Wojciech Bońkowski
Master of Wine

Shu Chen Lang Hua et al.

Tasting four Chinese green teas sourced directly from farmers. Tongue-twisting names and refreshing tastes.

In Portugal (5): Tea in the Douro

Enjoying tea in location… in wine country.

Undrinkable

99.9% of the tea I drink is pretty good, at least. Time to talk about the remaining 0.1%.

2010 Nonpareil Tanyang Gongfu

A good black tea from China: I even reached 7 infusions brewing it the gongfu way.

Tea and food: the umami issue

Third installment of my tea and food matching sessions. Italian red mullet fish roe (bottarga) provides a challenge with its huge intensity of umami taste. Will any tea survive this?

Celebrity tea

Trying to ease the nuclear stress with some Japanese green tea. Two senchas tried from celebrity teamaster Fumio Maeda: after a great first experience with his œuvre a few months ago, this 2010 Tonzawa and 2010 Seki-no-zawa are a bit down-to-earth but good nonetheless.

When a day makes a difference

Longjing is a famous Chinese green tea. Looking at two LJ batches that were picked just a day apart on 8th and 9th April 2010, I’m amazed to find out they’re quite different.

Vietnam, again

A puer-like green tea from wild trees in Vietnam. A tricky beast to brew – I haven’t found the key to it.

Tea boredom

How to get bored with tea? Drink the same over a week or so.

Yoshiaki Hiruma’s 2010s

After my article on the 2009 teas from renowned tea master Yoshiaki Hiruma of Japan’s Saitama, here’s a look at this 2010 vintage, including the famous hand-rolled temomicha.