Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Shanti Tea
Tea Description:
This tea blend features the lively taste of a bright green oolong with spring flavours including citrus, berries and a hint of fennel
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This Spring Fever Oolong Blend from Shanti Tea is a lovely celebration of spring in a teacup. I have often said that my favorite season is autumn because I prefer the cooler weather (I find that hot teas just seem to taste better when it’s chilly outside), but after as many cold, wet days as we’ve had here in the Pacific Northwest (NorthWET) lately, I find myself longing for a little warmer weather. And the bright, sunny flavors in this tea seem to be expressing those desires for me.
The Oolong is smooth and silky, with a light buttery texture and a sweet, floral tone. The citrus and berry flavors complement the Oolong base nicely. The citrus brightens the cup with its sunny flavor, and the berry tastes sweet with just a hint of tart. The osmanthus enhances the natural peach-y notes of the Oolong, and I can taste that in the background too.
There’s a really lovely, warm undertone of fennel. It’s snappy and spicy but it doesn’t overpower the cup, instead, it offers a gently warm, spiced flavor that is pleasantly understated. The medley of flavors simply works. It’s a little warm and spicy, it’s a little sweet and juicy from the fruit notes, it’s soft and buttery from the Oolong with notes of flower in the distance. It’s a really beautiful harmony of complex notes.
And because this is an Oolong, that means that it’s good for at least a couple of infusions (if not more!) The second infusion was creamier than the first, the buttery notes of the Oolong are really coming through at this point. The fruit notes are more melded now, tasting like a hybrid fruit of citrus and berry rather than distinct, individual fruits. The fennel is not as pronounced in this cup, the warmth and licorice-y sweetness still lingers in the background but it’s a very soft flavor.
The third infusion proved to be still quite flavorful. I’m surprised that I’m still experiencing strong fruit notes of citrus and berry. As in the second cup, these two flavors are melded together to taste like a citrus-y berry fruit, but the fruit notes are still going strong. The Oolong is soft and smooth, not quite as creamy as the second but still offers a silky, luxurious texture. The fennel is more of an afterthought now, offering some warm background notes but it’s no longer an obvious note.
Overall, this was a very lovely flavored Oolong. Usually, an Oolong is quite delicious, flavorful and complex on its own (without the flavoring), but I liked the dimension the flavors added to this Spring Fever Oolong! Two thumbs up.
Oolong Osmanthus Jade Pearls from Tea Mania
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Tea Mania
Tea Description:
This Oolong from Doi Mae Salong is a Oolong # 17 Jade Pearls which was flavored with the Osmanthus flower. The sweet, honey-like aroma of Osmanthus flower harmonizes wonderfully with the mild flavor of the Oolong # 17 Jade Pearls. The beautiful fragrance of Osmanthus complements the mild flavor without masking the taste of Oolong. Due to the intense floral aroma and its honey-sweetness, the osmanthus flower is often used in Chinese desserts.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Having previously reviewed Tea Mania’s Oolong #17 Jade Pearls and enjoying that tea, I was pretty confident that I’d love this one – Not only do I like the base of this Oolong Osmanthus Jade Pearls from Tea Mania, but, I also love Osmanthus and the flavor that the flower imparts on Oolong teas.
And I am really enjoying this tea. The Osmanthus notes in this particular tea are a little different from some other Osmanthus Oolong teas that I’ve tasted, in that I taste a little less of the “peach-like” notes of the Osmanthus (although I do taste those notes too), and more of a honey-esque tone that is almost pollen-y, it’s so honey-sweet!
I think that this may be due in part to the dry leaf, which has quite a bit of “powder” from the Osmanthus flower, and it kind of looks like the pollen from the flower. But that’s not a bad thing in this reviewer’s estimation, because I’m enjoying the sweetness from the Osmanthus and how those honey-like tones meld so beautifully with the floral notes. It’s like a flower garden in the early spring … right in my teacup!
But let us not overlook the Jade Pearls – because those are not at all overpowered by the Osmanthus. There is a really delicious balance going on here. It’s sweet, lush, and slightly vegetative. The natural floral notes of the Oolong are enhanced by the Osmanthus flowers. There are some buttery notes to this as well, and I think that Osmanthus helps bring that out too, because I don’t recall as much a buttery flavor in the pure version of the Jade Pearls. The Osmanthus and the Jade Pearls work together in a really harmonious way to create a very pleasing flavor.
My first cup (infusions 1 & 2) was very smooth and buttery, with a strong pollen-y, honey-nectar type flavor that was a pure joy to sip. My second cup (infusions 3 & 4) became a little more focused, the flavors were less “fuzzy” and soft, and while this cup is different from the first, it was no less delicious! I like being able to now taste the notes of peach a little more distinctly, as well as the floral tones which are so beautiful. My third cup (infusions 5 & 6) was a little softer in flavor than the second cup, but still very enjoyable. The tea is a little less creamy and buttery now, and a little more focused on the fruit and floral tones.
This is a really good Osmanthus Oolong. If you are an Oolong enthusiast and haven’t yet tasted the joy of Osmanthus Oolong tea, well, why not? You’re missing out, and this one from Tea Mania is a really good place to start exploring Osmanthus Oolong and how much the Osmanthus flower brings to a cup of tea.
Osmanthus Oolong Tea from Driftwood Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Driftwood Tea
Tea Description:
Osmanthus Oolong combines high quality Jin Xuan variety loose leaf tea with fresh osmanthus flowers to produce a most spectacular tea. Handmade and scented using only natural methods this is an example of an aromatic tea that tastes as good as it smells.
Learn more about this Oolong tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve tried a few Osmanthus Oolong teas … but I think that this one from Driftwood Tea might just be the best one I’ve tried thus far! It is sweet, creamy and absolutely DREAMY!
The dry leaf is very aromatic, and just opening the pouch fills the nostrils with a delightful fragrance that is part fresh cream, part flower, and part sweet fruit! Once brewed, the tea smells sweet, with floral notes and a scent that reminds me vaguely of a milky Oolong. The fruity aroma is less apparent in the brewed tea than it is with the dry leaf.
The flavor … oh the flavor is amazing. Ahh-MAZ-ing! It is sweet but not cloying. No bitterness whatsoever. Smooth and supple mouthfeel, with a slight astringency toward the finish. The aftertaste, I taste a floral note, but during the sip, I taste mostly fruit and cream, with mere hints of flower. It’s very much like peaches and cream, and yes, I find myself in agreement with my sister Azzrian, there is a similarity to White Rabbit candies. Imagine those candies with a sweet peach … you would have what I’m tasting here.
But what I love is that even though this tea tastes of candy and sweet, luscious fruit, it doesn’t get sickly sweet on the palate. The faint astringent note at the tail cleanses the palate … so the aftertaste doesn’t taste overly sweet, and my mouth feels ready for another sip!
This tea is pure enjoyment … something that I could easily drink on a regular basis … YES please! An absolute pleasure to sip! And be sure to take this one through its infusions … I got six very flavorful infusions from one measurement of leaves.
Floral Focus Oolong Blend from Bird’s Eye Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Bird’s Eye Tea
Tea Description:
Ingredients: jade oolong, osmanthus flowers, and codonopsis
This is a really special tea and I am really excited to give it to you. Osmanthus flowers have a scent and flavor unlike any other that perfectly compliments the slightly floral nature of jade oolong. This jade oolong comes from the Nantou region of Taiwan, the farm is high up in the mountains. It was harvested in the spring and after light oxidation leaves were dried and rolled by hand. Codonopsis (dang shen) is referred to as “poor man’s ginseng” in many parts of China. It’s effects are milder than ginseng and it is much less expensive. This is a great herb for folks with mental fatigue, slow digestion, and poor immune function. It also increases milk production in nursing mothers. As with most adaptogens, it reduces stress, is anti-inflammatory, and also boosts mental and physical energy.
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn more about subscribing to Bird’s Eye Tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Photo from Wikipedia
Click on the pic to go there
Wowza! I’m really liking this Floral Focus Oolong Blend from Bird’s Eye Tea. I don’t always fancy flowers added to my Oolong teas only because Oolong teas tend to already have a very floral attitude to them. Then again, I do like Oolong teas that have been scented with magnolia and jasmine … and even osmanthus as this one has been. I guess what I wasn’t so sure about was the Codonopsis.
But, I like the way everything comes together in this cup. The natural floral qualities of the Oolong are accented nicely by the osmanthus and the codonopsis, but the other characteristics of the Oolong are not overwhelmed. I can taste the lovely creamy notes of the Jade Oolong. It tastes sweet and feels really soft and smooth to the palate.
The Oolong also has a slight vegetative note that seems to meld seamlessly with the floral tones … like they were made for one another. The osmanthus also brings out some of the natural peach-like tones of the Oolong. The overall taste is strongly floral … it tastes sharp without tasting soap-ish or perfume-y, with sweet fruit notes and a creamy overtone.
Another very enjoyable – and unique! – blend form Bird’s Eye Teas.
Medium Roast Osmanthus Oolong from The Mountain Tea Company
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: The Mountain Tea Company
Tea Description:
Our Medium Roast Osmanthus Oolong has a delightful taste of caramel and osmanthus with hints of coffee and cacao.
Many of the roasted oolongs you’ll find today are ‘qing xiang’ or ‘light fragrance’ style, popularized by Taiwanese tea makers, which favors a light, floral aroma. This oolong was roasted in-house by our very own tea master; it’s an homage to the traditional style of tea making. To develop a deep, rich character, we roasted this tea over the course of 9 days, for a total of 144 hours. This slow roasting gradually caramelizes the natural sugars within the tea and imparts body and layers of complexity.
Water: 6 oz.; 200-212°F
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Upon sipping Medium Roast Osmanthus Oolong from The Mountain Tea Company I find it to be surprisingly lighter than I had anticipated. Keep in mind however I love oolong, the darker the better, so maybe its just lighter on my palate.
There are woodsy notes, and even some notes that lean toward a vegetal flavor slightly, but I am not picking up on the sweetness of the osmanthus. I do get the floral aspect of the osmanthus for sure which is lovely, fresh, and delightful. I was hoping for the sweetness from it however.
This is a medium roast oolong although it may be too dark for some and too light for others I find it to be quite pleasing even if I am slightly disappointed that it does not taste the way I had anticipated it to.
What is cool about The Mountain Tea Company is they list their oolongs by roast on their website which I find quite handy when needing to restock a specific type.
Now I am a huge fan of The Mountain Tea Company, I repeat, huge fan, but this is not my favorite tea from them. That is not to say it is a bad tea whatsoever! It is quite nice especially if you love floral notes in your oolong. Its not as sweet as some of their teas, nor as complex in my opinion, but what it does deliver it delivers well.
I really love the lingering after taste of this tea and its refreshing qualities. While it has an interesting dryness on the roof of the mouth I find my mouth really watering in anticipation of the next sip. The lingering aftertaste is highly floral.
According to Wikipedia:
Traditional Chinese Medicine claims that drinking osmanthus tea improves complexion and helps rid the body of excess nitric oxide, a compound that is linked to the formation of cancer, diabetes and renal disease.
So drink up friends, drink up!
