Organic Japanese Oolong - Yuuki-Cha

A very unique taste of oolong with a roasted taste and aroma. As a fan of greener oolong, I didn't expect to like this tea. But I did. It feels smooth and rich in the mouth. I brewed it gong fu style in shiboridashi and used 1:1 leaves to water ratio at 194°F without rinse or preheating the pot. First and second infusion for 30 seconds and third infusion for 40 seconds. 

From the vendor site: "A rare treat of JAS certified organic Japanese oolong tea single estate cultivated, processed, and packaged in Kagoshima, Japan... The dry leaf, which is semi-oxidized, is slightly curled."

Teh Bendera - In Loving Memory of My Father....

My father loved sweet Indonesian black tea. While I don't drink black tea that often anymore and rarely have a craving for it, I brewed one today. The tea was Teh Bendera brand that my father used to drink when we were kids. From what I remember, my father never missed a day drinking a big tall glass of sweet hot tea unless he was on business trips. He would enjoy his tea with some traditional Indonesian sweets prepared by our maid. A routine that he carried until he passed away in January this year. 

I haven't had this tea for more than 2 decades. So when I went home early this month, I bought a package of Teh Bendera and brew it occasionally to whenever I miss my father. Whenever I drink this tea or any black tea from Indonesia, I like to think that my father is also here with me ....