Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: deep green, curled and twisted
Ingredients: green tea
Steep time: 3 minutes
Water Temperature: 175 degrees
Preparation Method: glass teapot
Liquor: gold
A few ounces of this tea followed me home when I visited Physical Graffitea’s New York City shop. I love teas with twisted and curled leaves like this one. They consisted mostly of large, unbroken buds. The taste was vegetal and sweet with notes of orchid and toasted nuts. I found it surprisingly floral for a unscented green tea. I had to do a double take because I almost thought that I had accidentally gotten jasmine tea instead. A mild astringency added a refreshing bit of crispness to the finish. I believe that this tea is the same as the Ancient Emerald Lily that is sold by Rishi. They are virtually identical, even down to the tasting notes. Although Physical Graffitea sells for it for a few bucks more, I’d much rather support a small, local business. I’ve enjoyed both green teas that I’ve tried from them and I will definitely be visiting again soon.
You can find out more about this tea here.