Tasting of Red Mu Dan (Red Peony)
amllist
colleague.
In China, the homeland of tea, leaves that are highly
fermented (a term used to describe enzyme and oxidation
action) turn from green to red in color before they are
dried. Accordingly fermented teas were originally
known as red teas. When tea production was introduced in
India by the British, the color of the dried fermented leaf,
which is black, was used to describe the tea. Thus the name
for highly fermented tea leaves may be either black or red.
This Red Mu Dan is made from fermented leaves
. Vendor - Imperial Tea Court <http://www.imperialtea.com>;
vendor suggests 1 to 3 min. at 194 F (90 C). You will
see that these recommendations are highly erroneous. My
tea colleague suggested lots longer steeping times, so
I started with 4 min.
Water - Crystal Geyser natural alpine water bottled at the source,
California, Sierra Nevada Mts.
Dry leaf - The fermented rolled leaves are tied together with a
silken thread to resemble a flower in being..
Wet leaf - The rolled leaves now open into a large tea flower of
perfect leaves, and could serve as a beautiful flower
floating in a bowl, during a tea party as a
centerpiece - that is , of course, after drinking three
steeps of the tea..
Brewing method - 2 Gaiwans (one for steeping, pour liquor into
second) , chop with lid during steep to provide
mixing, lid never completely closed
Sample #1
Steep 1 of sample 1 - 1 tea- bundle/ 6 oz of water
Steeping temperature - 195 F (91 C)
Steep time - 4 min
Color - Dark amber
Aroma - Sweet.
Taste - Medium bodied,.
Aftertaste - None
Steep 2 of sample 1 - 1 tea- bundle/ 6 oz of water
Steeping temperature - 200 F (93 C)
Steep time - 4 1/2 min
Color - Dark amber
Aroma - Sweet, light fragrance..
Taste - Full bodied, mellow, smooth.,.
Aftertaste - Hint of earth.
Steep 3 of sample 1 - 1 tea- bundle/ 6 oz of water
Steeping temperature - 205 F (96 C)
Steep time - 5 min
Color - Dark amber
Aroma - Sweet, complex fragrance..
Taste - Full bodied, mellow, smooth, rich, an excellent cup.
Aftertaste - Lingering hint of earth.
Sample 2
Steep 1 of sample 2 - 1 tea- bundle/ 6 oz of water
Steeping temperature - 210 F (99 C)
Steep time - 5 min
Color - Dark amber
Aroma - Fragrant.
Taste - Full bodied, not as mellow as 5 min. steep at 205 F..
Aftertaste - None.
Steep 2 of sample 2 - 1 tea- bundle/ 6 oz of water
Steeping temperature - 205 F (96 C)
Steep time - 5 1/2 min
Color - Dark amber
Aroma - Very fragrant, complex.
Taste - Full bodied, rich, mellow, an good cup...
Aftertaste - Lingering hint of earth..
Steep 3 of sample 2 - 1 tea- bundle/ 6 oz of water
Steeping temperature - 205 F (96 C)
Steep time - 5 min
Color - Dark amber
Aroma - Very fragrant, complex.
Taste - Full bodied, rich, mellow, an excellent cup...
Aftertaste - Lingering hint of earth.
Conclusions:
1. Vendors suggestions of steeping temperature and times are
much too low for my water and tastes.
2. A steep time of 5 min., with a steep temperature produced an
excellent cup, which was very fragrant and complex in aroma
and full bodied, rich, mellow, and complex in taste.
Alan M. Liebschutz
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