles will be available for purchase on their website soon.

Party Swag

How cute are those straws?

Rachel from Owl's Brew and I