Tea and Memories: Experiencing Du Yun Mao Jian (aka Guizhou Fuzzy Tip)
Green tea, Tea reviews
When I was twelve, I lived with my parents in Kapingamarangi, a remote atoll in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Besides fish, bananas and papaws, one of the most common sources of food was taro, a yam-like plant grown in swamps.
I don’t often spend time thinking of Kapingamarangi, but today’s tea experience brought back pleasant memories.
As I prepared Du Yun Mao Jian, an early harvest tea from China sent to me by Mary Lou and Robert Heiss’ tea shop, Tea Trekker, I was struck by the tea’s dry aroma, which instantly reminded me of the scent of taro root cooked in a traditional ground oven. People enjoy tea for all sorts of reasons, but for me, one of the greatest joys of drinking tea is its power to evoke such strong associations.
As Mary Lou told me in her interview, this Du Yun Mao Jian is one which is near and dear to her. It doesn’t surprise me one bit. This is a very special tea, infusing into the palest yellow but brimming with character. The flavour again reminded me of taro, but also chestnuts (perhaps a comparison that is more helpful to you!). I enjoyed drinking this tea slowly, allowing each wash to coat the mouth and reveal the tea’s depth.
Du Yun Mao Jian is available from Tea Trekker for $12 for a 2 oz packet.
Mrlena Amalfitano wrote on July 31st, 2009 at 10:58 am
I just had a cup of Bewley’s – good old English tea tea – everyday tea. The smell and flavor took me back to a summer working in England when I would race to tea time so noone would put sugar in my tea. I loved the stuff, but the sugar was disgusting. i like my sweets in bites