Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Lu-Lin Teas
Tea Description:
A Fujian Oolong which has been fermented for longer than our normal Fujian Oolong tea. It brews a golden yellow and has a slightly smoky taste with a full bodied, sweet long lasting finish with a cinnamon aftertaste.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
As you may have guessed by the name of this tea, this single estate Black Oolong Tea from Lu-Lin Teas is a very dark, deeply fermented Oolong. The dry leaves are a dark, chocolate-y brown, and possess an aroma that is sweet with notes of fruit.
The flavor is rich with hints of smoke. There is a fruity background note that reminds me of a ripe plum: sweet with just a hint of sour. The mouthfeel is soft, not creamy like some Oolong teas, instead, this has more of a smooth … almost silken kind of mouthfeel.
There are lovely notes of spice to this cup. The above description suggests a cinnamon-like aftertaste and I get where they’re going with that. I taste a certain “warm spice” note … maybe not a distinct cinnamon-y note, but it is warm and comforting and reminiscent of cinnamon.
There are notes of oak to this cup as well. As this is my second time enjoying this tea, I can say that the tea offers quite an adventure. The first time I brewed the tea, I was conservative with the leaf, and discovered hints of chocolate and caramel to the cup. This time, I added a little extra leaf to my gaiwan and I am noticing more of a fruit/wood/spice kind of taste going on.
Subsequent infusions allowed the spice notes to become a little more defined, and in my third cup, I began to notice more definition to the aforementioned “cinnamon-like” taste. The fruit notes became smoother with subsequent infusions, becoming less sour and more sweet. It is definitely worth the effort to infuse this tea multiple times!
Having tried a few Lu-Lin teas now, I can say that I’m very impressed with this company and especially pleased with their high quality Oolong teas, like this one. This is a really delightful Oolong – a definite must try for Oolong enthusiasts who are looking for something a little different … as well as those who want an Oolong that is less “floral” – this one might be to your liking!
