Monday, August 9, 2010

I have become a tea snob.

Hello Folks, I have a confession to make. I have become a tea snob. One of those snobs that we all hate. At first it was kind of fun I would go into Teavana and pick on the people that work in store by asking them questions that I knew they couldn't answer. Then I found myself picking on servers at my favorite tearooms. Then I started to refuse CTC tea now I know that something like 3/4 of the tea drinking world drinks CTC tea but I think I am to good to drink it. I am a tea snob.
Over the 8 or 9 years that I have been really drinking a lot of tea now I have watched my pallet change and develop. I was a smoker for a lot of years as well as a user of chewing tobacco. So I started with Lapsong Souchong from there I moved on to Assam's. The Assam phase lasted for several years. Next I was on to Keemun's and Yunnan's. Of course I made side trips to Darjeeling, Nilgiri, and I have tried to devlope a taste for green tea. Green tea and I still are not friends but I keep trying. My newest love is Oolong, I truly love this complex elixir. Now here's where the tea snob comes out I was at the world tea expo and tasted a wonderful Oolong from New Zealand then in my mind I started to question it's not from China or Taiwan is it really a Oolong? I am Mr Teaman and I really am a tea snob.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Darjeeling Poobong



This sample came from The Tea House, it is a SFTGFOP Darjeeling from the Poobong estate.Tibetan for "Valley of Bamboos" it is in the Ghoom District the highest in the Darjeeling. When I first opened the sample pouch this first flush tea hit me with wonderful chocolate aromas and fruity notes. I brewed 1 teaspoon of this tea at 212 degrees for 3 min and got a rich red liquor. The aroma from the liquor promised the same chocolate and fruit as the dry leaf.
The first few sips were fruity but unremarkable. But as the tea cooled the whole flavor spectrum opened up there were chocolate notes some melon and then like magic the floral world was there it was like drinking a flower garden.
Because Mr Teaman talks I would say if you have the chance to buy this one go for it.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Tea Guy Speaks: Tea Blog List

Tea Guy Speaks: Tea Blog List

http://mrteamantalks.blogspot.com/

Numi Chocolate Puerh

Hi Folks,
It has been a while since I have posted and I am sorry about that life kind of got in the way. I had the mixed blessing of tring Numi Tea's Puerh line last week at a private tasting. This is a new cooked Puerh it might be a good tea for the new to Puerh. But if you are looking for the Rich full flavor of Pu Erh go some place else. This tea comes in bags so it brews fast but it is weak and the second cup is dish water at best. I will give them credit they do stick to their organic roots with the paper tea bag and all organic product.
All in all Mrteaman says give this one a pass

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

TIAN MU YUN LO











Good Afternoon,
Today I had the pleasure of tasting a fine Tea from the Zhejiang Province of China.
These tiny dark jade leaves and buds (see photo) are packed with fruity aroma that promised a flavorful cup to come. I steep the leaves for 2 min @ 170 deg f. The wet leaves are med green in color and have a slightly spicy new mown hay scent to them. (see photo) The liquor has a soft mouth feel with a pale yellow color(see photo). The tea has a natural sweetness there is also that astringency that I have found in most green teas.
Tian Mu mountain is renowned for it's pure, pollution free environment.
Because Mr Teaman talk's I would recomend this tea.


Monday, September 8, 2008

Welcome to Mr Teaman Talks

Welcome, to my new home on the web. I hope to share many new tea tastings with you. As well as try to bring new exciting information to you about the tea world that I love. I will share my Tea travels with you and tell you about some of the people that I have met and talked to. For instance I have been lucky enough to talk to Norwood Pratt. 
I go to the World Tea Expo every year, and I look forward to sharing that with you. 
Most of all I want to tell you about the tea the very wonderful teas of the world.
I will provide photos of the dry leaf the wet leaf and the liquor I will share my tasting notes with you.
And by all means if you have questions please ask. if I don't know the answer I will get it. 
Because Mr Teaman does like to talk.