I had heard about Mei Leaf from the Ohio Tea Company. They said it was a must do. So many great teas to try. Mei Leaf does Eastern brewing methods unlike the US, that is typically Western brewing.
Eastern is typically brewing tea in a gongfu...short brewing with less water and more leaf.
We took the bus from Fortnum & Mason to Mei Leaf. It was a great little ride, maybe 25 minutes.
I brought the queen along on this trip as well. I could not wait to view all their teas and try some. You could do a flight for around 8£.
You could try some tea infused tea treats too.
My friends thought I should try this Oolong tea...since it was less than a week before I had drank the worm poop tea and picked up a parasite. I passed on this tea, lol.
I wanted to do all Oolong teas. Oolongs are my favorite so I wanted to compare 3 of them. Below is a list of oolong teas I had to select from.
I was given the teas along with a description and the notes I should be tasting. I was given hot water as well to pour in the white gaiwans.
Here are the rolled oolong teas before I started.
I added the water and let it steep for 20 seconds the first time....then each time I added 5 seconds to the steeping time. I did about 4 or 5 rounds trying to get different notes each time. I have to say I was not overly thrilled with this one. I did not get any of the notes they had suggested....like pound cake, lol.
A rich and luxurious tea made from the naturally milky Jin Xuan cultivar. Tinned peaches and cream with toasted pound cake.
- EYES - DRY LEAF
- Grey nori green tight rolled leaves.
- NOSE - DRY LEAF
- Toasted barley and malted milk
- NOSE - WET LEAF
- Tinned peaches and cream with toasted pound cake.
- EYES - LIQUOR
- Grape juice yellow.
- MOUTH - TEXTURE
- Medium.
- MOUTH - TASTE
- Papaya milk, custard, toasted marshmallow, apricots and oregano.
- NOSE - EMPTY CUP
- Creme brulee.
- MOUTH - FINISH
- Buttery with a light grip.
- EYES - WET LEAF
- Large unravelled kale green leaves.
- BODY SENSATION
- Enchanting and slightly high.
- SEASON
- Spring 2024
- CULTIVAR
- Jin Xuan
- ORIGIN
- Alishan, Chiayi, Taiwan
- PICKING & PROCESSING
- Up to third or fourth leaf
- ELEVATION
- 1400m
Taking in the whole process!!! It was so much fun, even if I didn't exactly care for them all.
added the water and let it steep for 20 seconds the first time....then each time I added 5 seconds. I did about 4 or 5 rounds trying to get different notes each time. If I had to pick a favorite, this would probably be it. It still would not be something I would drink on a regular basis.
I would like to know what this one would taste like if I brewed it in the Western style of brewing.
The paragon of high mountain Oolong from Fu Shou farms over 2600m up in Lishan. Pomelo custard, pineapple cakes, coconut water, snowy air, gardenia and milk candy.
- EYES - DRY LEAF
- Tightly rolled vine and asparagus green leaves.
- NOSE - DRY LEAF
- Hong Kong egg tarts, coconut, nutmeg, loquat, laundry and mountain streams.
- NOSE - WET LEAF
- High mountain clouds, nutmeg, custard and doughnut peaches.
- EYES - LIQUOR
- Pale pear green.
- MOUTH - TEXTURE
- Medium body and softly coating.
- MOUTH - TASTE
- Pomelo custard, pineapple cakes, coconut water, snowy air, gardenia and milk candy.
- NOSE - EMPTY CUP
- Mochi and White Rabbit candy.
- MOUTH - FINISH
- Long, sweet and juicy with pineapple and guava.
- EYES - WET LEAF
- Thick and supple, dark jade green leaves.
- BODY SENSATION
- Fresh, light and purifying sensation.
- SEASON
- May 2024
- CULTIVAR
- Qing Xin
- ORIGIN
- Fu Shou, Lishan, Taichung, Taiwan
- PICKING & PROCESSING
- Up to thrid or fourth leaf.
- ELEVATION
- 2650m
You can see how the leaves are unfurling as I try them.
My friend Mary tried it too.
In the black thermos is our hot water.
I added the water and let it steep for 20 seconds the first time....then each time I added 5 seconds. I did about 4 or 5 rounds trying to get different notes each time. I wasn't a real fan of this tea either. I wanted to find notes of pear and apple, sherbet, and apricot jam, but it just wasn't there for me.
Bright yet balanced Qing Xiang Tie Guan Yin from Longjuan village in Anxi. Peach gummies, honeysuckle, coconut cream, light zucchini broth, sea air and sour apple candy.
- EYES - DRY LEAF
- Blue green algae and lime green rolled leaves.
- NOSE - DRY LEAF
- Sherbet, honeysuckle, elderflower, honey, vinyl and apricot jam
- NOSE - WET LEAF
- Aloe vera juice, fresh hazelnuts, dessicated coconut, pear core and apple candy.
- EYES - LIQUOR
- Apple candy green.
- MOUTH - TEXTURE
- Medium, mineral and puckering hydration.
- MOUTH - TASTE
- Peach gummies, honeysuckle, coconut cream, light zucchini broth, sea air and sour apple candy.
- NOSE - EMPTY CUP
- Young coconut yoghurt, orange caramel and aloe.
- MOUTH - FINISH
- Quench to peach candy juiciness and sour apple aromatics.
- EYES - WET LEAF
- Lush pine green medium leaves.
- BODY SENSATION
- Mood lifting brightness
- SEASON
- May 2024
- CULTIVAR
- Guan Yin
- ORIGIN
- Longjuan, Anxi, Fujian, China
- PICKING & PROCESSING
- Bud and up to two leaves
- ELEVATION
- 800m
I loved the experience of gongfu. I enjoyed Mei Leaf. The place was clean, the staff was friendly and the prices were good. I just don't think I am purest when it comes to tea. I enjoyed being here, It just takes some getting used to appreciate the natural of the tea.
Here are two more of the gals, they did not tea, but they sat and chatted.
I also wanted to get a cup of tea to go.
I ordered a chili chai chocolate to go. It was great!!
I thoroughly enjoyed the chili chai chocolate!!! It had a bit of spice but the flavors mixed well together and then to have the chocolate in there as well....I was a fan!!
So much fun trying new things!!! Having new tea adventures. I just love this!! I don't want it to end.
Feel free to contact me to help you plan and explore England.
I also have a Charleston Tea Plantation trip happening Memorial Day Weekend 2026 and you can sign up to do that trip with me too! Reach out to me for more information.
Kerriescupoftea@gmail.com
Feel free to contact me to lead you or your group in England.
I have a book you can order for the 7-day tour as well.
Why plan your trip to England, when it can be done by experts for you!
Let us make all the plans, remove all the guess work, book all the appointments, reserve all the rooms, confirm everything for you, and guide you seamlessly around England while enjoying tea and giving you free time to do your own exploration.
We’ve already done the hard leg work and recommend these fun tea adventures and ask you to try a new one with us- the River Thames Afternoon Tea cruise.
The days for each activity may change, but this is the itinerary we have planned.
This is a day by day journal of your tea trip to England. See exactly what is planned for each day and journal as you go. Keep track of key memories.
Enjoy afternoon tea on Brigit's Tea Bus, a river cruise down the Thames, at Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey), in Bath at the Jane Austen Regency Center, at Kensington Palace, and at Fortnum and Mason.
We’ve already done the hard leg work and recommend these fun tea adventures and ask you to try a new one with us- the River Thames Afternoon Tea cruise.
The days for each activity may change, but this is the itinerary we have planned.
This is a day by day journal of your tea trip to England. See exactly what is planned for each day and journal as you go. Keep track of key memories.
Enjoy afternoon tea on Brigit's Tea Bus, a river cruise down the Thames, at Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey), in Bath at the Jane Austen Regency Center, at Kensington Palace, and at Fortnum and Mason.
Colossians 3:23 NIV Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
Colossians 3:23 NIV
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
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