Sweet and Umami Gyokuro from Brooklyn Tea

Sweet and Umami Gyokuro from Brooklyn Tea

The dry leaves of this Gyokuro revealed a syrupy sweet aroma of stone fruit, which transformed when steeped to toasted cereal and popcorn.

Preparation

Temperature
165℉

Tea
5g

Water
4oz

Steep Time
45s

Flavors

Astringency
Juicy

Body
Thick

Strength
Medium

Number of Steeps
3

Dry Leaves
Candy
Candied fruit
Stone fruit

Wet Leaves
Popcorn
Warm bread

Tea Aroma
Candied apricot
Toasted cereal

Tea Flavor
Cereal
Straw
Roasted nuts

Attributes

Brand
Brooklyn Tea

Season
n/a

Year
n/a

Elevation
n/a

Family
Green

Country
Japan

Region
Kagoshima

Mood
Focus

Gyokuro green tea from Brooklyn Tea
Gyokuro green tea from Brooklyn Tea steeping in an open teapot.

Brooklyn Tea’s Gyokuro

This Gyokuro tea has so many layers, it was incredibly easy to create these tasting and aroma notes. The dry leaves reveal a syrupy sweet aroma of stone fruit. Then, it transforms when steeped to toasted cereal and popcorn. The tea flavor then gives a beautiful, fresh flavor of straw and roasted notes. It’s thick and juicy and luxurious. Absolutely delicious!

Gyokuro green tea from Brooklyn Tea
Tea steeping in a closed teapot.

Gyokuro Green Tea

Gyokuro tea is the highest quality selection of Japanese loose-leaf green tea. The shrubs are covered for about 2 weeks, which forces the plant to increase the production of chlorophyll and theanine in the leaves. This makes for an incredibly flavorful brew. Compared to many Chinese green teas, this method creates a strong aroma of sticky-sweet candied apricots. Additionally, the use of steam to stop the oxidization in Japanese green teas instead of dry heat in Chinese green teas enhances the fresh, wilderness flavors.

Gyokuro green tea from Brooklyn Tea
The dry leaves of the Gyokuro green tea from Brooklyn Tea.

Brooklyn Tea

Brooklyn Tea is a fabulous, Black-owned tea shop in New York and Atlanta. They carry a beautiful assortment of teas, of which I’ve tried many. This stands out as one of my favorites, though. Their Gyokuro is actually the first one I ever tried a few years ago, so it holds a special place in my heart.

Emerald Leaf Organic Baozhong Oolong Tea Review

Emerald Leaf Organic Baozhong Oolong Tea Review

Rich grain and fruity notes hits my nose as I open the package of this Emerald Leaf Baozhong. As it brews, it reveals a more delicate side, with floral notes.

Preparation

Temperature
195℉

Tea
6g

Water
8oz

Brew Time
1 minute

Flavors

Astringency
Very juicy

Body
Thin

Strength
Medium

Number of Steeps
5

Dry Leaves
Fermented fruit

Wet Leaves
Honey
Orchid

Tea Aroma
Roasted Grain

Tea Flavor
Cereal
Jasmine

Attributes

Brand
Té Company

Season
n/a

Year
n/a

Elevation
450-700m

Family
Oolong

Country
Taiwan

Region
Pinglin

Mood
Delight

This Organic Baozhong Oolong

I first sampled this tea at the Té Company tearoom in Manhattan, and I just had to buy a package of it. Now, it was pretty pricey (around $40) but for a tea to drink on special occasions, this was well worth it. Notes of rich grain and fermented fruit hit my nose as I open the package. Then, as it brews, it reveals a more delicate side, with notes of orchid and jasmine. It’s a delightful journey!

The dry leaves of Emerald Leaf Organic Baozhong waiting to be brewed at the bottom of a ceramic pitcher
The dry leaves of Emerald Leaf Organic Baozhong waiting to be brewed at the bottom of a ceramic pitcher

What is Baozhong Oolong?

Baozhong oolong is a tea originating from Taiwan. Oolong teas are partially oxidized, ranging from lightly oxidized to heavily oxidized. In the case of boazhong oolong, the oxidization is light. As a result, it has similarities to green tea in body and flavor. However, the Emerald Leaf Organic Baozhong from Té Company is blended with the cultivar used to make milk oolong. This gives it an extra buttery richness. Delicious!

A ceramic cup sits in the grass, while Emerald Leaf Organic Baozhong is poured into it
A ceramic cup sits in the grass, while Emerald Leaf Organic Baozhong is poured into it

More about Té Company

Té Company has consistently been one of my favorite tea shops. Not only is their tea delicious, their tearoom is cozy and charming. They don’t take reservations, and seating is limited, but it’s worth the wait. Besides their tea, they are well-known for their pastries. My favorite is the pineapple linzer cookie. They sell everything online, too!

The brewed leaves of Emerald Leaf Organic Baozhong at the bottom of a ceramic pitcher
The brewed leaves of Emerald Leaf Organic Baozhong at the bottom of a ceramic pitcher