Dongshan Dolce (Adagio Teas)

This light Chinese green tea from Adagio offers plenty of vegetal freshness with a hint of butter glazed toast and the most minute foreshadow of lemony pucker.

This Dongshan Dolce from Adagio Teas is a popular seller. Its leaves are long and slender, variegated green with some stems in.

The aroma from the dry leaves reminds me more of dry forest leaves than of tea. The brewed leaves remind me more of lemon and buttered toast. It’s an interesting contrast.

The brewed liquor comes out a very subdued yellow green. The color seems more reminiscent of chamomile buds than a green tea. The aroma from the brew is more spinach or artichoke than grassy.

The flavor was expectedly subtle. Very light taste of buttered toast and artichokes at first. Unusual for a chinese green, this tea does not dry the palatte. Instead there’s a slight buttery quality, not unlike an Oolong, but not quite so pervasive in the mouth.

For those with more developed palates which can discern the extra subtleties in this brew it’s easy to recommend. I’m afraid this Dongshan Dulce may seem more like water to those used to a more stern black tea, flavorful Oolong or a grassy Japanese green. It is good to experiment though. I did enjoy this tea.