Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Life in Teacup
Product Description:
Production Year: 2006
Production Season: Spring
Production Region: Nantou County, Taiwan
Style: Traditional heavy roast
Taster’s Review:
The aroma of the dry leaf is very heavily roasted with charcoal-ish undertones. The liquor is significantly softer in fragrance. Those notes are still there, they are just much more delicate.
The flavor is remarkably gentle compared to the strong scent of the dry leaf. There is very pleasing roasty-toasty flavor to this tea, and a sweetness that ties into that toasted flavor.
The mouthfeel is quite soft and smooth, I would compare it to what liquid silk might feel like on the palate. The mouthfeel does not linger, however, because there is a light astringency that cleanses the palate, leaving only a sweet roasted flavor that lingers in the aftertaste.
I would describe the overall cup as a masculine one. There is a woody undertone, giving this a very outdoorsy, rustic kind of appeal. With Father’s Day just around the corner, this would be an excellent gift for the tea-drinking man in your life!
Tie Guan Yin Special Edition from Life in Teacup
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Life in Teacup
Product Description:
Traditional charcoal roast with Tie Guan Yin and Mao Xie.
Taster’s Review:
I adore Oolong teas, and this Tie Guan Yin is superb!
The leaves are dark, a result of charcoal roasting. The roasting has imparted a delicious toasty flavor to the natural nutty tones of the Oolong. The buttery flavor that is often a part of Oolong has become more of a caramel sweetness. It’s almost like a dessert in a teacup!
The sip starts with with an introduction of the sweet yet savory roasted nut flavor which soon gives way to a hint of flower (almost honeysuckle-esque). The caramel notes sit in the background, never becoming too prominent or overwhelming. The mouthfeel here is light, much lighter than a very green Oolong would be, and not nearly as creamy. A whisper of smoke weaves its way throughout the sip and remains through the aftertaste.
Overall the tea is bittersweet with the emphasis on sweet rather than on bitter. There is a moderate amount of cleansing astringency at the finish. In subsequent infusions, I noticed that the smoky flavor came through a little more – but it was never an overpowering presence.
It’s absolutely delicious and a must try for Oolong enthusiasts.
I love all the teas that I’ve tried thus far from Life in Teacup. I love their philosophy too, which can be read on their homepage:
“We believe tea is a luxury of time, and not necessarily a luxury of money.”
I agree. While some teas can be extraordinarily expensive, I like it when I find a company that offers delicious, high quality teas at an affordable price, such as Life in Teacup!
Yongchun Fo Shou (Bergamot) Oolong Superior Grade Tea from Life In Teacup
Tea Type: Oolong
Where To Buy: Life In Teacup
Product Description:
The origin of Fo Shou tea cultivar is a mystery. Many people say it was obtained by engrafting tea tree with Fo Shou (bergamot) tree. The engrafting theory of Fo Shou oolong has never been proved. But the characteristics of this tea do remind a drinker of fragrance of Fo Shou fruits.
Brew method:
1a. Oolong, ball-shaped dry tea leaves
- Vessel: gaiwan or small teapot
- Water temperature: newly boiled water (above 95 °C or 203 °F)
- Amount of leaves: 5 gram for every 120ml total volume (Or reduce the amount to 3 gram for some heavy oxidation and/or heavy roast products)
- Warm-up infusion: pour hot water in the vessel, and immediately drain it. Wait for about 1min. before starting the next infusion.
- Time for each of the first 3 infusions (after warm-up): 20sec. (Or reduce the infusion time to 10-15sec. for some heavy oxidation and/or heavy roast products)
- Extend infusion time based on taste for later infusions. Most oolong tea can well last for at least 5-7 infusions.
Or:
- Vessel: mug
- Water temperature: (same as “1a”) newly boiled water (around 95 °C or 203 °F)
- Amount of leaves: 15-20 grains of dry tea leaves
- Steep time: 1-2 minutes
- Re-steep: when there is 1/3 liquor left in the vessel, add hot water to re-steep.
Tasters Review:
Plain and Simple…I LOVE THIS. I would rate this above 95% any day of the week!
Yongchun Fo Shou (Bergamot) Oolong Superior Grade Tea from Life In Teacup smells like a sweet-floral and mellow yet juicy fruit of the citrus variety. The Infusion color is that of a light-oolong. The taste is out of this world…a pure delight! It’s very pure, crisp, and thirst quenching. I could tell it was an Oolong by it’s taste but it’s so much more than that…it’s incredible! I really, really like this! The flavor of the oolong is one thing but the Bergamot is another. I’ve never tasted a bergamot flavor like this and I must say after tasting it – all Bergamot should taste like this! The flavor doesn’t take over the natural goodness of the oolong and the bergamot doesn’t taste fake or chemically at all!
I have also tried the other two Bergamot Fo Shou Oolongs and I think the Superior really IS superior! I like all 3 of the offerings but this one is my favorite one of the 3. Down the road I plan on reviewing the other 2 as well. BUT…in the meantime…I encourage all of your Oolong Lovers to try this one! It’s worth it!!
Dong Ding Oolong traditional medium roast Competition Grade IV from Life In Teacup
Tea Type: Oolong
Where To Buy: Life In Teacup
Product Description:
Production Year: 2009
Production Season: winter
Production Region: Nantou County, Taiwan
Style: Traditional medium roastBrewing 1a: Oolong, ball-shaped dry tea leaves
Vessel: gaiwan or small teapot
Water temperature: newly boiled water (above 95 °C or 203 °F)
Amount of leaves: 5 gram for every 120ml total volume (Or reduce the amount to 3 gram for some heavy oxidation and/or heavy roast products)
Warm-up infusion: pour hot water in the vessel, and immediately drain it. Wait for about 1min. before starting the next infusion.
Time for each of the first 3 infusions (after warm-up): 20sec. (Or reduce the infusion time to 10-15sec. for some heavy oxidation and/or heavy roast products)
Extend infusion time based on taste for later infusions. Most oolong tea can well last for at least 5-7 infusions.
Tasters Review:
I had this for the very first time the other day and was very pleased.
This is VERY different than any Oolong I have tried! Imagine this…roasty and toasty…woodsy and leafy…hearty and strong! At first I thought it smelled like a “New Car Smell” type air freshener…but it was a little more leaf-like than that. Regardless I think the reasons this is different are the reasons I like it so much! This is tasty and interesting! If you are into roasted oolongs – try this! If you have never had a roasted type Oolong before taste it and then taste it again! I noticed that the taste changes as it cools at room temperature. I also think this is pretty good cold/iced, too!
Frosty Spring Yunnan Roast Green from Life In Teacup
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Life In Teacup
Company Description:
Production Year: 2010
Production Season: Pre-Spring, January 1, 2010
Production Region: Yunan Province, Xi Shuang Ban Na
Style: Hong Qing (roasted)
Taster’s Review:
This is an amazing cup of tea!
Prior to and during infusion, the tea smells very strongly of vegetables. The brewed liquor is a softer smell, but still smells like vegetables mingling with a light, roasted nut aroma. It’s very intriguing.
The flavor is intense! It has a lovely roasted flavor that resembles buttery chestnuts and roasted vegetables. In the finish, there is a tart/tangy note that seems to waft over the palate. There is more astringency than I am typically accustomed to with a green tea, but, it isn’t hindering me from enjoying the tea.
There is also a beautiful sweetness to this cup… a light, flowery sweetness. It’s really quite enchanting!
I brewed this tea in my gaiwan and I would suggest brewing it no other way! I obtained a vibrant, delicious and fragrant cup of tea with a short brew time of 1 minute. The leaves expand quite a bit so I don’t recommend brewing this using an infuser – there just won’t be enough room for the leaves to completely unfurl, and you’ll risk losing some delightfully impressive flavor.
The leaves submit several infusions. After brewing in my gaiwan, I combine 2 infusions in my teacup, and I managed 3 very flavorful cups (that’s a total of 6 infusions) of this lovely tea! At just $4.50 per ounce, that makes this tea an INCREDIBLE value! I love it when tea is not only tasty but affordable!