I have a feeling this is going to be a lengthy post but with good reason, I promise! You see – in THIS post – I will be telling you all about Bittermelon Stuffed with Roasted Tie Guan Yin Oolong from Yunnan Sourcing!
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you took bittermelon, took out the insides, left the thick rind, and then stuffed it with Tie Guan Yin and roasted it? That’s what I thought. Regardless of your answer – you can now do that by trying this tea.
For those of you NOT familiar with Bittermelon…it’s also called bitter gourd, bitter squash, or balsam-pear. It is a tropical and subtropical vine of the family Cucurbitaceae, widely grown in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean for its edible fruit. Its many varieties differ substantially in the shape and bitterness of the fruit. Bitter melon originated in India and was introduced into China in the 14th century. It grows in a variety of shapes and sizes. The ones you may see in the product description photo are more horn-like. The samples I received were more like coins…much like if you were to cut cucumbers or carrots into rounds or disks…just to give you a visual.
Upon opening the package I noticed a little bit of the oolong stuffed inside the bittermelon fall out but most of it stayed inside quite well. Dry – this smelled like Sushi to me. I don’t mean it smelled like fish…it smelled more like the rice you would eat while eating Sushi…almost like a veggie sushi…you know, without the fish.
After infusing Bittermelon Stuffed with Roasted Tie Guan Yin Oolong from Yunnan Sourcing I noticed the oolong puff up and out. So much so that what once looked like a flat checker (or a little smaller in circumference) now looks like the insides are spilling out over top of the bittermelon. It’s almost Alien-Like.
The taste of this tea experience is certainly something to remember from start to finish. Once infusion is complete and I let it cool for a moment or two I took a sip…a sip that i will not soon forget! Ahhhhh! So delicious! So satisfying! It’s on the more mellow side but for all the right reasons! It tastes like Mouse Melon or if you aren’t familiar with Mouse Melon it’s a cross between a cucumber with a touch of lemon. I could also taste the gentle roasted oolong notes that were purely delightful in every way! There were VERY subtle hints of sweet woodsy and gentle citrus notes, as well!
This was more than just a tea – it was an experience! A conversation piece. Something to bust out only when you have the time to appreciate it and share with others. This will certainly make one or more of my FAVORITES lists in the VERY near future! YUM! I’ll say it again…YUM!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Yunnan Sourcing
Description
Ever wondered what would happen if you took bittermelon, took out the insides and left the thick rind and then stuffed it with Tie Guan Yin and roasted it? Well now you can try this lovely tea.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
