Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: small, curled and covered in golden hairs
Ingredients: black tea
Steep time: 5 minutes
Water Temperature: 195 degrees
Preparation Method: porcelain infuser mug
Liquor: deep reddish brown
This tea was quite interesting in appearance. The tiny leaves were curled and covered in golden hairs. The resemblance to Bi Luo Chun, a similarly curled green tea, was uncanny. Their aroma was surprisingly chocolatey, even before brewing. I decided to try brewing it the same way that I would a Bi Luo Chun so the leaves were added to the water rather than the other way around. This worked well as it kept them from slipping through the rather large holes in my infuser mug. Earthy, aromatic and full bodied; this tea was exactly what I was hoping it would be. The chocolate that I picked up in the dry tea were even more pronounced once brewed. I also picked up a fruity sweetness, reminiscent of golden raisins. There was just a touch of astringency but it never came close to becoming bitter or unpleasant. At $16 for 3oz, this tea is a steal. I’d definitely recommend it if you are fan of any of the golden Yunnan type teas, even if this one is from Fujian 🙂
Golden Spring sample provided by T7 Tea.