Mugwort Tea (Puripan Tea Garden)

Oh my gawd! What are you drinking? Why is it so green? Oh, don’t worry. It’s just mugwort tea. This interesting herbal drink from Korea I was introduced to a couple years back by some friends at Puripan Tea Garden in California.

I was a bit disappointed this year at the 2011 World Tea Expo, because I didn’t get to hang out with my friends from Puripan Tea Garden. They’re always light, lively and fun, so they’re a frequent stop during my time at the expo. Not so this year. But I do have some of their teas to review! And we’ll start with this Mugwort herbal tea (tisane.)

The loose leaves are a mix of light green and white. They’re very puffy and tend to clump together. These aren’t tea leaves mind you, but the leaves of Artemisia vulgaris, a common plant with many uses and many names. The liquor brews a nice light but bright green.

The aroma from the dried leaves is very leafy (no irony intended.) There’s no hints of fruitiness or sweetened edges, mugwort is what it is. The brewed aroma is light in the nose and doesn’t effuse very well, constraining itself mostly the the pot or cup in which is was brewed.

In the mouth the feel is light and smooth at first. Over the course of a sip some astringency sets in with a light drying of the cheeks and area under the tongue. Oddly the tongue itself and the roof of the mouth didn’t seem to be as effected.

This tea is not particularly strong, but it does offer some astringency. The longer you brew it, the stronger the flavor profile and astringency will be. Brewed longer than recommended and the mugwort offers some bitterness. Brewed less than recommended it offers a more creamy palate texture.

Fans of  rooibos (red tea), tippy teas and fresh Darjeelings may enjoy this herbal/tisane brew.

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On a personal note, I find this mugwort tea to be very relaxing and do like to enjoy it a couple times a week.