Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy:  Teavivre

Tea Description:

In Taiwan Oolong Tea, Dong Ding Oolong Tea is an excellent kind highly praised by the world. Dong Ding is originally planted on Dongding Mountain, which is a branch of Phoenix Mountain, in Lugu Village, Nantou County, Taiwan. The tea is planted in the area at the altitude of 1000 meters. So this is also a High Mountain tea, which is known as its obvious floral fragrance. This Dong Ding Qing Xiang Oolong Tea is made of the tea leaves from Qing Xin Oolong tea tree. This tea has thick and soft leaf, refreshing tea liquid, with strong osmanthus scent. Meanwhile it has strong sweet aftertaste, which makes High Mountain tea more excellent than low altitude tea.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

This Superfine Taiwan Qing Xiang Dong Ding Oolong Tea from Teavivre is absolutely lovely!  It’s so sweet and lush, with a creamy mouthfeel and an intriguing flavor that has exotic floral notes as well as hints of fruit. I’m enjoying the complexity and the soft texture.

I brewed this Oolong in my gaiwan.  First I did a quick “rinse” or awakening of the tea leaves, by steeping them in hot water for 15 seconds and then straining off and discarding the liquid.  Then I steeped the first infusion for 1 minute (I meant to infuse it for 45 seconds, but I got distracted and missed the 45 second mark, so it steeped for a full 60 seconds), and the second infusion for 1 minute 15 seconds.  I poured both of these infusions into the same cup.  Subsequent infusions were prepared the same way.

The first cup was lighter in texture than those that followed, but, it still possessed a pleasantly creamy mouthfeel.  It is so silky and smooth.  I taste notes of peach, hints of vegetation (just a slight “grassiness” in the background), and a overtone of floral notes.  There is a faint astringency that is most noticeable at the very end of the sip.  I start to notice a slightly dry sensation.

The second cup was my favorite, and this seems to be typical of my Oolong experiences.  It seems that I always love the second cup best.  It felt soft and smooth to the palate, and it had a flavor that was both floral and fruity.  The vegetative notes have emerged slightly and they added an interesting contrast to the sweet fruit and floral tones.

In subsequent infusions, the flavors became more of a harmonious taste.  The flavor remained sweet, and I started to notice an almost “honey-esque” note in the third and forth cups.

I enjoyed my afternoon spent with this Dong Ding from Teavivre.  An excellent choice for the Oolong enthusiast!