Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Simple Loose Leaf
Tea Description:
Our Ti Kuan Yin is an elegant Chinese oolong that produces a light floral aroma from a pale golden liquor. When steeped, the tightly rolled leaves will unfurl into large green leaves with a rich flavor that can be enjoyed several times. Ti Kuan Yin provides a light nutty flavor with a soft, vegetal notes and a smooth, buttery end. This high-quality tea is best served hot.
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn more about Simple Loose Leaf’s Selection Club subscription program here.
Taster’s Review:
Until recently with their Organic Gunpowder Green Tea, I have only tried Simple Loose Leaf’s flavored tea offerings. But given how wonderful that Gunpowder was, I had no doubt in my mind that this Ti Kuan Yin would be just as lovely. And it is.
I approached the brewing of this Oolong the same way I would brew most any other Oolong – in my gaiwan! My gaiwan sure has taken quite a beating. I have a gaiwan a lot like this one, and I noticed recently that it has a small chip on the pour spout. Perhaps it’s time to start shopping for a new one!
I used short steeps and combined the first two infusions (after a quick rinsing of the leaves) to create the first cup, and from the very first sip, I was in love with this Ti Kuan Yin! It is so sweet and buttery! It has a lovely floral tone (orchid!), but it isn’t sharp the way some Oolong floral notes can taste. It is very smooth, as if the sharpness has been softened by the buttery notes. I think I even taste hints of vanilla in the background, as well as an apple-like flavor.
My second cup (infusions 3 and 4) is not quite as soft and buttery as the first was, but, it is still quite lovely. The floral notes are soft and there are some vegetative notes beginning to emerge. The aforementioned apple notes are also coming forward, offering mostly a sweet apple note but there are hints of tart apple too, especially in the aftertaste.
Later infusions became more unified in flavor – offering notes of flower, fruit, vegetation and subtle hints of vanilla and cream, but all these flavors were subdued and seemed to meld together in a seamless way. Still delicious – just different.
A very enjoyable Ti Kuan Yin experience, thanks to my Simple Loose Leaf subscription! I highly recommend their Selection Club subscription program. It’s a great way to get your tea fix! Use this code: SISTERSELECTION25 and get a 25% discount when you sign up for the selection club. This discount is not applicable on the retail selection of teas, and is only good for the selection club subscription.
