I have been practicing more mindful, intuitive drinking. And that led me back to the Da Hong Pao that I received from Zerama Teas back in the middle of 2020. This tea is absolutely perfect for the colder months and almost seems to warm you from the inside out. Here are my full thoughts about the Da Hong Pao:
Da Hong Pao: The dry leaves had a minerally, almost roasted popcorn notes. It transferred really nicely to the wet leaf aroma with an almost roasted burn note which I really loved (as weird as that sounds). I love roasted teas so I jumped right into the tea. As I took my first sips, I noticed a nice roasted note jump straight out and almost that burnt aspect came back, reminding me a bit of a barrel char to it. After a few infusions, I started noticing some lovely earthiness and woody roasted notes. The character of this tea was very smooth and surprisingly held no astringency throughout the multiple brews that I had. However, I would consider this tea to be a full-bodied brew. As I drank this tea, I felt the tension in my lats go away, almost like a back stress draining experience. The tasted/burnt notes became a bit less dominant over the steepings, and the dark brown appearance became a bit lighter over time. I did not notice this at first, but I had to leave my room to get some more water. When I came back, I noticed that the entire room held the roasted-like aroma, and it was very potent within the room.
Price: There are multiple options for this tea. The price is $3.50 for .5 ounces of loose leaf tea, $6.50 for 2 ounces, and $14.50 for 6 ounces. I thought this price was quite reasonable. I love it when companies offer samples and the ability to test something before making a larger purchase (I think I pointed this out in my previous review of Forever Spring Medium Roast).
Packaging: The samples came in silver bags that did not close too well. I did notice a slight difference in potency (totally my fault) from when I originally opened this sample, and when I finished it off.
Sourcing: This tea is from the Wuyi Mountains in Fujian (福建省), China.
What do you guys think of roasted teas? I absolutely adore them and they really make me feel warm and cozy during the colder months. Let me know what you think! Happy Brewing!
-Danielle