Yunnan Sourcing. 2.2 grams steeped for 4 minutes at 180℉. Appearance: typical rolled Pi Lo Chun leaves, see photo. Dry tea scent is floral, musty, sweet. Brewed tea scent is savory, brothy, hint of sweetness. Taste: Savory, trace of fruit and sweetness, with vegetal notes. Minimally astringent.

Pi Lo Chun (romanizations vary) is one of the most famous Chinese teas. Although not labeled as such, this is a pre-Ching Ming version. My impression is that pre-Ching Ming Pi Lo Chun is lighter, more savory, and less fruity than the mature picking. This is an acceptable tea, worth drinking, but not the best version of this tea and picking I’ve found.

Yunnan Sourcing. 2.2 grams steeped for 4 minutes at 180℉. Impression: Wiry silver-green strands, see photo. Dry tea scent of citrus, resin, stone fruit, trace camphor. Brewed tea scent is of warm cotton. Taste: delicate, savory, hints of bacon. Not astringent.

Mao Jian is one my favorite green teas; this is a pre-Ching Ming version of it. The faint taste of bacon reminds me of a wonderful pre-Ching Ming Pi Lo Chun I once had from Upton, but have been unable to find again.

Upton TA73. 2.2 grams steeped for 5 minutes at 212℉. Impression: OP size dark and light bits, see photo. Dry tea scent spicy. Brewed tea scent of sweetness and warm cotton. Taste: murky and brackish, with malty notes. Moderately astringent.

An average Assam. This is one of a sample set of four estate Assams sold by Upton.

Upton TA29. 2.2 grams steeped for 4 minutes at 212℉. Impression: Dark and light BOP size bits, see photo. Dry tea scent spicy, malty, trace of citrus. Taste: slight malt, murky, woody. Not much mouth feel. Moderately astringent.

A satisfactory but undistinguished Assam. One of a sampler pack of four estate Assams.

Upton TB18. 2.2 grams steeped for 3 minutes at 212℉. Impression: dark BOP size bits, see photo. Dry tea scent: hints of mint and cedar. Brewed tea scent is yeasty, malty. Taste: Mild, brackish, woody. Moderately astringent.

Most ‘English Breakfast’ blends include some Assam for maltiness. This does not, and suffers a little for it.

Upton TE90. 2.5 grams steeped for 4 minutes at 212℉. Impression: BOP-size tea with lighter bits of other material, see photo. Dry tea scent of lemon, clove, cardamom, potpourri-like. Brewed tea scent is dominated by clove, but there are hints of roses and perhaps cardamom? Taste: clove-y. Mildly astringent.

I am not a huge fan of flavored teas, but this one is okay. Sweetening and milk might improve it, if you drink tea that way, which I usually don’t. The ingredients list includes black tea, citrus peels, rose petals, chopped almonds, cloves, vanilla bits, cardamom, ‘artificial flavor.’

Upton TC60. 2.2 grams steeped for 5 minutes at 212℉. Impression: long, dark twisted whole leaves, see photo. Dry tea scent resinous, floral, sweet, slightly grassy. Brewed tea scent is yeasty. Taste: malty, yeasty, like old leather, hint of spice. Very astringent.

A pretty tea, both in the dramatic appearance of the dry tea and the deep, clear amber of the brew. Unusual scents when dry for a black tea.