Most oolongs taste like either greens or blacks to me, but this one’s a perfect in-betweener. It’s got that lighter, vegetal green, but throws in a dash of that sexy deep note that I love about black.
There are also other notes here, some sort of a plum/raisin sugar-tartness that really kicks it up a notch. If I were going to going to assign this tea an aura color, it would be a warm autumn purple.
This is the sort of tea that I would sip while exploring an attic while wearing an oversized woolen sweater. Knowing my luck, that attic would be haunted as EFF. I’d open a yearbook from 1934 and be possessed by some girl who died of — I don’t know — polio? The vapors? What did people die of back then?
I wouldn’t be possessed long. In movies, ghosts LOVE their new bodies, but in reality, a ghost from 1934 wouldn’t know how to use my car, phone, or computer at work. She’d probably go “the hell with this” and bounce of her own accord. If our grandparents are any indication, people of that generation loathe the digital area. She’d cross over.
Back to the tea.
I really enjoy this tea. It’s just the right afternoon lift without making my heart dive-bomb out of my chest.
The outside of the bag says Formosa Oolong is a “perfect introduction to the world of Taiwanese tea.”
Okay, Taiwan. You have me interested. I’m ready for a second date.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Simple Loose Leaf
Description
This semi-fermented tea from Taiwan, gets its name from the Portuguese explorers who called the island Formosa, meaning ‘beautiful’. The copper-red leaves with tips of silver brew into a beautiful bright golden brisk cup with peach undertones. Delicious hot or cold.
Ingredients: Taiwanese Oolong Tea
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Fig Formosa Oolong Tea from TeaLeafs
Tea Type:
Oolong Tea
Where To Buy:
TeaLeafs
Product Description:
Origin: Taiwan
Ingredients: Oolong tea, Cornflower, Poppy Flower, Natural flavor
A full, whole leaf base with a rich taste of Smyrna figs.
Tasters Review:
I will remember this one until the day I die! I LOVE it that much! It’s truly amazing! It had me at ‘hello’ and at first sip! It’s smells Awesome!!!!
I cannot express how much I LOVE this tea! I know that’s redundant but it’s true! It is a flavored oolong, a flavored Formosa. It’s WONDERFUL!!!
It’s sweet, plump, luscious FIG with natural sugary notes. It’s perfect as-is hot or cold but the first time I tried this was with my husband as an ICED tea and he always has to have sugar/sweetener in it and we were splitting it…so…I added agave and rock sugar and it took incredibly well to it. It didn’t change the awesomeness at all and accompanied it well! My husband doesn’t generally drink oolongs because he doesn’t understand them and he absolutely LOVED this one!
I can’t find anything wrong with this. I MUST give it a 100! It would be one I should have bought more of right away and certainly will the next time I visit! THIS…is a household favorite! A REAL Crowd-Pleaser!
Oolong Formosa from Utopia Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Utopia Tea
Tea Description:
The name speaks for itself, Formosa meaning “beautiful” tea. Our Oolong Formosa is semi-fermented with copper red leaves and have silver tips. The tea leaves offer hints of vanilla and citrus for a smooth and spicy taste. Oolong Formosa got its name from the Portuguese explorers that called the island, Formosa. Oolong Formosa contains a large amount of natural plant-derived antioxidant compounds called polyphenols that fight off cancer and a variety of diseases. Oolong tea leaves have been proven to protect the body, lower cholesterol, promote healthy blood vessel functionality, and strengthen the immune system. Small amounts of Vitamin C and K, potassium, and calcium have been found in Oolong tea leaves. Try this tea hot or over ice!
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Utopia Tea’s Formosa Oolong is a nice daily oolong. Its not the most mind blowing oolong by any means but this is a tea for when you don’t want to nor have the time to sit paying attention to your steep. It is a forgiving oolong that can take mishaps well. It has a good flavor although to me, there is slightly a black tea flavor here as well. It does not strike me as an all out oolong.
Now I admit, I am an oolong snob and for me, having an oolong is a time for relaxing, meditation, and sitting with my tea contemplating. I prefer to have oolong when using my gaiwan and usually I spend more on oolong than any other tea for that reason. However this is a really solid oolong for sharing with company that drops by, making cold brew, or when you just don’t have the time or want to sit and pay close attention to your steeping session.
When I took my first sip what came to mind is that of an oolong I have had a Asian restaurants before. Good but nothing that was mind blowing.
In all fairness though, 4 ounces of this tea from Utopia Tea is only 10.00 so I really do not think that Utopia is trying to claim this is the best oolong on earth. I feel the price is by far fair for what you get here!
What this tea does offer is just what the description says, slight hints at vanilla with slight citrus notes, and a nice background of some spice and nuttiness. I added the note on nuttiness. There is the typical roasted flavor of oolong but it would fall on the lighter side of roasts.
A good tea for the price, excellent for serving cold or to guests who are not tea perfectionists. Great to serve with meals or drink by the tons while working.
Oolong Royal Tea from Praise Tea
Tea Type: Oolong Tea
Where To Buy: Praise Tea
Product Description:
This enchanting oolong is softly flavored by the wonderful union of red aronia berries, bright mango cubes, passion fruit and dark red rose petals. A royal treat for even the finest of palettes.
Origin: Formosa (Taiwan)
Ingredients: Formosa Oolong, Mango, Aronia Berries, Rose Petals
Steeping Guidelines:
Water: 176°- 194°F | Use 1 Tsp per 6 ounce cup | Infusion Time: 2 – 3 minutesInfusion tips:
Use COLD filtered or spring water, whenever possible
Don’t over boil water, Don’t over steep tea
Remove leaves after recommended time (adjust to taste)
*Vary time according to taste, & remember that steeping tea leaves beyond 3 minutes does not contribute to flavor, only bitterness.
If you want a stronger taste, use more tea leaves instead of steeping for a longer time
Tasters Review:
DRY – Oolong Royal Tea from Praise Tea looks like a woodsier Oolong mix. The aroma is mostly oolong and mango. I can tell there is a little something else fruity-wise too but it’s not really identifiable as berries or passionfruit.
Once infused the liquor is pretty dark for an oolong- much like a medium-brown colored black tea. It smells slightly fruity and woodsy.
The taste is DARN GOOD. It’s a smoother oolong taste with hints of sweeter-wood but the fruit notes pair up beside the oolong very well. All of the fruit ingredients mesh well with each other and no one ingredient really barges in front of the others.
The rose hides out in the background and if I didn’t take the time to really notice it I probably would miss it.
Oriental Beauty from Cloudwalker Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Cloudwalker Teas
Company Description:
Oriental Beauty is a particularly special tea variety from Taiwan being offered at Cloudwalker. At a certain time of year, bees will nibble slightly at the tea leaves and this will cause the leaf to transform slightly into the classic oriental beauty. This tea is only from Taiwan and only from specific central Taiwanese counties. As this tea bursts forth from tea-spout to pitcher, one is immediately struck by it’s luminescence and viscosity. It is a nectarian, mouth-watering, mouth-tingling experience. It is smooth and acts quickly to engulf the palate. This oriental beauty contains superior honey qualities and an added buoyant ‘hui gan’ or returning sweetness on the throat. Ambrosial. This tea comes by its name honourably, and to purchase it you can be sure you will more completely understand its name.
The American Tea Masters Association held Tea Extravaganza 2009 at the Drake Hotel in San Diego, CA and named this one of the top 5 teas (of 14 top shelf teas) on the menu! New stock has just arrived!
Taster’s Review:
Formosa Oolong teas and I go way back – in fact, the very first Oolong I ever tasted was a Formosa and I fell completely in love with it. Since then, I’ve been introduced to many different Oolongs, and some that I might even enjoy a little more than Formosa Oolongs – but, Formosa will always hold a very special and dear place in my heart.
For that reason I was very excited to try Oriental Beauty Formosa Oolong from Cloudwalker Teas. And Cloudwalker Teas did not let me down! This is truly a delightful Oolong experience.
The aroma of the dry leaves is sweet and honey-esque. This aroma translates to the brewed liquor, it’s a little softer, but, nonetheless very inviting.
The flavor is sublime! It is smooth and rich and sweet. Pleasantly sweet – like golden honey! The mouthfeel also reminds me a bit of honey – not sticky like honey, but there is a very pleasing thickness to it that reminds me of honey.
There is absolutely no bitterness to this tea. It is absolutely divine! It has only the slightest astringency to it. THIS is the flavor that I fell in love with all those years ago!
While Formosa Oolong teas do make very enjoyable iced teas – for the fullest flavor and enjoyment of this tea, you should first try it hot… I am not saying NOT to drink it iced, because I love it iced; however, I love it even more hot. It is my opinion that the best way to experience all the subtle nuances of an Oolong is hot and unsweetened, and then, once you’ve experienced them, go ahead and experiment and try it iced. This one is also quite nice with a bit of fruit – either as an addition to the tea itself or a tray of fresh fruit would be quite good as well.
This one is an absolute must try for Oolong enthusiasts. It is truly a lovely Oolong tea.
