Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong (Darjeeling)
Where to Buy: Rare Tea Republic
Tea Description:
This rare terracotta-toned oolong has lightly worked leaves that offer a wide range of sweet and woody notes including chestnut, parsnip and Autumn leaves. There is a satisfying mineral quality in the finish suggestive of a Wuyi Rock Oolong.
Castleton Estate’s altitude and specific location in southeastern Darjeeling keeps this garden constantly veiled in mist. It is the resulting slow leaf growth that makes Castleton’s teas some of the most flavorful in the region.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is an exceptional tea. I find myself savoring every sip … and while I find it difficult not to raise my cup to my lips immediately for another sip, I want to wait … linger over the deliciousness of it, relishing every moment this tea has to offer. Yes … this tea is that good.
The flavor is remarkable. It starts out very Darjeeling-esque: a crisp muscatel, sweet grape notes mid-sip with a dry wine-like finish. Woody tones throughout the sip. As I continue to sip, the Oolong notes begin to reveal themselves, reminding me of a very fine Formosa Oolong or perhaps a Wuyi. It has a lovely sweetness, peach-like, with a light earthiness and a soft mouthfeel that starts out very light and develops as I continue to sip.
The astringency is remarkably light. It starts out a bit stronger, but as I continue to sip, the softness of the Oolong notes curb the edge of the astringency, making it almost non-existent. The finish is clean, with lingering grape notes in the aftertaste.
Rare Tea Republic continues to impress me with their amazing teas. This one might just be the most impressive yet.
