In this blog and as part of our focus on positive moments, we are introducing you to 7 teas that we have seen delight and inspire tea drinkers at Comins : perhaps they will do the same for you 🍃 & set you on a path to discover the joyful diversity of #tea 🍃. You can read about them below in more detail and should you wish you can explore them over the course of a week of discovery through our Discovery Tasting Set
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Discovery (1 of 7) : Even those teas we feel we know best can delight & surprise : Jamguri Golden Blossom|
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Many of us may feel we know ‘Assam’ well but there is so much variety in this special region as Michelle found out on her last trip there in 2018. Jamguri is spread south of the mighty Brahmaputra river in the Golaghat region, famed as the quality belt of Assam. As described by our great friend KC ‘Jamguri is a very special garden. It is the First Biodynamic tea estate in Assam & although the yield is extremely limited the character is bountiless’
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Soil takes centre stage here : ‘Very dark coloured soil and tea bush character brings out deep rich malty cups with bright orange infusions’ If you are looking to update your breakfast cup then this is the one for you!
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Discovery (2 of 7) : Take a trip off the well trodden path - you never know what you will discover : Nuxalbari Himalayan Mist
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It was in 2017 that Michelle first came across Nuxalbari after spending some unplanned time in the Dooars due to the closure of Darjeeling. She returned in 2018 & discovered the remarkable story of a remarkable woman, Sonia, & the beautiful connection with the land, trees, soil and wildlife. Larger gardens like this are often dismissed in the more specialist tea market but although few and far between there are still family run larger gardens doing amazing work that we believe should be understood and recognised. For gardens like Nuxalbari in lesser known areas [this garden is in the Darjeeling district but outside the boundary for the 'Darjeeling Label' ] it can be a struggle to be recognised - but when you taste what this garden offers we are sure you will agree that Nuxalbari single estate organic tea deserves to be discovered, enjoyed, asked for and recognised by name
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#2 of our Positive Moments : Discovery is dedicated to this tea : delicately smooth & aromatic : beautiful throughout the day
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Discovery (3 of 7) : The incredible discoveries you can make in just one category of #tea : Tamaryokucha
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We drink a lot of Japanese green tea at Comins & teas from this collection rank amoung the most popular at the Tea House. This tea was one of our favourite new finds of last year which is why it is our 3rd pick for our ‘discovery’ series tea as part of our positive moments series
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You might notice the bright dark green leaves are coiled or ‘curly’ as unlike Sencha they are not rolled into needles during the tea making process. Made from the Yabukita cultivar this tea has its own unique profile & a wonderful depth (which the thick colour of the liquor hints to) fresh grassy leaf tones & umami : a bowl of amazing green goodness
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The perfect boost - give it a try you won’t regret it!
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Discovery (4 of 7) : The beautiful delicate complexity of tea : Bi Luo Chun : Sanxia : Taiwan
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The vibrant, sweet buttery cup of this Taiwanese green tea reflect the combination of the young pluckings of Qing Xin Gan Zhi (this cultivar is the base for many of the famously fragrant high mountain teas in Taiwan) terroir and the skilled green tea processing of the Li family. A reminder of the complexity behind every delicate sip & (to build on our last post) a reminder of just how much variation exists in one category of tea
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We have chosen this tea for our ‘discovery’ series for its fresh and uplifting character : perfect for cold winter mornings
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Discovery (5 of 7) : Many hands make a great tea : Dong Ding
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Our third Discovery tea is the product of the highly networked tea system in Taiwan : in this case the tea is grown [Jin Xuan T-12 cultivar] and initially processed by one family [Tsai Brothers tea farm Nantou County Taiwan] before being finished by another [YuWen : using a 3 step multi-stage oven baking]
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It's a story that shines a light on just how many skilled hands/people are involved in bringing us beautiful teas. The result? A smooth, full bodied tea with a toasty woody flavour which develops through multiple infusions. Plenty to discover here which might explain why this is one of our most popular oolong teas
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Discovery (6 of 7) : The exciting diversity of oolong tea : Taiwanese Shui Xian
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With such a wide range of oxidation (from around 15-80%) there is huge variation in the flavours of oolong (partially oxidised tea) offering us a lifetime of ‘‘discovery’. Also known as ‘Shui Hsien’, ‘Water sprite’ or ‘Narcissus’, this Shui Xian is recognisable by its dark, wiry leaves and a rich, honeyed flavour. This tea is actually grown and processed (Siji Chun cultivar : Mr Chen) in Taiwan : Processing is similar to the the famous Wuyi oolongs, although it is baked to a higher level (by Yu Wen). We have kept the name ‘Shui Xian’ in order to highlight the similar characteristics to the Chinese Shui Xian from Wuyi. It is not intended as a 'copy' more a unique tea in its own right with recognisable characteristics.
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This tea is again a combination of knowledge & skills in a highly networked tea system. Mr Chen makes a really good twisted leaf Si Ji Chun. Yu Wen [who bakes the tea] grew up watching how to make different types of Yancha - she knows Da Hong Pao and knew that a twisted leaf Si Ji Chun should deliver an interesting & similar profile. The tea is baked just as Shui Xian would be to emphasise the sweetness and produce a creamy flowing tea with a flowering component and a hint of honey roasted nuttiness. The character of the cultivar is highlighted through a skillful and well thought through tea making process that will be suitable for it and produce appealing characteristics. The perfect tea for a winters day and one that is always exceptionally popular in the Tea House.
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Discovery [7 of 7] : every cup at Comins has a story to tell : Yunnan Silver Bud : A delicate cup grown from strong principles
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We end our 7 days of ‘discovery’ with a calming cup that we often enjoy at Comins on a Sunday evening
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This light bodied, brisk tippy tea with champagne notes is from Mangbai in Yunnan - a garden driven by the vision 'that people should enjoy safer and better teas'. Here the feeling is that that Organic farming helps the wild life, environment and the local community, as well as the health and living standards of the people. Everyone working together in harmony and another example of how every tea you enjoy at Comins has a story to tell, making every cup, every visit to us, a chance for discovery 🍃
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This tea is made from Xianggui cultivar known for its sweet tones and long lasting flavour. The perfect way to end our week of ‘discovery’ : we hope you have enjoyed our suggestions!
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Why not go on your own journey of Discovery with our Discovery Tasting Set
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This gift box offers you the chance to go on a journey of discovery with 7 teas over 7 days : the perfect way to acquaint yourself with some new flavours!
This set contains :
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1 x 5g : Assam Golden Blossom
1 x 5g : Nuxalbari Himalayan Mist
1 x 5g : Tamaroyokucha
1 x 5g : Bi Luo Chun
1 x 5g : Dong Ding
1 x 5g : Shui Xian
1 x 5g : Yunnan White
20 Tea Filters
Tasting Card
