Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: The Rabbit Hole
Tea Description:
Some say oolong tea aids weight loss. We just say it tastes great with a smooth, creamy and sweet finish. Great for satisfying a craving for something naughty.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve enjoyed most of the Milk Oolong teas that I’ve tried, but not all are created equal. Some tend to be too creamy and sweet to the point of being cloying, and tasting somewhat artificial.
This Milk Oolong from The Rabbit Hole, however, does not. This is a very good Milk Oolong. Yes, it’s sweet, and it’s creamy, but it doesn’t overwhelm the palate. There is a lightness to it that makes the creaminess taste natural and not contrived. It is incredibly smooth and sweet without tasting too sweet.
The aroma of the dry leaf is vegetal, reminding me of the smell of a fresh produce stand in the summer. That smell of leafy greens and ripe vegetables. It is fresh and lively.
That vegetal tone is in the flavor too, although it isn’t overly vegetative or grassy. These flavors meld with the creamy milk tones to provide a slight “creamed vegetable” kind of flavor with just a hint of butter in the mix.
A lovely Oolong from one of our favorite companies here at SororiTea Sisters: The Rabbit Hole!
Taiwan Jin Xuan Milk Oolong Tea from Teavivre
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Teavivre
Tea Description:
Teavivre’s Jin Xuan Milk Tea is another kind of fine classic Taiwan Oolong. It belongs to a category of tea often called “Milk Oolong”. However, this Jin Xuan Milk Oolong is special and unique because its milky aroma is natural, it is not manually added milk when process as other milk teas. The first three infusion of this tea will have obviously milky scent, whereas this scent will gradually reduce for the next cups.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Before tasting any tea … as I brew it, I find myself contemplating what a tea might taste like. Sometimes, I think it’s going to be fairly easy, because I may have already tasted a tea that I think was similar to it. For example, as I was steeping this tea in my gaiwan, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect from it. After all, this isn’t my first Milk Oolong.
But, even with my recollection of past tastings preparing my palate for what was to come, I found myself exclaiming “AWESOME!” after taking my first sip. I guess no amount of prep work can properly brace my palate for the deliciousness that is Milk Oolong … especially one of such exceptional quality like this one from Teavivre!
I’ve tried quite a few teas from Teavivre by now, and every time I try a new one, I am impressed. Their quality is second to none. And never has that statement been more true than with this Jin Xuan Milk Oolong.
The flavor is so sweet and creamy, and the texture has a silky smooth quality to complement that creamy taste. It feels like velvet as the tea glides over the palate! I taste a strong floral presence, but it melds beautifully with a delicious nutty tone and the creamy notes.
As mentioned in the description of this tea, the milky aroma is strongest in the first few infusions, and they begin to taper with subsequent infusions. I find that the milky aroma is stronger than the actual milky flavor with this tea, but I do taste hints of a warm milk kind of flavor in the background … especially with the first two infusions. In subsequent infusions, I find the creamy milk flavor begin to emerge a little more.
The reason this milk Oolong has a “softer” milk taste is that it isn’t artificially flavored or enhanced the way that some milk Oolong teas are. The flavors here are all natural, derived from its surroundings rather than by flavor manipulation.
In subsequent infusions, I find that the floral notes subside somewhat, creating a smoother flavor that is at once nutty, a little milky, creamy, and with a subtle floral tone. It is incredibly smooth and there is virtually no astringency to this cup. Just delicious Oolong enjoyment from start to finish!
This is not only a must try for Oolong enthusiasts, but I think it should be on every tea drinker’s must try list! It’s incredible!
Jinxuan (Milk Oolong) from Zi Chun Tea Co.
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Zi Chun Tea Co.
Tea Description:
This is a lightly roasted, organic, hand picked oolong. This 100% natural tea has a subtle milk aroma & taste, unique to the jinxuan varietal tea pant, but contain no essence or flavoring.
This particular tea leaf was produced by farmers who were award 3rd place in Taiwan’s oolong tra category. It is an MOA organic certificated tea.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
As I’ve said before, I do love Oolong, but, I have to admit that milk Oolong is not my favorite. I know that it is many people’s favorite, but, I’d select an Ali Shan or even a magnolia Oolong over a milk Oolong. But that is not to say that I dislike milk Oolong, there are just other Oolong teas that I prefer.
That being said, this is a really wonderful milk Oolong from Zi Chun. It tastes sweet and creamy, with a hint of butter flavor and background flowery notes.
I infused this as I would normally steep an Oolong: using my gaiwan and short steeps. After a quick rinse, I combined the first two infusions into my teacup and found this cup to be sweet, creamy with mere hints of a floral background. The second cup (infusions three and four) was a bit less on the creamy side (it was still creamy but not so much on the heavy side this time), allowing for more of the delicious floral layers to express themselves.
The third cup was much smoother – not so much of a creamy smooth like the first cup, but, more of a smooth harmony of flavors with less intensity. I think the third cup was my favorite – I liked how everything came together on the palate!
I’ve only tried a couple of teas from Zi Chun thus far, but I’ve been very impressed with what I’ve tried! I like this!
Velvet Oolong from Tea Chai Té
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Tea Chai Té
Tea Description:
GREAT NEWS! This tea was a 1st Place Winner – Oregon’s First State Tea Competition – Sept. 2, 2011
Called a Taiwanese milk oolong, our Velvet Oolong has a wonderful aroma that is rich and buttery with subtle floral notes. Light and smooth brew.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is a lovely milk Oolong, so creamy and rich!
When I first opened the pouch, before reading anything about this tea, I knew it was a milk Oolong. It has that lovely, buttery scent to the dry leaf. I was excited when I realized it was a milk Oolong as I do enjoy them, and I don’t drink them often enough … at least, not often enough for my liking!
The flavor is sublime. It is sweet and even just a little tangy, tasting a bit like fresh cream with a drop or two of buttermilk added to it. It even has a thick, creamy texture (although it is certainly not as thick as fresh cream!)
The taste also presents hints of flower in the distance … orchid, maybe? Perhaps even a whisper of honeysuckle. With the subsequent infusions, I noticed that the cream and buttermilk combination became smoother and mellower while the floral tones emerged. It is still sweet and creamy, but I notice more distinct floral notes now.
A very interesting and complex cup of tea. I can see why this tea won the Oregon State Tea Competition in 2011. It is certainly worthy.
On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, 52Teas Sent to Me …
MERRY CHRISTMAS from the SororiTea Sisters!
These twelve days – well, really, this whole year! – has flown by.
I suppose I could get sappy and wistfully reminisce about the year that has past. Or perhaps I could get optimistic about the new year about to start. But why? This blog is about tea, not about life’s big questions and/or answers. To me, the question and answer all begin with tea!
I have been eagerly awaiting today because it would be the day to unveil the BIG surprise… the tea that was specially made for the 12th day! So without delay, let’s just get right into it, shall we?
MILK & COOKIES FLAVORED BLACK TEA
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Product Description:
Note: There isn’t a description available at the moment, so I will instead list the ingredients as shown on the label.
Ingredients: Black teas, organic cacao nibs, natural flavors
Taster’s Review:
When I first opened the package, I could smell chocolate. This brought a huge smile to my face. Then I read the label … Milk & Cookies? Wow! This sounds interesting!
I mean, no need to put out milk and cookies for Santa anymore, right? Just put out Milk & Cookies flavored tea!
My first sip, I felt it was missing something. So, I reached for some turbinado sugar and added a pinch. This helped, but it still didn’t taste like Milk and Cookies to me. It tasted like black tea with notes of chocolate.
Then, I let it cool a bit. Not completely cool, of course, but, just enough to where it’s drinkable. Now the flavors are beginning to pop! I definitely taste the cookies aspect of this, I can taste the pastry with hints of butter and I can taste the chocolate. I don’t taste much “milk” in this though… and I needed a splash of milk to not actually add a creamy element, but, I found that it brought out that creaminess.
I am finding that black tea blend that 52Teas uses is a bit harsh with these particular flavors. This might be better with a good, malty Assam, as the malty tones of the Assam would amplify the Milk & Cookies aspect a bit, I think.
Overall, it’s not a bad cup of tea. But, it certainly is not my favorite from 52Teas and it is a bit of a let down for me, because I had hoped for something amazing like last year’s Gingerbread Chai. (Yeah, I know, I’ve mentioned it a few times in the course of this 12 Days series, but, I liked it!)
And even though I’m not overly impressed with this offering, I was very happy to be able to revisit the other teas offered in this 12 Days collection, and I look forward to another great year of tea with 52Teas.