Saturday, May 2, 2009

2009 First Flush Qing Dao Lao Shan Green Tea

A friend of mine brought me back a 2009 first flush Qing Dao Lao Shan on his visit to China recently. To be absolutely honest, I didn't expect too much from this tea, but I was pleasantly surprised.



The bag is very nice too, with different caligraphy writings of "cha" on it.



The leaves are curled, but are still whole. Has a smell similar to sencha, fresh and vegetal, but with a hint of nuts, more to the pistacios variety.


First infusion:
Tea: 1 tsp
Water: 1 cup
Water temperature: boiling. I don't know why, but that was the instructions on the box. Strange though for a chinese green.
Steep time: 30 seconds
Review: Quite suprisingly good. The nutty, creamy, vegetal taste is very obvious. And smells heavenly. Not astringent or yucky like other Chinese greens first infusion.


Second infusion:
Tea: 1 tsp
Water: 1 cup
Water temperature: boiling. 
Steep time: 40 seconds
Review: Still not bad, but strange for a Chinese green, not as good as the first infusion.  Not nearly as fragrant and slightly astringent, may be because I left it in for too long. 

Third infusion:
Tea: 1 tsp
Water: 1 cup
Water temperature: boiling. 
Steep time: 45 seconds
Review: Flavour is lighter, but pretty consistent with the second infusion.

Kinda hard to imagine that I just made Chinese green with boiling water. But since those were the instructions, I had to try it this way. Next time, I shall make it normally =_=

1 comment:

  1. Seems she did not read the directions....boil water than allow to rest 3 minutes, etc.....this allows water temp to go down to good steeping temperature.....

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