Tea Review: Vietnam Black (Modern Steep)

Vietnam Black

Modern Steep
Type: Black
Origin: Vietnam
Product Description: 

This wild-grown organic tea comes from trees 700-800 years old growing in remote Western Vietnam.  Teas from this area feature a distinctively rich, malty character with higher concentrations of antioxidants than other black teas.

Temperature: 208° F
Amount: 3 grams
Steeping Time: 3 minutes

The dry leaves have a light aroma of fruit and antique wood.

The liquor is dark red with a savory and sweet aroma of baked stone fruit and brown bread.  The taste has notes of stone fruit and malt with mild astringency and a long fruity finish.

While the initial infusion had the most nuance, this tea was flavorful throughout three infusions with a lovely fruity finish.

Modern Steep is no longer in business at the time of this review.

This tea was received as a gift from a third party.

Tea Review: Enshi Yu Lu Jade Dewdrops (Modern Steep)

Enshi Yu Lu Jade Dewdrops

Modern Steep
Type: Green
Origin: China
Product Description:

This organic green tea is truly unique in the world of modern Chinese teas as it is steamed immediately following harvest preserving its natural spring picked profile.  It is complex with vegetal notes, light umami and lingering sweetness.

Temperature: 175°
Amount: 3 grams
Steeping Time: 2 minutes

The dry leaf aroma is nutty and green.

The light yellow infusion has a rich and savory, buttery and nutty aroma with a taste of nuts and green vegetables.  

This tea remained flavorful throughout three infusions with the promise of more.  While Modern Steep is no longer in business at the time of this review, there should be other sources for this particular steamed green tea and it's well worth finding.

This tea was received as a gift from a third party.

Tea Review: Yakushima Island Black (Modern Steep)

Yakushima Island Black

Modern Steep
Type: Black
Origin: Japan
Product Description:

This organic tea is a rare example of black teas coming from Japan.  Made from both the Yabukita and Yutaka Midori cultivars, it brews up having moderate astringency with woody notes and a hint of peach.

Temperature: 208° F
Amount: 3 grams
Steeping Time: 3 minutes

The dry leaves have an aroma of antique wood and whole grains.

The copper orange liquor has an aroma of baked fruit with a hint of wood and honey.  The taste is mildly astringent with notes of wood and stone fruit with a long and lightly fruity finish.

This was a very good representative of Japanese black teas, nuanced and flavorful with a delightful finish.  The second infusion, though slightly mellower, was still quite tasty.  While Modern Steep is no longer in business, black tea from Yakushima Island should be available through other retail sources and is well worth pursuing.

This tea was received as a gift from a third party.