Organic Jade Sword

Name; Organic Jade Sword 2011

Type; Green, China, Zhejiang Province, Fengwukou Village Garden, Harvested between May 5^th- May 20^th.

Price; £ 4.95 for 50 grams from Jing.

http://jingtea.com/tea/type/green/organic-jade-sword

“Mao Jian Lu Cha

Grown in misty mountains in China's Jiande green tea terroir. Jade Sword is a bright and fresh tea. Picked between the 5th and 20th of May 2011 from Fengwukou village garden.

Appearance: Fine, long and neat dark seaweed-green twists, turning a vivid, fresh forest green on infusion

Infusion: Vivid, pale lime-green liquor

Aroma: Rounded, full, complex aromas combining dry grass back notes with sweeter floral notes in the foreground

Taste: Clean, rounded, full and grassy with faint seaweed complexities. Brisk and refreshing with a textured finish”

Review; To quote Alicia Keys “how do you give me so much pleasure cause me so much pain”.  Chinese greens can inspire you, and make you switch to infusions for a month.  This particular falls square in the middle of sour end. 

Which is frankly a shame.  First impression on opening was that it smelled stale, and very much of dry grass.  When I was brewing it smelled a bit of chlorine, and now as I taste it I can’t help but notice a coppery taste.   Yes this tea is almost a year old, but Jing prides themselves on their storage of vacuum sealing the packets so that shouldn’t really be the issue.  To be fair you can get the standard roasted chestnut taste in it, but this tea is far too bitter.  Because of the metallic nature of the teas, I don’t believe the fault lies with Jing (well just how they sourced it), but with the garden and probably an over oxidation. 

Jing describes themselves as the premiere tea distributor in the UK, with prices that are often higher than your average local tea shop.  This tea is a fine example where I could easily buy 2 others in my local area for less than I paid.  Yes it is clear, and crisp, but not really in ways one should be proud of. 

I particularly enjoy when tea distributors describe what one should see in a tea.  What is more amusing is first to write what you think, and then see where the tea distributor’s imagination takes off.  I’m particularly amused by the “textured” finish.  Sounds a bit like someone is full of themselves as they try to pawn this mediocre tea as grand. 

Don’t Enjoy!

-Tea Fan

Pre-Rain Organic Anji Bai Cha

Name; Pre-Rain Organic Anji Bai cha
Type; Green, China, Zhejiang Province, Fengwukou Village Garden, Picked between 5^th April and 10^th April 201. Which means the 2012's should be harvesting soon

Price; £ 21.00 for 50 grams from Jing.

http://jingtea.com/tea/type/green/pre-rain-organic-anji-bai-cha

Review; There is nothing like a fresh green, green tea in the morning. That chlorophyll aroma in your pot, before the hectic chaos of the day begins. Pristine. The tea I’m tasting this week from Jing Tea, is the second attempt from them. Last year I tried two teas (a Goomtee Darjeeling and Keemun I believe), and I was left severely disappointed. Perhaps Jing shall fare better this time, as they to claim to be one of the UK’s top tea distributors.

The brew is a slow infusing one, with beautiful pinnate leaves that hang vertically. Aromas of wilted bok choi and spinach. A clear infusion almost, gives off an iridescent appearance. I’m brewing this in a tea pot, but I think a guywan would serve it more justice. This is a gorgeous tea. Delicate, but surprising strong despite the plain nature of the liquid. Tell-tale roasted chestnut with a strong vegetal notes as well. A delightful light and soft crispness awakens the tongue. Mid to no astringency. If this tea wasn’t over charged by Jing it could easily become a regular of mine. Tastes a bit like a Xin Jiang Mao Jian, in the sense that it has a delicious savory nature to it.

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This tea really is over priced, but usually the Pre-Rains are. And one can taste the difference, in reality though the tea just shouldn’t cost that much. Guess this is what market economies are there for though.

Enjoy!

-Tea Fan