Shan Valley Kokang Green Tea 2014
Country of Origin: Myanmar Leaf Appearance: jade green, lots of buds Ingredients: green tea Steep time: 3 minutes Water Temperature: 185 degrees Preparation Method: Teavana Perfect Steeper Liquor: deep gold +Shanvalley is a family owned business that directly imports tea grown in Myanmar, also known as Burma. I’ve reviewed several of their teas and found them all very drinkable and economical. This one piqued my interest because it is one of their higher-end selections. The leaves were mostly whole and I was even able to spot a few silvery buds. It was vegetal and sweet with notes of asparagus and honey. There was also a mild roasted quality that stayed in the background.…
Shan Valley First Flush Green Tea 2014
Country of Origin: Mynamar Leaf Appearance: deep green, somewhat broken Ingredients: green tea Steep time: 3 minutes Water Temperature: 175 degrees Preparation Method: Teavana Perfect Tea Maker Liquor: deep gold Mynamar, also known as Burma, is not widely known for producing tea but they are the second largest country in Southeast Asia. Some of you might remember that I reviewed a selection of +Shanvalley‘s teas last year, including the First Flush Green Tea. The sample I tried previously was a pyramid bag so I was excited to dig into the loose leaf. The taste was deeply vegetal with a pleasant sweetness. I was reminded very much of homemade spinach. The finish had a refreshing…
Shan Valley First Flush Green Tea 2013
Country of Origin: Myanmar Leaf Appearance: small, dark green Ingredients: green tea Steep time: 3 minutes Water Temperature: 185 degrees Preparation Method: porcelain teacup Liquor: greenish gold I previously reviewed and enjoyed +Shanvalley‘s Valley Green. While that tea is harvested year round, this one is made from the first harvest of the year. The two are very similar but the first flush leaves a bit more of a refined impression. It was still mellow and vegetal with a mild fruitiness. The smokiness that I had detected in the Valley Green was just barely present here. No sweeteners are necessary as there was very little astringency. Although this is their reserve tea it is really…
Shan Valley Black Tea
Photo: Shan Valley Country of Origin: Mynamar Leaf Appearance: dark, very small Ingredients: black tea Steep time: 5 minutes Water Temperature: 212 degrees Preparation Method: porcelain teacup Liquor: bright reddish brown This tea was earthy and sweet with nutty notes and a mild fruitiness. Smoky notes in the background rounded out the flavor profile, adding a nice balance. It had a bold astringency but did not become bitter when left to steep for too long the first time around (oops!). The dry tea was small and CTC style and there was quite a bit of leaf dust inside of the tin. That is not necessarily indicative of the quality because it tasted more…
Shan Valley Valley Green Tea
Photo: Shan Valley Country of Origin: Mynamar Leaf Appearance: small, very dark green Ingredients: green tea Steep time: 3 minutes Water Temperature: 175 degrees Preparation Method: porcelain teacup Liquor: gold I was really excited to try this tea because it was grown in Mynamar, otherwise known as Burma. What can I say, I’m a sucker for unusual terroirs. Packaged in the standard silky pyramid tea bag, the leaves were fairly dark in color for a green tea. The taste was vegetal yet with mellow with faint fruity notes and just a hint of smoke. Although it was fairly astringent I did not find it unpleasant at all. Sometimes life calls for an easy…
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