Giddapahar Oolong 2nd Flush 2016 Darjeeling Exclusive from Lochan Tea Limited

There are 3 things I’m liking of this Giddapahar Oolong 2nd Flush 2016 Darjeeling Exclusive from Lochan Tea Limited before I even try a sip…that it’s a 2nd Flush Darjeeling, that it’s an Oolong, and that it’s from the Giddapahar Plantation.

Giddapahar Oolong 2nd Flush 2016 Darjeeling Exclusive from Lochan Tea Limited is like Autumn in a cup! It smells like sweet damp sticks that have been out on the forest floor. As I continue to sniff the infused tea I notice an additional aroma – perhaps stone fruit – such as apricot, maybe. Regardless it’s crisp and clean!

The color of Giddapahar Oolong 2nd Flush 2016 Darjeeling Exclusive from Lochan Tea Limited is pretty as well. It’s a light to medium shade of reddish-brown.

On to the TASTE of this tea… Giddapahar Oolong 2nd Flush 2016 Darjeeling Exclusive from Lochan Tea Limited…is REALLY wonderful! It has a VERY fresh, fruit, clean taste on the tongue. There is a bit of sweet woodsy notes that fade in and out on occasion as well. It’s like a light switch turning on and off with various layers of flavor happening. It’s an amazing tea experience that is for sure! The end sip on to the after taste I can make the connection to those Darjeeling highlights so many have come to know and love, too!

Giddapahar Oolong 2nd Flush 2016 Darjeeling Exclusive from Lochan Tea Limited is really something special! Something to be shared and discussed with others. Something to be treasured! Does that sound dramatic? Good…because Giddapahar Oolong 2nd Flush 2016 Darjeeling Exclusive from Lochan Tea Limited is just that type of tea.


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: Ooong
Where to Buy: Lochan Tea Limited
LochanLogoDescription:

This tea is currently not listed but please check below.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Nepal Pearl Oolong Tea from Wha-Cha

1__77398.1445210348.60.60Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy: Wha-Cha

Tea Description:

An incredibly rare and unusual oolong with a great taste of apricots and nectarine combined with a brilliant aroma. .

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

Alright. . .for anybody that has this tea in your stash and don’t want it. . .let me know! This tea is amazing! Amazing pearls of tea loving goodness! If you can’t tell, I’m quite smitten with this tea.

This gorgeous tea is a lovely pearl of oolong tea that gives you a satisfying sense of what good tea is supposed to be like. Each pearl is gorgeous and I loved watching the tea leaves uncurl in front of my eyes in my tea steeper. I used two balls because I want this tea to last as long as possible. I steeped and prepped this up per the instructions on the package.

Once the tea was all prepped and ready to try out, I took my first sip. A gorgeous sip of smooth, sweet, and slightly astringent delicious notes.  This is one of those teas that needs the contrast of the sweet and astringent  notes but the notes are incredibly soft and subtle. Almost like that sweet yet spicy or sweet but somehow sour notes in other foods. The two complimented each other so well.  Seriously, this tea is gorgeous from the very beginning.

The sweet notes are what made me just sigh with happiness. They resemble those of a stone fruit like an apricot. This is one of those teas that tastes exactly how it is described on a website. (And this is one of those teas you hoard for those days when you need some extra tea loving to get you thru the day. ) Those sweet notes of apricot just elevate the tea to a different level.

At one point, I had a meeting at work and came back expecting a cold bitter brew awaiting me and that wasn’t the case at all. I was greeted with a lovely cold oolong that just kept my afternoon going.

I’m now on infusion four and still the tea is giving. I just love it. From the moment I opened the package and saw the pearls to the moment when I first tried the tea, I was in love with this oolong.  One of the best teas I think I’ve tried so far this year. That’s how good it is!

Highly recommend this one!

 

Nepal Oolong from Simpson & Vail

nepaloolong_medTea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy: Simpson & Vail

Tea Description:

Located 6000 feet above sea level, in the misty hills of Pashupatinagar, Ilam, is this family owned Organic (EU) and ISO certified garden. The teas grown here are of some of the most interesting and spectacular teas that will tempt your taste buds into new levels of enjoyment. This garden is the first one in Nepal to use the technology, machinery and expertise available from Japan. The Aarubotay tea bushes are a combination of Japanese, Chinese and clonal varieties that produce the best of Nepalese teas. Try some today and, from the first smell of the dry leaf to the taste of the brewed tea, you will be convinced that this family has achieved success!

An enchanting Oolong experience! The dark brown, twisted, tippy leaves brew into a pale amber cup with mild, mellow, well-balanced flavors and delicate peach/apricot undertones. (Note: This crop was picked earlier in the year and is lighter tasting than the 2014 Oolong.)

Learn more about this tea here. 

Taster’s Review:

I am a huge fan of Simpson & Vail. Their teas are delicious, fresh, and always ones that you can rely on.   I had never tried any oolongs from them so I was excited to check out their oolong offerings.

This oolong was nothing less than exceptional. I brewed this up with fresh water at about 190 degrees or so for about 4 minutes. I sat and watched the gorgeous leaves swirl around in my steeper. I couldn’t wait to for the tea to finish brewing. The dry leaf had such a nice and refreshing note about them with a slight touch of being roasted.

And that is exactly what this tea tasted like! A slightly vegetal amazingly light and refreshing slightly roasted oolong. So many gorgeous flavors in each and every sip.  There was a stonefruit sweetness that I could pick up here and there, but it wasn’t a solid note throughout the tea. So well balanced and such a great tea to keep you company all day. I’m on my third infusion and am devouring this tea like crazy.

Such a great tea from such a great company. If you haven’t checked out Simpson & Vail, I would encourage you too. They are wonderful to shop with. I just love a tea company that provides amazing teas and amazing customer service!

 

Orchid Oolong from Conundrum Teas

Orchid OrchidOolongTea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy: Conundrum Teas

Tea Description:

This semi-balled oolong was processed with medium oxidation it has a roasted chestnut and honey flavor with a refreshing mint finish.  Balled Oolong’s are best enjoyed over multiple short infusions, as the ball unfurls throughout the steeps, different flavors are released along with the leaves.  The brewed tea has an intense yellow color and it smells like a bamboo forest filled with orchids.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

So far every tea that I have tried from Conundrum has been simply amazing. Their teas are high quality and take you on an tea infused adventure with every sip.  Recently I tried their Orchid Oolong and I have to say, the tea delivered on the flavors promised in the description!

Orchid Oolong is described as having a yellow color and a fragrance similar to a bamboo forest filled with orchids. I can’t say I know exactly what that smells like but it sounds amazing! The fragrance I was getting from this gorgeous dry leaf was one that I would compare to as being a roasted vegetal aroma with a twist of sweetness.

Brewed this up in my GROSCHE steeper  (I just love that steeper!) and prepped my water at 190 degrees or so. I allowed the tea to steep for about 4 minutes before placing the steeper on my mug for the tea to be released. I loved watching the tea leaves uncurl and unfurl while dancing around in the water and steeping. Such a fun sight!

I allowed the tea to cool for a moment and took a huge sip.  Oh my! This tea is just delicious.  Gorgeous and romantic while being a bit mysterious as well.  You have the lovely roasted tones as your backdrop for this tea while there is a sweetness towards the middle of the sip.  Towards the end you almost get a buttery note that reminded me of a green tea and a simply to die for floral note. I could sit here and drink this all day and I think I will.  This is just the first session with this tea. I can’t imagine what the flavor will transform into after a few more sittings.

 

Milky Oolong from ChaTale- A Kickstarter going on now!

milkyoolongTea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy: ChaTale

Tea Description:

This debonair drop has all the smooth buttery goodness of an oolong base with a slick creamy aftertaste. 

Support Cha Tea’s Kickstarter campaign here.

Taster’s Review:

I have to start off this review with a comment about the logo and packaging for these teas. They are fantastic! The logo is clean and they use colors that draw you in and are so very attractive.  It is the first thing I noticed about their teas.

ChaTale currently has an active kickstarter campaign running thru December 13. They originate out of the UK and seem to know what they are doing when it comes to tea.  ChaTale will be offering a monthly tea subscription box hoping to steer consumers away from the tea bag and more into loose leaf tea.  That alone makes me happy!

I couldn’t wait to dive into the box and see what fun teas await me.  The first one that caught my eye was the Milk Oolong.  I mean the description alone makes you drool!

Brewed this up like I do my oolongs with water at about 195 deg or so for around 4 minutes. The whole time the tea was steeping, gorgeous vanilla notes were wafting thru the air.  The fragrance almost reminds me of homemade sugar cookies. . . .  and who doesn’t love that smell?

Took my first sip and I am greeted with this amazingly smooth creamy flavor with just a hint of sweetness.  This tea is charming and cozy giving you that feeling that you just want to snuggle up with a good movie or a good book.  So very good and addicting! I’m loving the smooth flavor that delivers from beginning to end of each sip.  You couldn’t ask for a better oolong on a cold rainy day like it is here today.  Rich, creamy, and smooth with a sweetness that really just reminds you of home baked cookies. Yum! Delicious!

I think I need to go back this one on Kickstarter!