Tuesday TeaDay 5/11/10 The actual tea flavor?

[Chip]

Happy TeaDay, TeaChatters. Tip your cup and join us in TeaDay.

Welcome to TeaDay. Visit here all day and share what is in your cup with fellow TeaChatters...well, the TeaWorld. While you are here, be sure to check out what other TeaChatters are sipping as well. Remember to check out the Daily TeaPoll.

Yesterday we discussed the personal improtance of tea. You can still vote and discuss yeterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. What natural flavor aspects/qualities do you enjoy/look for in a tea? This is not regarding added flavors, another poll for another day! I have a pretty good list started, but if I missed something, I am sure you will tell me here. So, tell us what do you look for in flavor from your tea? I think it is a great discussion topic!!!

Have a great TeaDay, TeaWorld!!!

[blairswhitaker]

other as in all of the above just dependent upon the tea.

[omegapd]

My favorite Tea is a very "bold" Assam. If the boldness wasn't there, it wouldn't be my favorite.

[LauraW]

It depends on my mood and type of tea (often the former influences the latter, so they kinda go hand in hand), but I said Smoothness, Sweetness, Fruitiness, Smokiness, and Grassiness. If I'm drinking a green, for example, I'm looking for grassiness over smoke, but if it's say, a wuyi, I want smoky and not grassy. But I've discovered that I'm anti-astringency; I normally take about 30 secs off of any recommended 3-5 min steep, the only thing that I'll really let go past 5 mins is a 2nd-3rd steep of a white. I'd much rather have a fruity, sweet tea - but not sweetened!

Nothing yet, on the way out the door. Craving white now, but don't have time to package it up to take to work, since I really don't want to take the whole 6oz - and I'm still trying to figure out storage for it, since I'm out of decent-size tins (I have sample tins and... that's it. Had to put the remainder of the Yunnan in a plastic bag, but left it wrapped in its un-resealable brown foil-lined bag. Didn't go in the fridge for fear of fridge-smells, it's sitting with the rest of my tea in dry-goods-storage-land in the pantry. I'm hoping flour and sugar won't adversely affect the flavor )

[Janine]

Okay you left off "buttery" which is very important to me especially in greener oolongs.

I also look for something that I can only describe because I'm not sure what people call it. When you sip the tea there is a slight oily feeling on your lips afterward - as if you've applied a balm.

And the sugar brings me back -- this is a natural sugar you smell in the cup afterward. Wow.

For keemun and other blacks I also look for a really rich full flavor - a different kind of sweetness to it. With a woodsy hint.

[TubbyCow]

Okay you left off "buttery" which is very important to me especially in greener oolongs.

Yeah, how is there no buttery? That'd be my first pick because a really creamy oolong is probably my favourite tea.

Next would probably be... vegetal, I suppose. So I'll vote that.

[Chip]

Yeah, how could the amateur pollster forget buttery. Like I said in the OP, I knew I would miss some. Unfortunately I cannot add it because that would clear all the votes. Sorry ...

Really tough to only pick 5 it seems. I picked in no particular order veggy, fruity, floral, sweet, grassy.

But for me a well balanced tea must also have degrees of boldness, astringency, bitter and at the same time smoothness. So, why can't I vote for 8 or 9.

How can a tiny dried up leaf accomplish all this???

[artmom]

Smoothness, floral, fruity, smoky and Other. The Other is buttery.

This morning, a second steeping of MF Marco Polo.

[geeber1]

Smoothness, (occasionally) floral, sweetness, fruitiness, and other.

My favorite Nilgiris usually have a sweet, fruitiness that I really love.

[Chip]

... and how did I leave out the enigmatic umami???????????

[brad4419]

... and how did I leave out the enigmatic umami???????????

Chip were you tea drunk this morning?

[Victoria]

I really love everything except vegetal and grassiness, in different combinations depending on the tea. I love astringency in a good first flush Darjeeling, but not in my oolongs. There I prefer sweetness, floral and I love it when a get that spice (cinnamon) note.

But I do love the vegetal aroma of green oolongs. The more vegetal aroma, the better.

In my cup this morning, finishing up some oolong from Camellia Sinensis,
and on standby for my first 2010 oolongs to arrive.

[laura99]

I choose boldness, floral, vegetal, grassiness and sweetness. Depends on the type of tea that I am drinking.

Started today with my first cup of Matcha! Was pretty good, but I think I will need some practice. Then some Yunnan Noir at work this morning. Think i'll have some Sencha after lunch.

[Chip]

... and how did I leave out the enigmatic umami???????????

Chip were you tea drunk this morning?

Nooo, TeaDeprived late last night when I did this!

[leiche2]

I'm with Vic, anything but grassiness or vegetal is fine by me. It all depends on what I'm drinking.

Beginning to want a nap now, so it's definitely time for tea.