I thought I would celebrate the end of year by naming my five favorite teas of 2008. Note that I mean teas that I have tasted in the past year, not necessarily the 2008 harvest. In the spirit of diversity, I have picked one green, one oolong, one Indian black, one Chinese black, and a pu-erh.
Sencha Kenjyo
I don’t drink a lot of Japanese greens, but if they all tasted like this rather pricey offering ($18/oz.) from Tao of Tea, I certainly would. I often find ToT’s tea descriptions a little…imaginative, but their blurb on this one is quite accurate: “A refined, complex sencha with a crisp, green infusion. Refreshing, cooling aroma with hints of edamame, milk and coriander.” A very rich, creamy tea with a lot of substance. My only complaint (which is really about my own brewing skill, not the tea itself), is that my sessions with this tea were not very consistent. I think this is the reason I don’t drink more Japanese greens.
Wuyi “Cove Mist”
Many tea enthusiasts get irritated by people who are always trying to draw parallels between wine and tea. Nevertheless, one of the first things that came to mind when I tried this yancha from The Tea Gallery was that if this tea were a wine, it would be a really good Chablis. It has that same wonderful, clean mineral quality, and follows that up with just a touch of citrus. I don’t know enough about Wuyi oolongs to know if this tea is typical of the class as a whole, but it has definitely inspired me to learn more.
Arya Estate FTGFOP1 Autumnal Organic Darjeeling
One of the many things that I love about black teas is the fact that there are so many good ones that are quite inexpensive. While some of the other teas on this list represent major splurges, this one is available from Upton for a mere $3.36/oz. I’ve ordered a lot of it. Like most Darjeelings, it’s not much to look at dry, but it brews up into a beautiful amber cup with a light floral aroma. The taste reminds me pleasantly of chamomile, but there is definitely enough substance so that you won’t think you’re drinking an herbal. Very highly recommended.
Classic Bohea
At over $6.00/oz. at Upton, this one is kind of pricey by black tea standards, but is worth it. It comes from Fujian province and tastes characteristically keemun-esque, but moreso. Very rich, with lots of smoke and chocolate, and a bit of fruit in the background.
1999 Menghai Yiwu Mountain (Dark Blue Piao) Green Big Tree
I guess this is a very predictable winner in the pu-erh category. I gather that this tea has quite a reputation. I could only afford a tiny sample from Hou De, but enjoyed it immensely. During my experiments with pu-erh this year, I was initially drawn to the rich, smokey teas like the 2003 Dayi Yiwu Arbor, but recently I have gained an increased appreciation for shengs with more fruit and honey flavor. This ’99 tea is especially rich in raw honey flavors and scents and is almost indescribably complex. I’m not able to even pick out all of the flavors represented, but it sure is fun to try. I’ll probably never drink this tea again, but it’s a nice memory.