Bai Lin Gong Fu Black Tea

Customer Reviews

my new favourite Chinese black tea Review by Katie at teaviews.com

Rating

"Despite the robust mouthfeel, the flavour is surprisingly subtle, with notes of caramel, smoke, bitter chocolate. It's subdued and mellow, but not quiet. Despite its softness, it has presence."

Read the full review here http://www.teaviews.com/2012/03/28/review-canton-tea-co-bai-lin-gong-fu-7/ (Posted on 3/28/12)

One of the best black teas I have ever tasted Review by Spencer E at It's All About The Leaf

Rating

"Steeping it for three minutes with just-boiled water, I’m greeted with creamy aromas from the golden-brown liquor. Despite being a little too eager to try it, and burning my lip on the first sip, once I wait and get in a (safe) first sip, I am delighted by the result. This tea is indeed creamy, just as the Canton Tea Co website describes...."

To read the full review, visit Its All About The Leaf: http://www.itsallabouttheleaf.com/2424/tea-review-canton-tea-co-bai-lin-gong-fu-3/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=twitter (Posted on 11/25/11)

Delicious and exquisite Review by Jamie at Teaviews

Rating

"The first infusion is so rich in flavor, especially a remarkable caramel sweetness, that there is no need for sweetener or any additions to be made. It's meant to be enjoyed just as it is. Delicious. An aftertaste both sweet and dry is another pleasant attribute, with elements in it hinting at berry, the ever present caramel and even an oaky, earthy sort of tobacco flavor...."

Visit Teaviews to read the full review: http://www.teaviews.com/2011/10/26/review-canton-tea-co-bai-lin-gong-fu-6/ (Posted on 11/22/11)

The natural first choice. Review by David

Rating

Bai Lin Gong Fu needs no more eulogies than have already been provided by enthusiastic customers. It is indeed an excellent all-round black tea, the natural first choice, and should give satisfaction to everyone. I would like to express a few words of caution about brewing it, however. It is somewhat more robust than other black teas, and unless you want to add milk to it, I suggest limiting the amount of tea to one teaspoonful per 200ml water and 2 min infusion, otherwise you could overbrew it and spoil the underlying delicacy of taste. Oh, and as "gong fu" is included in the name, do use a Yixing pot and gong fu style! This tea really deserves it. (Posted on 10/11/11)

Light and elegant Review by Eric at Tea Finely Brewed

Rating

"This is a light, elegant black tea with a surprisingly vegetal flavour, more like a deeply oxidized oolong than a brash black tea."

For the full review:
http://teafinelybrewed.com/shop/reviews/1867-bai-lin-gong-fu/ (Posted on 1/7/11)

Definitely recommended Review by Nicole at Teaviews

Rating

"Very few black teas lend themselves well to the gong fu style of brewing but this one suits it perfectly. I would definitely recommend this tea."

For the full review:
http://www.teaviews.com/2010/10/17/review-canton-tea-co-bai-lin-gong-fu-4/ (Posted on 1/7/11)

Earth and sweet notes in duet together. Review by Chelsy at Teaviews

Rating

"This tea is particularly well balanced with earth and sweet notes in a duet together, rather than in conversation with separate lines and perspectives. Re-brewing is even a highly viable option for this particular tea, and the aftertaste is long lasting and pleasant."

For the full review:
http://www.teaviews.com/2010/12/03/review-canton-tea-co-bai-lin-gong-fu-5/ (Posted on 1/6/11)

Try It Review by Tony

Rating

I'm definitely no expert when it comes to fine teas - I just try lots of different types and find what I like. I normally just go for Green or Oolong teas but thought this might make a nice change.

I'm very glad I did try it. I don't know what I was expecting, maybe a slightly nicer version than an everyday teabag type tea advertised by an overweight comedian and a monkey.....I was very wrong - It's not like any tea I've tasted before.

It's quite earthy although certainly not overpoweringly so and has a distinct malty taste. I brewed it just off the boil for 3 minutes and it seems to be bang on. The leaves will reinfuse many times to boot so this should last me all morning.

As I say, if you haven't tried a Chinese Black tea before then try it.

Also let me say that the service from Canton Tea Co has been fantastic. I bought this tea with the Piao I infuser (great little teapot!) and it came, very well packaged, in about 3 days with a note apologising for the delay! (Posted on 10/4/10)

Wonderful! Review by Andrea

Rating

This tea is just wonderful, rich and smooth with a very interesting flavor profile for a black. I've had some VERY expensive chinese black teas that I thought were quite good, but this is by far the best I've tried to date. My whole experience with Canton Tea Co. was a pleasure, truly the best service I've encountered in some time. (Posted on 9/29/10)

Wonderful! Review by Mrs H Robyn

Rating

This is a most interetsting tea; rich, smooth and wonderful with a ginger nut....
(Posted on 7/1/10)

I cant recommend this Bai Lin Gong Fu highly enough... if you havent tried it you havent lived!! Review by Tewse

Rating

I start the day with the most wonderful subtle flavours of CTCo's Bai Lin Gong Fu... not too strong and its caramel flavours explode in the mouth as the sunrises.... If I havent had some more by midmorning then Im working too hard and I stop, take time to absorb myself in the ritual, a couple of tea spoons of leaves gently steeped for 5 mnutes in water off the boil, and I sit and reflect as the individual leaves rise and fall.... life is GOOD with exotic notes of burnt orange and subtle chocolate overtones... totally absorbing. Needless to say CTCo's Bai Lin Gong Fu is always there for afternoonTea with a biscuit or almond slice... and finaly as the lights go out I retire with a good book and YES the delicate warm embrace of this exceptional Chinese Red Tea...

Its almost too good to share!!

Thank you to Canton Tea Co for finding it...
(Posted on 6/18/10)

This leaf is absolutely gorgeous. Review by Gretchen

Rating

On a shopping trip the other day I saw a box labeled Chinese Red tea. Chinese *red* tea? I’ve never heard of that, I’ve heard of white, green, black, herbal, oolong, honeybush and rooibos teas, but not Chinese Red. I’ve heard rooibos called red, but don’t think Rooibos grows in China. So what is this red tea? Then, a package arrived in the mail with a packet of Bai Lin Gong Fu in it, and it said Red Tea on it! YAY! I get to try this thing!

Then, I found out that Chinese red tea is the local Chinese name for black tea. Oh. Phooey. I was hoping for a whole new experience. But upon further thought, I don’t know how many non-blended Chinese black teas I’ve had – most have been Indian, Sri Lankan, blends, or flavored. So this is still something new. Excellent. Time to open the packet.

This leaf is absolutely gorgeous. Light brown fuzzy leaves make up about 50% of the sample. And the aroma is luscious. Malty, with hints of cocoa and sweetness. Once brewed up, this is a lovely light orange. And the flavor? Mellow, smooth and sweet smelling. If it wasn’t for the caffeine content, this would be the tea equivalent of wrapping up in a blanket in front of the fire for a nap. I tend to sweeten my black teas, and I am just fine drinking this without any additives.

As an introduction to Chinese red teas, this is a great start. I look forward to trying others, especially if they’re at all like this one.

See more reviews of Canton Tea products at: http://www.itsallabouttheleaf.com/ (Posted on 6/16/10)

This is a fabulous tea and I will need to stock up on it Review by Jamie

Rating

When this tea arrived, I didn’t recognize the name and the only red tea that I’d tried was rooibos (I love rooibos). Seemed a curious name for an African ‘tea’ though hmm. Yes, this grasshopper has a lot to learn.

So I grabbed my brand new tea bowl and my Finum basket and opened the tea. I still had an image of rooibos in my mind so I was surprised to see the tightly curled, golden brown leaves. Steeped it for a few minutes and watch the water go from clear to a soft reddish color. The scent was familiar but I couldn’t place it, really sweet and malty, I was still thinking it must be a tisane.

Then I tasted it and the first sip was tangy, almost fruity, but smooth and malty. Got to the second steep right away and the taste seemed to have changed. It became even more complex with different tones, it was like drinking candied fruit. I still couldn’t place the tea and was stunned to find out that this is a black tea. So now I have no idea where the fruity taste came from because it’s a pure tea, not a blend nor a tisane. I want to say that it tasted like candy apples but it wasn’t a crisp apple tone, more of a soft plum taste.

This is a fabulous tea and I will need to stock up on it. And I’m really pleased to know that I still have a long learning adventure with teas. It’s always nice to be surprised – now I’m off to learn the Gong Fu process of tea preparation.

See more reviews of Canton Tea products at: http://www.itsallabouttheleaf.com/ (Posted on 6/16/10)