adagio - the tea review

My tea arrived on Wednesday, so it has been Tea Central of Tea-ness around here. I got ten samples and two full size of the ones I knew I'd love--Irish Breakfast and Apricot--so below, my completely pointless thoughts on Tea, Tea, I Need More Tea Now.

Did Not Like (Not Tea's Fault)

Earl Grey - I am not a fan of Earl Grey except very occasionally; it's a very occasional/social tea for me. Basically, it could not be done in a way I'd love. Gave to friend who loves Earl Grey.

Did Not Like (Tea's Fault)

Golden Monkey - I can't explain why it was ick, but it really was. There was some kind of back bitter/sour thing going on with an underbelly of something vaguely earthly in a bad way. I checked to see if steeped too long, but no. This is the only one I didn't finish. Gave to boss because I'm like that.

Not Sure Yet

Grapefruit Oolong - I need to try this one again with a shorter steep. It was really zest-like notes in it that were bitter and not delicious. But I like grapefruit, so reserving until I can try again.

Good/Great

Darjeeling #12 - It was good but not magical. I'd drink it again.

Ceylon Sonata - very good. It's Ceylon. It's hard to do it wrong.

Orange - very liked, orange a tiny bit strong but I think steeping it thirty seconds less would take the edge off. Very nice sweet edge without citrus sharpness, clear white flavor.

Nepal First Flush - I like this one, but I am getting the steep time wrong. Five minutes is too long, but three is too short. Dammit. Very nice, a tiny bit earthy.

My God Yes

Yunnan Jig - this is a black tea of the freaking gods, okay? I'm almost done with my sample. It's clear medium dark brown, steep time at four minutes thirty seems to bring the best results, water just at boil before adding to tea. I am drinking a very large pitcher of this right now. It has a round heaviness at the first taste and is very mellow with a low warm golden flavor.

Currant - perfect currant tea. Almost done with my sample already. Clear medium-medium brown, steep between four and four and a half minutes (I am not grooving the full five minute seepage; that seems to bring out something bitter that doesn't get picked up if I do it a little earlier). I am in love.

Apricot - it's hard to get apricot wrong (though I have had contenders) but this is very nice. Very good scent, good balanced flavor, full five minute steep to get all the deliciousness.

Unreviewed

Irish Breakfast and English Breakfast - unless something in the Force changes mightily, I'm not seeing how these could go wrong. Irish Breakfast is my go-to tea of go-to-ness. This is my coffee of the tea world (though yunnan jig is really giving it a run for its money; I need to try the yunnan golden now).

Anyone want to throw out their favorite flavors? Adagio or otherwise. On the first will be the second tea buying fit and its nice to be prepared.

Comments

[riazendira.livejournal.com]

This is possibly not at all helpful, because well, hard to get... but we're talking tea here, so I thought I'd toss out my favorite anyway. My very favorite tea in the whole world comes from L'epicerie on the Ile st Louis in Paris. I discovered it quite by accident while traveling there during college... now whenever friends go to Paris I beg them to bring me back more. It's called Blue Lagoon. I'm never quite sure if one could get it elsewhere and have it taste the same. It's a loose tea, and I think a black tea (but I could be wrong), and it's amazing. Of course, now it's been a few years since I've had it, so I couldn't actually describe it to you anymore, but I know I'll be getting more at my first chance because it's just that good. Yey tea! (I also had a roommate in college who would make tea every day in the winter, and when she finished steeping it would announce to the world at large "Yey, tea!" before drinking it. She was the coolest roommate evar.)

[yarp-narp.livejournal.com]

L'epicier is actually a Japanese company, I think, and they've been operating under the name Lupicia for a few years. Apparently there are 4 US locations for this company now, mostly west coast.
I highly recommend one of their signature flavored teas. It's called Neptune and is a black tea infused with honeyed fruits and marigold. The aroma when it seeps is seriously to die for, and makes a very good iced tea.
http://www.lupiciausa.com/product_p/12405502.htm

Speaking of iced tea, I was wondering if you've ever tried seeping tea cold? While it means a much much longer process and bigger portion of leaves, the results can be surprisingly good, especially for tea with strong infused flavors. For example, I usually find the aroma of Earl Gray a little aggressive, but when I cold-seep it overnight, the aroma is a lot more contained, there is absolutely no bitterness, and the total impression is just super smooth.

[yarp-narp.livejournal.com]

*steeeeeeeeeep. sorry, it's late.

[riazendira.livejournal.com]

While I can't of course confirm or deny either way without a quick jaunt to Paris, I don't think that L'epicerie and L'epicier/Lupicia are the same place unless they've changed very significantly in recent years. (Which could of course have happened) But the stuff on the website, other than also being tea, doesn't have any particular resemblance to the stuff sold in the shop I was in. The packaging doesn't match, the names of some of their teas are not sold on that site, and the additional items besides tea that they sold are not on that site. So, while it could be possible they are one and the same, they would have to have changed a lot.