Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: small and dark, slightly curled
Water Temperature: 205 degrees
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Preparation Method: glass infuser
Liquor: reddish amber
Earlier this year, I reviewed the Drunken Concubine from Silk Road Teas. Red Goddess definitely grabbed my attention the most out of the batch of samples they sent. It is a black tea made from the leaves of the Tie Guan Yin cultivar, which were grown in the Wuyi Mountains at an elevation of 800 meters. This variety is almost always used to make oolong, so I was intrigued to see how oxidation would change the flavor. Let’s get into it!
Leaf
The leaves of Silk Road Teas Red Goddess were small and dark with a slightly curled shape. They had a pleasantly earthy and sweet scent. My pictures are close-ups, but they were relatively small in size with a few scattered golden buds. I prepared this tea using a glass infuser with the parameters of 205℉ water and an infusion time of 3 minutes. The recommendations on the tea’s packaging and the vendor’s website differ slightly, but I don’t think an extra 30 seconds was very impactful on the taste.
Liquor
Silk Road Teas Red Goddess brewed up a reddish amber liquor. I was able to see lots of trichomes floating around in the infuser and in my cup. The taste was very sweet and smooth with notes of peaches and dark honey. There was a refreshing juiciness that ended in a subtle floral finish. The second infusion had a bit more strength to it since the leaves had a chance to open up a bit more.
I also tried making Silk Road Teas Red Goddess gongfu style in a porcelain gaiwan. It was just as tasty, but slightly more aromatic, when made that way. I would suggest giving it a try both ways to see what you prefer. There was very little bitterness or astringency, making it a perfect choice for those who prefer a milder black tea that doesn’t need additions. You would probably enjoy this tea if you enjoy other black teas from Fujian Province.
Have you ever tried Silk Road Teas Red Goddess? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Red Goddess sample provided for review by Silk Road Teas.
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