Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Buddha Teas
Tea Description:
Over the years, many different varieties of oolong tea have been produced, each with their own style and flavor, however traditional oolong tea remains the most popular among these.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I had my doubts about this tea before I sat down and started writing about it. I mean, it’s an Oolong in a bag. I think I’ve mentioned how I feel about that at least once on this blog. But, I decided that I’d go into this experience with an open mind.
The box says that this is
A pleasantly aromatic brew known as the “Four Seasons” tea.
Based on my impressions of the first cup of tea – which surprisingly disappeared before I had a chance to type out what I thought of it! Yeah … it’s pretty tasty! – but even though it WAS pretty tasty, it didn’t taste to me like a “Four Seasons” Oolong. At least, it wasn’t like any Four Seasons that I’ve had in the past. Those teas were always a ‘greener’ type of Oolong, with stronger floral and vegetal notes.
This reminded me more of a Formosa Oolong. It was slightly toasty and warm, with more fruity notes than floral. I didn’t notice a vegetal tone. This was earthy and nutty. So I thought, huh? Maybe I did something wrong.
So, the next day, I decided to start again. I grabbed a new teabag, and this time, I decided to do something that I usually do with loose leaf Oolong teas but not something I usually do with any teabags: I “rinsed” the leaves. I did a quick rinse of the teabag – 15 seconds – and then I steeped the bag for 3 minutes.
Again, I’m getting that warm, toasty, nutty flavor that I’d find from a Formosa Oolong. Or perhaps a Da Hong Pao with it’s roasty-toasty nuts and background notes of smoke. But I’m certainly not tasting the flavors that I usually associate with a four seasons Oolong.
But that’s not to say that this isn’t a really enjoyable Oolong. This is really tasty! I love the roasty, toasty, nutty flavor profiles. The nut notes evoke thoughts of chestnuts roasting on an open fire. And this is the best time of year for such a treat.
It’s sweet and it has a thick, satisfying mouthfeel. It’s a very enjoyable tea. And since it is an Oolong, I decided that this time, I’d resteep the bag and see how it resteeps.
My second steep of this bag (I added another minute onto the steep time) is just as flavorful as the first. It has a similar profile: I still taste toasty, nutty flavors with hints of smoke, although the smoke has muted somewhat. I’m now also starting to pick up on some fruity tones. I taste hints of sweet peach! I like the way this flavor melds with the warm, nutty flavors.
This is a really nice Oolong – and yes, it’s a bagged Oolong!
Buddha’s Tears from Byron Bay Tea Company
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green & White
Where to Buy: Byron Bay Tea Company
Product Description:
Buddha’s tears roll tenderly from the tea plant; made with the bud and first two leaves. Carefully plucked and hand-crafted into tiny pearls, they are then scented with fresh jasmine blossoms. Once removed from their floral cocoon, the tiny pearls are ready to be brewed. With a pale liquor and delicate taste, Buddha’s tears provide a soul-soothing treat at any time of day.
Ingredients- Green and White tea scented with Jasmine Flowers
Taster’s Review:
What a lovely jasmine tea!
The ingredients confuse me just a little – this is a “pearl” jasmine tea, and so I don’t know where the white tea comes in to play, unless they are considering the bud attached to the two leaves the white tea. But, it hardly seems necessary to fuss over such details.
These little “tears” unfurl slowly, releasing their intense flavor… which means many happy infusions for this jasmine enthusiast! The flavor is sweet and silky. Sometimes jasmine can come off as slightly bitter or soapy, but not this time. The jasmine simply tastes lightly floral. It is very soothing and restorative – and to get full effect of the relaxing effects of this tea I strongly recommend inhaling deeply – taking in the fragrance – before you sip.
The green tea/white tea is delicate and very soft … like clean air and crisp spring leaves! It has a very comforting feel to it as it washes over the palate. A delightful tea any time of the day, I find it most welcome later in the afternoon to help calm frazzled nerves.
I do not recommend sweetening this tea as it would overwhelm the gentle flavors of this tea. I prefer it hot, but it makes a nice iced tea as well (and when I ice jasmine tea, I do add a little sweetener just to perk up the flavors). It is a refreshing and beautiful tea, no matter how you choose to serve it!