Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Teavivre
Tea Description:
Teavivre’s Jin Xuan Milk Tea is another kind of fine classic Taiwan Oolong. It belongs to a category of tea often called “Milk Oolong”. However, this Jin Xuan Milk Oolong is special and unique because its milky aroma is natural, it is not manually added milk when process as other milk teas. The first three infusion of this tea will have obviously milky scent, whereas this scent will gradually reduce for the next cups.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Before tasting any tea … as I brew it, I find myself contemplating what a tea might taste like. Sometimes, I think it’s going to be fairly easy, because I may have already tasted a tea that I think was similar to it. For example, as I was steeping this tea in my gaiwan, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect from it. After all, this isn’t my first Milk Oolong.
But, even with my recollection of past tastings preparing my palate for what was to come, I found myself exclaiming “AWESOME!” after taking my first sip. I guess no amount of prep work can properly brace my palate for the deliciousness that is Milk Oolong … especially one of such exceptional quality like this one from Teavivre!
I’ve tried quite a few teas from Teavivre by now, and every time I try a new one, I am impressed. Their quality is second to none. And never has that statement been more true than with this Jin Xuan Milk Oolong.
The flavor is so sweet and creamy, and the texture has a silky smooth quality to complement that creamy taste. It feels like velvet as the tea glides over the palate! I taste a strong floral presence, but it melds beautifully with a delicious nutty tone and the creamy notes.
As mentioned in the description of this tea, the milky aroma is strongest in the first few infusions, and they begin to taper with subsequent infusions. I find that the milky aroma is stronger than the actual milky flavor with this tea, but I do taste hints of a warm milk kind of flavor in the background … especially with the first two infusions. In subsequent infusions, I find the creamy milk flavor begin to emerge a little more.
The reason this milk Oolong has a “softer” milk taste is that it isn’t artificially flavored or enhanced the way that some milk Oolong teas are. The flavors here are all natural, derived from its surroundings rather than by flavor manipulation.
In subsequent infusions, I find that the floral notes subside somewhat, creating a smoother flavor that is at once nutty, a little milky, creamy, and with a subtle floral tone. It is incredibly smooth and there is virtually no astringency to this cup. Just delicious Oolong enjoyment from start to finish!
This is not only a must try for Oolong enthusiasts, but I think it should be on every tea drinker’s must try list! It’s incredible!
I am involved in Tea Production both in Darjeeling (semi-fermented) and in Dooars(CTC). My personal observation with CTC production is that when the factory machinery and fermenting floor is not properly cleaned, due to excessive leaf intake and production imbalance) the teas tend to acquiry a milky taste/flavour which is mild and in the background. Could milky oolond also be seen to have acquired this taint during oolong production, like when the wet tea is being piled on during production of darker varieties of teas.
While I would not consider myself an expert on how tea is processed/produced, I don’t think that this is why Milky Oolong has the milk taste. I believe that this is a natural flavor of this particular Oolong, which is a whole leaf tea produced in Taiwan.