Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: small, dark
Ingredients: black tea
Steep time: 2.5 minutes
Water Temperature: 210 degrees
Preparation Method: stainless steel infuser basket and mesh teacup
Liquor: dark amber
I first discovered Little Red Cup Tea Co. many years ago when I impulsively bought a sampler on a flash sale site. Since then I’ve become a fan of their teas as well as the people behind the company. I was happy to see their recent switch to tins rather than kraft paper bags. It really does make a difference in terms of tea longevity. The firsy thing that I noticed about this tea was the aroma. Even in a travel mug it wafted up and made me take noticed. I had a hard time to describing it but all I could think was “Ah, now that’s what tea smells like”. The taste was less intense but still very nice. There were malty, sweet woody notes and just a hint of astringency. It held up to a second cup but I don’t think a third would have done as well. Milk and sugar would probably not be a good fit since it was on the mellow side. This tea would make a great breakfast tea for those who don’t want something too punchy. There was hardly any astringency, making it a very smooth cup. At $32 for a pound, this tea is a great everyday drinker.
Wuyuan Black sample provided by Little Red Cup Tea Company.