Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy:  Teavivre

Tea Description:

• Grown and produced in Xinzhu (Hsinchu), Taiwan
• Tea buds covered in white tips, with one or two leaves
• Bright-reddish orange tea liquor
• A mellow, sweet taste

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

True to its name, this is definitely a beauty!

Using my gaiwan, I steeped this tea using short steeps:  following a quick 10 second rinse, I steeped it for about 45 seconds for the first infusion, and a full minute for the second infusion, and combined these two infusions in one cup.  Each subsequent cup was poured in the same fashion, adding 15 seconds to each steep, and combining the brewed tea of two infusions.  This produced a beautiful golden, honey-colored tea with a delicious honey-esque flavor to match its color.

There are delicate peach notes in the background which add to the sweetness but not in a way that renders it cloying.  There is an earthiness to this cup as well, which offers the palate some balance to the sweet flavors of honey and peach.

The flavor seems to get better and better with each cup!  The first cup was light and crisp in flavor and quite delicious, but with the second cup, the tea brewed a darker color and produced a deeper, richer flavor.  The honey tones are now quite distinct.

The third cup was a little lighter than the second, but richer than the first.  As I noticed that the tea was beginning to taper, I decided to stop at three cups … six very delicious infusions from one measurement of leaves!

Another delightful tea from Teavivre.  If you tend to prefer your Oolongs to taste more of honey-fruit rather than floral, this would be an excellent choice!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy:  Joy’s Teaspoon

Tea Description:

Like a refreshing dessert with a touch of something special – a very trendy finale to the perfect dinner.  An elegant decoration of fine marigold blossoms simply adds to the beautiful image of this blend.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I brewed this tea without looking it up (yep, I did it again!) and I brewed this Oolong blend as a black tea, using boiling water and steeping for 2 1/2 minutes in my Breville One-Touch.

Dry, the leaf looks very much like a black tea, as the tea leaves are quite dark, so I thought it was a black tea and brewed it the way I would most black teas.  Also, I must admit that the name tricked me a little bit.  With the dark leaves and a name like Summer Sunrise, my thought was:  this must be a black tea!

However, Joy’s Teaspoon has it categorized as an Oolong, and after first looking for the tea under “Flavored Blacks” and then finally finding it under “Flavored Oolongs” I started to worry that I might have scorched the leaves with the high temperature.

However, one taste tells me that the Oolong leaves did not suffer from the exposure to the boiling water, nor did the flavor suffer.  This is a really delightful cuppa!

This is one of the more unique flavored teas I’ve tried, with its slightly spicy, basil overtones and a hint of lemon in the background.  The basil gives it a peppery taste, with a hint of menthol and a slight sweetness.  The lemon is more prominent at the start of the sip, like a quick “how-do-you-do?” and then quickly subsides into the background, giving it a bright, sunny flavor without tasting like a strong, distinct lemon note.

Despite these strong flavors, the tea is not overwhelmed.  The Oolong tastes sweet with notes of peach in the background.  The mouthfeel is quite smooth and silky.

Unique – yes!  Delicious – definitely!  If you’re one who enjoys unusual tea blends, you should add this one to your must try list!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy:  The Essence of Tea

Tea Description:

This Tie Guan Yin comes from an old plantation on Lao Cha Shan, YaoYang village, Xiping, Anxi. We’ve struggled for a while to find a traditional, authentic Xiping, Tie Guan Yin that is grown without chemicals. So many Tie Guan Yin’s are grown intensively and need large quantities of chemical fertilisers. This is grown naturally, without any chemical fertilisers and pesticides and has been processed in a more traditional style than the modern super green oolongs, being very lightly oxidised then rolled and very lightly roasted.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

Even though I’ve had a lot of Tie Guan Yin Oolong teas over the years, I’m still amazed at how different they can taste from one Tie Guan Yin to the next.  Taste is affected by so many factors, from where it is grown, to how it is grown and harvested, and how is is processed after harvesting.  Even with each new harvest, Tie Guan Yin grown on the same estate can taste different.

This particular Tie Guan Yin was harvested in 2011, and even though it’s been almost a year since it was harvested, I am impressed with how delicious it tastes.  It is sweet and smooth, with a pleasantly silky – almost broth-like – mouthfeel. The floral notes are crisp and clear, reminiscent of honeysuckle and orchid.

There isn’t a strong vegetal quality to this cup, instead, I taste more of a slight toasty note to the background of this Tie Guan Yin, which highlights a hint of nutty flavor to the cup.  This accents the honey-like sweetness of the cup.  There is relatively little astringency to this, and no bitterness.

A lovely, spring-like tea to enjoy on this gorgeous spring afternoon.

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy:  Frontier Co-Op

Tea Description:

Oolong (English) or Wu Long (Chinese pinyin translation) tea is a partially oxidized tea and has flavor characteristics of both green and black teas. The fresh leaves are withered for one to two days and the leaves are then rolled to release enzymes (needed for the next step). Then the tea leaves are allowed to oxidize, although for a shorter period than for black tea, and the process is stopped before it is completed. The tea is fired (heated) to prevent further oxidation and to dry the tea. Oolong teas can vary significantly in flavor depending on when the oxidization process is interrupted having more of a green tea character if interrupted early in the process and more black tea character the longer oxidation continues.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

This is nice.  It reminds me a bit of an Oolong that might be served at a Chinese restaurant – nothing too fancy, just pure, delicious Oolong goodness.

Se Chung Oolong is a darker Oolong, which means that it has been oxidized for a longer period of time.  What I typically notice with the darker Oolong teas is that they tend to have a fruitier profile, while the greener Oolong teas tend to have more of a floral note to them.  This is true of this Oolong as well.  I taste a hint of sweet, fuzzy peaches in the background.

There is also a roasted, nutty kind of taste to this, as well as a warm earthy tone.  Because of this toasty kind of flavor, it gives the peach note an almost caramelized kind of sweetness.

Overall, I find this tea to be light and smooth, not too heavy or overwhelming, which is why I think it makes a good accompaniment to a meal – no powerful taste that will interfere with the flavor of the food.  This also makes a delicious iced tea because of its agreeable, amenable kind of taste.

A very pleasant tea, not as fancy as some, but, certainly nice to have on hand for times when you want to just sit and enjoy some refreshing Oolong tea.

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy:  Tealish

Tea Description:

This oolong tea is a special treat with a dreamy caramel aroma. Premium Formosa oolong tea is blended with caramel pieces and marigold blossoms for an infusion with a smooth body and creamy notes of caramel.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I’ve tried quite a few caramel flavored black teas, as well as some caramel flavored green teas and rooibos, but, I can’t recall having tried a caramel flavored Oolong until now.

And while it is quite different from the other caramel flavored teas that I’ve tried, I’m quite enjoying the differences.  The smooth, buttery flavor and texture of the Oolong work together quite nicely with the rich sweetness of the caramel flavor to create a cup of deliciousness.

Overall, I find this to be a lighter tasting caramel flavored tea, and a nice change of pace from some of the heavier caramel teas that I’ve tasted.  A pleasant, relaxing cuppa!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy:  Life in Teacup

Tea Description:

The origin of Fo Shou tea cultivar is a mystery. Many people say it was obtained by engrafting tea tree with Fo Shou (bergamot) tree. The engrafting theory of Fo Shou oolong has never been proved. But the characteristics of this tea do remind a drinker of fragrance of Fo Shou fruits.

This product was made with traditional oxidation method and traditional light charcoal roast. Charcoal roast can induce richer flavor of a oolong. Today with greener style dominating the market, charcoal roast workers have mostly aged and retired. Real charcoal roast Fo Shou is very hard to find.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I was excited to try this Charcoal Roast Bergamot Oolong from Life in Teacup, as I had previously tried and quite enjoyed the Superior Grade bergamot Oolong and I wondered how it would differ.  I have since learned that these teas are not actually scented with bergamot, but instead the tea leaves come from the Fo Shou trees and carry qualities that are reminiscent of bergamot.

That makes sense to me, especially having tasted the Superior Grade and now this Charcoal Roast. In both tastings, I notice that a significant bergamot flavor was lacking, more of a distant hint of bergamot essence rather than a more obvious flavor.

In the first few infusions, the charcoal flavor greets me at about mid sip, and it is quite pleasant.  It isn’t a strong, overwhelming flavor but enough to bring a nutty character to the cup.  Sweet with barely-there hints of smoke.

In later infusions, I found that the charcoal flavor emerged to become a more significant flavor.  It brought a beautiful roasted flavor to the cup.  Hints of wood-burning smoke in the distance.  Nutty and sweet, with a delicious savory quality that arrives mid-cup.  And yes, I can also taste those bergamot-like tones and they add just a touch of brightness to this cup.

A really lovely tea!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy:  eZenTea

Tea Description:

Oolong with nice large rolled leaves with exceptional raspberry flavor. Great for several brews.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I was very excited to try this tea when I received it from a dear friend (Daisy Chubb!)  The aroma of the tea is amazing!  Fresh raspberries!  YUM!

I steeped this in my gaiwan, using short steeps (1 minute for the first infusion, adding 30 seconds to each subsequent infusion) and I then combined the first and second infusion for my first cup, and the third and fourth infusion for my second cup.

First cup:  The aroma of the dry leaf is much more raspberry than the flavor – the flavor is a softer raspberry note that mingles with the buttery tones of the Oolong in such a pleasing way.  This cup starts out quite creamy, and by mid-cup the raspberry tones have developed and each sip has become a raspberry cream taste.  Delicious!

Second cup:  Some of the buttery tones have subsided, and the floral tones of the Oolong have emerged.  The raspberry flavor is still there, mingling now with the floral notes.

If the first cup could be described as an exploration of the sweeter flavors of the raspberry, the second cup would be more of an exploration of the savory qualities of a raspberry.  Both cups are very delicious in different ways.

Overall, this is quite an enjoyable Oolong experience.

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy:  Camellia Sinensis

Tea Description:

Initial impression from this taiwanese highland wulong is an aroma of ground-cherry and wheat-grass which evolves into fresh vanilla and flowers. Rich creamy texture with sweet final notes of coconut.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

The aroma of this tea is intense!  Dry, the leaves have a fresh, exhilarating scent that reminds me of the smell of the mountain air and wildflowers.  The brewed infusion has more fruit notes than the dry leaf, but the floral tones are still there, although they are a bit softer than that of the raw leaf.

The tea infuses to a light amber color, and the flavor is sweet and creamy.  “Buttery” is often a term I use to describe greener Oolongs and even some green teas, but I don’t think it would apply to this particular tea, because while it is creamy like butter, the flavor is more like the creaminess of a coconut, it is fruit-like and sweet.  The description above pretty much nails it – I do taste notes of coconut as well as notes of vanilla, and crisp floral notes.

The later infusions seem to focus more on the floral tones than the fruit notes.  The creaminess in the first infusions subsides, making way for a more floral taste with sharp orchid notes.  A hint of almost grassy vegetation begins to emerge as well, and the fruit tones become more mellow.

A delightful cup – a little different from the typical “green” Oolong – but every bit as enjoyable, if not more so!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy:  Verdant Tea

Tea Description:

This Dancong offers a full and engaging tasting experience.  In early steepings, a crisp mineral or stone quality dominates the texture with a rosewood quality on the sides of the palate.  Soon, a mouth-watering juicy note of apricot makes an entrance and continues to build up a thicker body for the tea.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I have tried Dancong teas in the past, but I don’t think I’ve tasted one quite like this one.

The first two steepings produced a flavor that is very mineral-y, I can almost feel the minerals on my tongue!  This experience was a little jarring – ok, quite jarring – because I found myself having very little to say about those early sips except for the taste and texture of mineral.  As I continue to sip, I notice fruit tones – yes, apricot, just as the description suggests.

These first steepings are thinner than I expected from an Oolong, but that is not meant to sound like a bad thing, because I find the texture to be quite interesting, especially the almost grain-y kind of feel on the tongue.  The flavor is light but it teases the palate with flavors to come:  more sweet, juicy apricot, hints of wood, and a honey-esque sweetness that slowly develops in the background and then begins to wash over the palate with every sip.

With the third and fourth steepings, the mineral texture and taste remained, but it had softened somewhat, allowing for the apricot notes to shine through more distinctly.  The sip starts off soft, almost silky, and soon develops a mouthfeel that reminds me a little bit of a Darjeeling tea with its light, crisp quality and dry, somewhat astringent finish.  Even with the astringency, I find these steepings to be remarkably soothing, especially at the start with its silky soft (it’s almost fluffy!) presentation.

Later infusions become softer in texture.  The mineral-y taste and texture is but a memory, and now I have a tea that is much more like an “Oolong.”  That is, much more like what I might expect from an Oolong.  The flavor is sweet and slightly creamy.  I notice hints of spice and wood which meld together in a taste that I want to describe as “wilderness” – it is as if I can actually taste the “wild” in this wild-picked tea.

Quite remarkable, really, this tea.  But really, as Verdant has proven itself to offer nothing but the best, I expected nothing less!

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy:  T-Oolong Tea

Tea Description:

Our Shanlinxi Yang Zi Wan Oolong tea is handpicked and handcrafted. The tea is produced from Qingxin Oolong varietal grown in the mountain areas of Yang Zi Wan district in Shanlinxi area, frequently covered with fog or clouds. The ideal tea growing environment of the high mountain plantations makes the tea high quality. The brewed Shanlinxi Yang Zi Wan Oolong has a strong floral and sweet aroma and taste, a long-lasting flavor and a pleasant sweet aftertaste. It is very smooth and delectable.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I have only tried a couple of Oolong teas from T-Oolong Tea thus far, but what I’ve tried, I’ve really liked.  This Shanglinxi Yang Zi Wan is no exception!

The aroma is intensely floral, evoking thoughts fantastical thoughts of what it might be like to walk through a forest dense with flowers:  such a sweet, enchanting fragrance.

The flavor is also quite floral and sweet.  There is also a fruit tone in there, tasting like something between an apple and a peach.  It has a broth-y sort of mouthfeel – smooth and thick.  These flavors of flower and fruit linger in the mouth long after the sip is gone, providing one of the longest aftertastes I’ve yet to experience from a tea.

A true delight, this Shanglinxi Yang Zi Wan!