Nostalgia Dong Ding Oolong with Jasmine & Fresh Mint from Aftelier Perfumed Teas

by liberteas

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy:  Aftelier Perfumed Teas

Product Description:

Rich and complex charcoal-roasted Tung-Ting oolong tea produces a fruity aroma that is exquisite with the cool mint and rich jasmine. These rolled leaves provide up to 4 infusions.

Taster’s Review:

This tea is very interesting.

First of all, as a cup of this tea sits before me, it smells amazing.  Like intoxicatingly (I don’t know if that was a word before now, but it is one now!) amazing.   But with such an enchanting smell … I become a little apprehensive when it comes to taking a sip.  What if it’s too perfume-y?

After all, it is a perfumed tea.  That alone sort of indicates that it might come across as perfume-y tasting.

However, it doesn’t.  The perfume melds with the buttery creaminess of the Oolong tea to create one of the most unusual yet delightful teas I’ve tasted in a very long time.  The Oolong has a slightly roasted back note that seems to tie all the flavors together quite nicely.  It’s a very unified taste.

That is not to say that the jasmine is not strong, because it is.  It is quite strong (this tea is for jasmine lovers only!) and tastes very floral.  But it tastes like a natural floral flavor; not a chemical-y, artificial-tasting, lab-recreated perfume.

The mint is quite a bit more subtle, but the flavor of it develops as I continue to sip.  Similarly, the scent of the mint develops as I continue to smell the tea.  The first couple of times I could barely smell the mint, and now it is more prominent, although it is still not as strong as the jasmine.

I recommend brewing this in a gaiwan – using short steep times.  30 seconds (or less) for the first infusion; increase by 15 seconds for each subsequent infusion.  Any longer and you may wind up with a very strong jasmine taste.

If you love jasmine (and I do!) this tea is the ULTIMATE.  You really must try it!

liberteas

Anne (aka the Mad Tea Artist) has celebrated her 29th birthday for many years now. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her hubby and her youngest daughter. Her oldest daughter is married and has bestowed Anne with the proud title of "Gramma" and her grandson is about the cutest boy you ever did see. Anne started her journey with tea as a casual drinker and became more serious about her tea drinking when she realized that she couldn't drink coffee. Shortly thereafter, she started becoming obsessed with the beverage and she started creating small-batch, artisan blends of tea that she sold online as LiberTEAS. After a few years, she realized she wasn't cut out to be the sole proprietor of a business so she closed LiberTEAS and started reviewing teas online. She met Jennifer through another blog that they both reviewed for and they decided to start their own review blog. This review blog! Throughout her journey as a tea reviewer, she discovered 52Teas and became enamored with the idea of creating a new tea every week. When the founder of 52Teas decided he wanted to move on, he offered the business to Anne but knowing that she wasn't cut out to be a sole proprietor, she instead offered the company to her oldest daughter who employs her as the Mad Tea Artist for 52Teas!

This post was posted in Jasmine Tea, Oolong

1 thought on “Nostalgia Dong Ding Oolong with Jasmine & Fresh Mint from Aftelier Perfumed Teas”

  1. Just reading this post makes me want to try this tea. It sounds delicious and just imagining the smells…. sigh. It would have to be on a quite afternoon when my mom had the kids, my hubby had to work late and I had the house all to myself. 😀 Thank you for sharing.

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