Tea time: Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong black tea cured in King orange from Yunnan Sourcing.

[gurdymonkey]

This is what happens when the tea vendors start spamming you with discount codes. In my defense, I did only buy three things, unlike Jade, who looks like she cornered the tea market with her last haul.

This tea sounded interesting from the description on Yunnan Sourcing's website: "Zheng Shan Xiao Zhong Black tea from Fujian has been stuffed into a fresh King Orange and then cured together. The black tea has obsorbed alot of the citrus taste and it's both tasty and subtle. I prefer to break in half and brew the black tea and the orange all together. If you prefer less citrus taste you can remove the tea from the dried rind and brew separately.

King Orange is a small green orange which originates from Vietnam "but is now grown in Southern Yunnan. It is known in Vietnam as Cam sành. It is tasty to eat by itself and although rather small and green it's sweet and pungent."

Three small oranges wrapped in paper were shipped in an airtight foil pouch. When opened, the orange looked quite brown from being packed with tea, but smelled lovely. Not sure what to do, I lobbed it into the gaiwan and poured 190F water over it, then realized it might steep better if I'd cut open the orange first. Instead of fishing it out, I let it have a good 90 seconds on the first steep. 

Smells like oranges. Black tea flavor with a slightly sweet finish, no bitterness. On the second or third sip you get a hint of orange rind sourness, but I didn't find it unpleasant. Second time I steeped it I did split the orange open. The leaves unfurled and the water went much darker more quickly. 

Very pleasant, would order more next time around. 

 

Comments

[danabren]

This is what happens when the tea vendors start spamming you with discount codes

I feel you. Deeply. On a soul-deep level. Yes.

[gurdymonkey]

Factor in that teas - at least the kind of teas I've been buying - become available on a seasonal time table. I go to a website and see "Sold Out" labels on things all the time.