Jade Cloud ~ Rishi

When it comes to teas that are easily found at your local grocery, Rishi is my penultimate favorite (behind Numi).  And yes i realise that sentence is ridiculous.

One of the things i love most about Rishi is how well they spell out the origins of their products. From merely glancing at the side of the box i can tell you that today’s tea, Jade Cloud (San Xia) was grown between 800 and 1,050 meters above sea level on the Xuan En Tea Co-op in Hubei last April using the E-cha #1, #10 & Longjing #43 cultivars. o.0;; It usually takes me somewhere between twenty minutes and an hour of research to pin down where a tea was grown. Finding out exactly what cultivar was used in growing a tea? Those are usually considered trade secrets. Add to that a couple different blog posts on Rishi’s site dealing specifically with Jade Cloud. Wow. Rishi, you are seriously awesome. Thank you!

That being said, Jade Cloud itself isn’t all that unusual. In aroma, Jade Cloud has a wet, high chlorophyllic viney aroma. Flavor-wise, it’s buttery and high in antioxidants, but pristinely Green, as one would expect from a high-grown, hand-twisted organic Chinese Green. In texture, a bit ticklish with a warm mouthfeel. The liquor itself is maybe a shade or two yellower than what i’d call “jade”, but the moniker is apt. The tea comes in knitted (not woven) sachets, which thankfully seems to hold back all but the smallest particles. The sachets are orthodox full leaf, but with a tea this refined, i prefer weighing and infusing myself to get the best results. Of course a San Xia should be prepared in the Gong Fu style, but i digress. >.>

1. Aroma – 93
2. Taste – 94
3. Texture – 94
4. Spunk – 92
5. Rarity – 92
6. Availability – 92
7. Appearance – 93

Mean score – Rounds to 93%

Definitely a strong example of a non-Fujian Chinese Green that anyone in the West can buy. Nice work.