My Overall Impression (Score of 85.0%)

Welcome to another excellent selection from House of Tea.  I was a bit skeptical at first when I opened the bag, as the aroma was muted.  However, once brewed, it blossomed out showing amazing green notes.  The flavor of seaweed, salty tones, and green herbs is phenomenal, and I loved it.  The hint of off dry sweetness reminded me of honey and dried apricots which lend to balance the astringency. 

Be careful when brewing as the water should not exceed 190 F (may even want to go 185 F) and maximum of 90 seconds for the brew.  While analyzing this tea, I left a tiny amount of water with the leaves.  When I went back to check this brew after sitting for a few extra minutes, it showed stewed mustard green notes. 

The price as of 7/5/23 is $39.95 Canadian for 100 grams.

Broken down:

• 100 gm / 3 gm for steeping = 33 cups
• 33 cups from package = app $1.21 Canadian per cup

Typically, I double steep all my teas (use the tea twice) so I can get 66 cups or approximately 61 cents Canadian per cup.  This might be considered expensive but it’s worth the great cup that you will receive in the end.

Quick note: Please note that this is green tea that’s harvested for a short flush window in Fuijan.  The name comes from the pan dried leaves which show fine white hairs (as compared to a monkey’s fur).

Aromas

• Opening the package, the aromas were muted. I could detect green malt mixed with seaweed and seawater.  It reminded me of dried Nori sheets.
• Once brewed, it blossomed and showed large aromas of seaweed, green melon, and saltwater. This was followed by dried shrimp, zucchini, and Italian parsley.
• There were faint notes of toasted green malt and honeyed dried apricots.

Flavors

• This brew has lots of delicate green notes which are dominated by seaweed and dried shrimp covered with parsley.
• These notes are followed by hints of fresh dill, rosemary, and sage.
• The sweetness (off dry) of unrefined honey offsets the slight bitterness.
• I love the soft mouthfeel that’s delicate but coats your palate. This is linked to the medium acid levels, body and tannins that make this a great brew.

Scores

• Aromas (4.2/5)
• Flavors (8.5/10)
• Overall impression (4.3/5)
  • Total score = 85.0 percent (17/20)

Foods to Pair and Why

• Sauteed snow peas with dill and parsley will match the great aromas, flavors, and mouthfeel. This time of year, my snow peas are finishing off, but these fresh gems have been great picked and sauteed briefly.  I tried a sip of tea with this and found it to be wonderful.
• Braised mustard greens with bacon and onions. Now I know I said to watch your brewing temperature and time to avoid over brewing the tea.  However, the tea brewed correctly shows tiny hints of green vegetables.  Braising the green with bacon would be an excellent pairing to link with the acidity, mouthfeel, and sugar levels.  Add in the flavor and you would have a winner.
• Summer reminds me of fresh fruits such as watermelon. One salad that I love is sweet, diced watermelon, watercress, and very light crumbled feta with a splash of citrus.  This would be a nice contrast of flavors with the green notes of the tea.  It would match the acidity, mouthfeel, and weight.