new shipment arrived: Fujian, Yunnan, Assam, Ceylon, Nilgiri

[joelbct]

Yay!

China Fujian Emperors Red
Golden Yunnan "Competition Grade" x2
Yunnan "Royal Gold"
Nilgiri Thiashola SFTGFOP1
Nilgiri Tiger Hill
Assam Orangajuli FTGFOP1
Assam Meleng FTGFOP1 x3
Ceylon Lovers Leap BOP
Ceylon Pettiagalla FOP
Ceylon Nuwara Eliya OP
Ceylon Wewesse FOP

They are all 1/2oz sample sizes... variety is good! Will post reviews

[Victoria]

Yay! Congrats!

[Salsero]

They are all 1/2oz sample sizes... variety is good! Will post reviews

Will hold you to that.

[omegapd]

I've tried two different versions of the Lover's Leap Ceylon (one gifted from Katrina and one from Upton) and both were very good- in fact, it's the only Ceylon I really like.

Have fun sampling!

[Riene]

Looks like a great collection! I'm looking forward to the reviews!

[Bubba_tea]

Have you tried that 2008 Yunnan crop yet??

[Teaman2]

What is the source of your shipment of teas?

[PolyhymnianMuse]

I could be wrong but that looks like an order from specialteas, and a very nice one at that.

[Salsero]

Yeppers, those a TeaSource names, OK.

[joelbct]

They are all 1/2oz sample sizes... variety is good! Will post reviews

Will hold you to that.

Some brief notes, sorry they arent more detailed, and yes, from specialteas-

Vithkanande (forgot to list above): My favorite Ceylon so far. Perfectly balanced, complex, astringent.
Ceylon Lovers Leap BOP - Didn't love this one, must have been first flush because it tastes and looks just like a first flush Darjeeling- light, floral. If you like first flush darj-type indian tea, then you will like this- if not, probably not.
Ceylon Pettiagalla FOP - A decent Ceylon, good for iced tea.
Ceylon Nuwara Eliya OP - Also decent, not stellar
Ceylon Wewesse FOP - I like this one too, a bit astringent, pretty well balanced, citrus-ey. Prob my second favorite out of the 5 Ceylons in the order.

Golden Yunnan Comp. Grade- Excellent all-gold Golden Yunnan, not the holy grail of Golden Yunnan I have been searching for, but def up there. I like this a bit more than the Yunnan Sourcing Pure Gold, but it is like 3x the price.

[Salsero]

Vithkanande ...
Ceylon Lovers Leap BOP - ... first flush because it tastes and looks just like

Yes, I was really suprised and fairly impressed by the Vithkanande ... must go back and drink it again!

There are at last four growing regions in Ceylon, each producing a distinctive product, from the dark, Assam-like Vithkanande (from, I think, the Ratnapura area) to the high elevation teas (Nuwara Eliya?) which are valued for a light and lemony flavor, more oolong like.

It would really be nice to get a serious education in these Ceylons, but quality examples are few and far between and even hard information is a bit scare.

[joelbct]

Just tried the Thiasholia SFTGFOP1 Organic Niligiri. Not really my thing- It's not bad, but a bit light, floral- I prefer my Indian Tea in the Assam or hearty Ceylon realm, not really the Darjeeling realm.

[VinceBLG]

I think my favorite black Fujian from SpecialTeas is the Emperors Red.

I also tried the royal gold Yunnan and liked it but was not overly impressed. It was characteristic Yunnan and subtle, which was nice, but nothing amazing happening.

[teabone]

I have been looking everywhere for a China black of this quality, obviously no longer carried by Special Teas. When they had it years ago, it was a unique, one-of-a-kind Fujian black tea - had a small, eyebrow-shaped leaf and really rich cocoa-like flavor. Then their quality went downhill and they started passing off something that was entirely different. Now I see they don't carry it at all and when you ask them for it they try to sell you golden monkey, which just doesn't compare. Does anyone remember the original Emperors Red and know where I can get some?

[shah82]

I suspect what you're looking for can be found in Teaspring's Tanyang congous...