Yunnan Beauty Oolong Tea from Mandala Tea

Yunnan Beauty from Mandala Tea

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy:  Mandala Tea

Tea Description:

This tea is a variation on a Taiwanese oolong named “Oriental Beauty”, utilizing large-leaf wild arbor Yunnan grown leaves.  Nearly black leaves and silver tips impart a dark, sweet, wine-like flavor unto the water.  Great no matter how you choose to brew it.  This tea is quickly becoming a favorite in the tea thermos.  It will keep well and develop new flavors over 2-3 years.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

This Yunnan Beauty Oolong Tea from Mandala Tea is a very forgiving tea!  I accidentally brewed it at too high a temperature (boiling water!) because the sampling that I received said “Yunnan” and I saw leaves that were large and black and I thought … Alright, this is a black tea.  So I brewed it the way I would normally brew a black Yunnan!

But the flavor is amazing, regardless of this oversight on my part.  The flavor is sweet, rich, and has a lovely woody tone to it.  The sweetness is fruity with notes of molasses.  I also notice a toasty nutty taste to this as the tea starts to cool down a little bit … still warm, but, not quite as hot as it was when I started sipping.  A hint of caramel also weaves its way through the sip every once in a while, too.

There is a very pleasing sweet wine-esque note, complete with a muscatel-ish taste that … had I tasted this without knowing what it was, I might have guessed a Darjeeling, or at least an Oolong that was grown in the Darjeeling region.  After reading my Sister’s review (Azzrian!) of this tea, I see that she’s probably not going to agree with that last part, but, that’s OK.  Since I brewed this tea “wrong” … perhaps the way I infused the tea brought out the flavors I’m experiencing.

The mouthfeel is silky smooth.  This is one of those teas that I’d want to brew up a big pot of, and just keep sipping on all day long.  The leaves will submit several infusions as well, so be sure to resteep!

A really delightful tea from Mandala, I’d recommend this to all Oolong enthusiasts out there – it’s a deliciously different Oolong that will delight your palate!

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