Tea Review: Jin Guanyin (Nine Dragons Tea)

Jin Guanyin
Nine Dragons Tea
Type: Oolong
Origin: China, Fujian Province, Wuyishan
Product Description:

Jin Guanyin is an unique varietal made by grafting Huang Jin Gui onto Tieguanyin root stock. The resulting tea has a unique, sweet Osmanthus aroma, mixed with the traditional charcoal fire scent of Wuyi rock tea. With sufficient rock rhyme and lingering sweetness and fragrance, we feel this tea is an excellent value.

Temperature: 195-208° F

Amount: 3 grams
Steeping Time: 3-5 minutes

The dry leaves have a roasty and savory aroma with notes of roasted nut shells and something that reminds me of dark bread.

The dark golden infusion has a rich, savory, and roasty aroma with notes of nut shells and a hint of sweetness.  The charcoal roasting comes through in the taste, as well as sweetness and mineral notes with just a hint of flowers in the long finish.

The deeply savory and charcoal roasted aroma of the dry leaves brought to mind a particularly hearty meal I could sink my teeth into and it was a bit difficult to move on from smelling the leaves to preparing the tea.  Steeping for 3 minutes in near-boiling water brought out heavy roast notes and mild astringency while steeping at 195° F for 5 minutes brought out more nuance and flavor, softening the roast and reducing the astringency.

This tea was purchased by me.

Tea Review: First Place Zheng Yan Shui Xian (Nine Dragons Tea)

First Place Zheng Yan Shui Xian
Nine Dragons Tea
Type: Oolong
Origin: China, Fujian Province, Wuyishan
Product Description: 

We are very excited to be able to offer a tea of this caliber! This tea won First Place for Shui Xian in the 2019 Wuyishan Tea Competition, out of over 1,800 entries. This tea was grown in the Zheng Yan ("true cliff") core area of Wuyishan, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was made by Chen Zhen Ying, who is the Deputy Director of the Wuyishan Tea Research Institute, and expertly roasted by Gao Peng, who won the Yan Cha Grand Prize in 2018.

There is an incredible aroma and sweetness, with a soft mouthfeel and Hui Gan (lingering sweetness) that remains on the palate long after the tea has been swallowed. The roast is perfectly integrated, and never overpowers. An all-around excellent Competition winning tea!

Temperature: 208° F
Amount: 3 grams
Steeping Time: 3-5 minutes

The dry leaf aroma is peppery and roasty with notes of seared wood, roasted nut shells, and a faint hint of fruit.

The aroma of the orange amber liquor is roasty and spicy with notes of baked fruit and honey.  The taste is sweet and smooth with a long, sweet, mineral and faintly floral finish.

I was really struck by how the bold roast in the aroma became so gentle in the mouth.  There is little risk of over-brewing with near-boiling water.  Gongfu-style brewing with more leaf and a small brewing vessel is ideal, though I also had very good results brewing just 3 grams of leaf in a 6-ounce cupping set.

This tea was purchased by me.

Tea Review: Yu Hua Dong Zheng Yan Rou Gui (Nine Dragons Tea)

Yu Hua Dong Zheng Yan Rou Gui
Nine Dragons Tea
Type: Oolong
Origin: China, Fujian Province, Wuyishan
Product Description: 

We are proud to offer this competition-grade Rou Gui, which won Second Place at the 2019 Wuyishan Tea Competition, out of over 2,000 entries.

This tea was grown in the Zheng Yan ("true cliff") core area of Wuyishan, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was made by Chen Zhen Ying, who is the Deputy Director of the Wuyishan Tea Research Institute, and expertly roasted by Gao Peng, who won the Yan Cha Grand Prize in 2018.

 As the leading variety of rock tea, Rou Gui is grown in many different mountain areas, and the taste of each mountain area is different. This tea comes from Yu Hua cave, an area which is abundant in water and nutrient-rich soil, adjacent to the Water Curtain Cave. The ecology of this area is perfect for growing tea. 

The tea soup is mellow and soft, with a honey/nectar sweetness, which transitions from slightly fruity to floral, then finally ends in notes of cinnamon. Yan Yun ("rock rhyme") is evident, with an excellent light roast and sweetness that lingers in the mouth and throat.

Temperature: 208° F
Amount: 3 grams
Steeping Time: 3-7 minutes

The dry leaves have an aroma of roasted nut shells and dark bread with a hint of sweetness.

The orange amber liquor has an aroma of roasted nuts and hints of caramelized sugar and fruit.  The taste is dark and rich with notes of roasted nut shells and a long roasty and sweet finish.

This is a tea that lends itself to gongfu-style brewing where using more leaf and a small brewing vessel will bring out the best and most flavorful infusions.  With a cupping set, a baseline 3 grams of leaf, and water at or near boiling, the results are still flavorful and aromatic.  The color, aroma, and flavor lightened significantly after the second infusion, so I doubled the steeping time which brought everything back up to the level that I enjoyed for a couple more steepings.  The tea feels dry when it first hits the tongue, but that sensation immediately softens and the delicious finish goes on forever.

This tea was purchased by me.