Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Simple Loose Leaf
Tea Description:
A darker oolong tea from Taiwan, formerly known as Formosa (which means ‘Beautiful’, given by the Portuguese explorers of the island). Deep raisiny and ripe fruit aroma, autumn ‘leafy’ note. Lingering flavor and smooth, refreshingly fruity astringency. A lovely introduction to Taiwanese tea.
Learn more about May’s Selection Club Menu Options here.
Learn more about Simple Loose Leaf’s Selection Club subscription program here.
Taster’s Review:
I know I’ve mentioned my adoration for Formosa Oolong teas in the past here on this blog, so when Simple Loose Leaf included this Formosa Oolong Tea as part of their May Selection Club Menu, I was a happy sipper!
Ali Shan Oolong is my favorite type of Oolong, but I’ll always have a place in my heart for Formosa Oolong. It was the very first type of Oolong that I ever tried, and for a long time, I didn’t know that there was any other type of Oolong out there. For me, it was Formosa Oolong forever. Since that time, my horizons have expanded and I’ve learned a lot more about Oolong teas, but, I still do love a good cup of Formosa Oolong tea.
And this Formosa Oolong from Simple Loose Leaf is really good. The aroma is sweet and reminiscent of dried fruits with an earthy background. There is a distinct autumn-ish essence to it: the warmth of the toasty color and fragrance of the leaves, and the sweet fruity notes give it a very autumnal feel.
The flavor is also seems to evoke thoughts of autumn. There is a toasty, nutty flavor that makes me think of roasting chestnuts over the roaring fire in the fireplace, and the sweet, raisin-like flavor also has a distinct autumn-like flavor.
The overall flavor is sweet. It isn’t an overly floral Oolong. I find this to be true with most darker Oolong teas, it would seem that the darker the leaves, the floral notes diminish while the fruity notes emerge. I like that while this does have a sweet, raisin-y flavor to it, it doesn’t have that sugar-y sweetness of the dry fruit. There are some woody notes that seem to even those sweeter flavors out enough so that the cup doesn’t become cloying.
A really wonderful, rewarding cup of Oolong. Formosa Oolong teas also offer many infusions, and I find that the later infusions (especially the third and fourth infusions) tend to be my favorite. This is true of this tea as well. The astringency has tapered somewhat, and the flavors are not quite as sharp as in the first couple infusions, allowing for some of the sweeter notes to emerge fully.
Simple Loose Leaf offers a great program to those who are looking to enjoy some really good teas at excellent prices! Check out their Selection Club and use this code: SISTERSELECTION25 to get 25% off 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.)
And through June 20th, all new subscribers will also receive a new teapot! What a great gift idea! Here are the details of this nifty offer.
