I'm gonna bend the rules a bit. I've had a lot of bad tea this year simply because I've done a awful lot of sampling with Shiuwen and friends at FLT and some samples vendors and customers send her or bring in are just horrible. So I'm going to list my 'most disappointing tea' instead.
FLT Alishan 'A' is usually so amazing my jaw drops, my head spins and I'm happy for weeks afterward. Really, it's usually that good. I look forward to getting some every harvest for those special occasions. It's been so consistently awe inspiring that at the winter tasting I felt the greatest disappointment of the year. 2008 winter was simply very good, it wasn't great or 'special'. All of us immediately identified it as 'old grumpy's tea', all of us liked it, but it wasn't special, I almost cried.
Now, to be fair I just bought 4 oz of it to get me to the spring harvest and I like it fine. It is the best gaoshan in my inventory right now I think. But it was sooooo very disappointing. When I drink it now I think two thoughts. 1) 'mmmn, this is a fine ali shan.' 2) 'omg, I'm sooo dissappointed.'
Apr 27th, '09, 15:29
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tenuki
Recently tried two greens that were weak and unexpressive: Vietnamese Suoi Giang, that according to vendor's description should have been a great product in spite of its low price (...), and Chinese Dong Yang Dong Bay, from a shop in Milano famous for being attended by high society smart set (uhmm...)
Darjeeling autumnal Rose D'Himalaya from Arya estate in my cup!
Darjeeling autumnal Rose D'Himalaya from Arya estate in my cup!
Apr 27th, '09, 21:45
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Proinsias
The worst tasting tea I've had this year was more down to my neglectful brewing technique than the tea itself, way over steeped liu an was one of the most sobering experiences I've had all year - well that and my five year old daughter telling me that Charlie in her class doesn't want to kiss her so she is going to sneak up on him and put a ring on his finger so they will be married and he won't be able to anything about it, then laughing manically.
Apr 27th, '09, 22:53
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Location: British Columbia Canada
Apr 27th, '09, 23:25
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Joined: Jan 31st, '09, 12:41
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Dreamer
I have had a few samples of blacks that just didn't have too much flavor, but the only tea that I really have not this year like is the Sakura Sencha from Den's.
The first time I tried it I thought I liked it, but I've brewed it twice more and I couldn't finish a cup...the cherry flavor is just too "chemical tasting" for me. I tried brewing at a lower temp (as per the label, to emphasize the sencha flavor vs. the cherry flavor) and that didn't help for me. I even tried it iced thinking that the fruity-ness would be refreshing iced, but that didn't do it for me either. I just think the first time I must have gotten a spoon full of leaf that had very few of the cherry flavor bits.
I know there are a bunch of folks on here who love this tea...Anybody who wants my almost full package of this tea (it was a 2 oz/56 g package and I have used 4 teaspoons of it), can have it for the cost of shipping...just PM me.
Warm muggy busy day here...just some everyday Ceylon at breakfast and delightful iced Ceylon this afternoon and evening.
Have a great tea week,
Dreamer
Edit - ok I've found a home for the Sakura Sencha.
The first time I tried it I thought I liked it, but I've brewed it twice more and I couldn't finish a cup...the cherry flavor is just too "chemical tasting" for me. I tried brewing at a lower temp (as per the label, to emphasize the sencha flavor vs. the cherry flavor) and that didn't help for me. I even tried it iced thinking that the fruity-ness would be refreshing iced, but that didn't do it for me either. I just think the first time I must have gotten a spoon full of leaf that had very few of the cherry flavor bits.
I know there are a bunch of folks on here who love this tea...Anybody who wants my almost full package of this tea (it was a 2 oz/56 g package and I have used 4 teaspoons of it), can have it for the cost of shipping...just PM me.
Warm muggy busy day here...just some everyday Ceylon at breakfast and delightful iced Ceylon this afternoon and evening.
Have a great tea week,
Dreamer
Edit - ok I've found a home for the Sakura Sencha.