Some recent tea tastings
Tea, Ceremony,
Ceramics, History and
Absolute Pure Joy
…these are a few of my favourite things! 🍵📦🎶
A friend recently asked me what it was that drew me to tea. This ended up in a very long conversation. At the end she said, “I can see the glow of your passion.”
I recently purchased some new tea from Naked Leaf, a tea shop in the Kensington area of Calgary. I got an oolong, and a sencha green tea. I also purchased a beautiful raw clay cup with koi in it, and a small ceramic spoon. I also love the designer tins the tea is packaged in - you even get to choose which image you like (limited edition art).
First - the Sencha
Tea Tin No. 652 - photo of a fuschia orchid - artwork by Olya Wright
The description of this tea from the store is as follows:
“This tea comes from Yame, a region in Fukuoka prefecture in the southern island of Kyushu (Japan) famous for its exceptional tea production. This Yame Sencha is made using only leaves from the 1st flush harvest to enhance the blend.
This lovely and refreshing tea produces a creamy cup with strong umami notes.”
The scent is the smell of the forest after the rain, and the flavour is distinctly green with a hint of lemongrass. I was surprised the liquor did not appear greener.
Milky Oolong
Tea Tin No. 660 - stunning artwork by Noah Haruki
“One of the most unusual teas in the shop, our Milky Oolong from theWuyi mountains in China, has a natural buttery taste without the use of any flavorings. Producing a rich thick infusion that leaves a lovely taste in the mouth. This tea is good for multiple infusions and is a continual customer favorite.”
The dry leaf is mid- to dark-green rolled leaves, with a strongly, sweet scent - almost the smell of sugar-cane.
The flavour is extraordinarily smooth and milky - I guess this is where it gets it’s name. If you always like milk in your tea, this might be one you enjoy without.
I would purchase both of these teas again!
