Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Tea Mania
Tea Description:
This Oolong originates from Doi Mae Salong and is also known as GABA Tea. This because of its high GABA. Oolong Black Pearls is a hand-picked and rolled Oolong # 12 which was oxidized 100%. Therefore, it’s a black tea too. But, the flavor isn’t bitter like some black tea. It’s more floral and honey-like. Quite comparable with a Darjeeling. The preparation is classic Oolong style: Rinse, first a short infusion, second infusion a bit longer, third infusion even longer, etc. Can also be infused cold as ice tea.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’m always excited to try teas from new-to-me companies, like this Oolong Black Pearls tea from Tea Mania. And what a delightful tea this is!
The tightly wound leaves look like a green Oolong (and like the picture above) but, they are much darker in color. I think that perhaps the website has the wrong photo linked for the tea … these leaves are much darker, reminiscent of a rich chocolate color. They are quite fragrant with lovely floral tones.
It is very flavorful … and I agree with the above description. The flavor is quite similar to a Darjeeling, but the body and texture is a bit thicker, more like an Oolong. There is no bitterness whatsoever, it is sweet … sweet like honey!
There are lovely floral notes to the flavor, but they are not as prolific as in a greener Oolong. This has more of a fruity note to it, reminiscent of a ripe, juicy apricot. For those who tend to shy away from the greener Oolong teas because of their strong floral essence, I think that you’ll find this Oolong to be more to your liking … it’s much more like fruit than it is like flower. There are still floral notes there, and I find them to be more pronounced if you slurp the cup to aerate the tea over the palate. I find these floral tones complement the fruit tones and they enhance the sweet honey notes as well.
There are subtle hints of earth to the flavor as well as slight woody notes. It’s really quite complex, with so many delicious layers of flavor to discover. A really wonderful Oolong – I’m so glad I got to try it – and it’s one I’m happy to recommend to all the Oolong enthusiasts out there!
Taiwan Li Shan High Mountain Oolong From Life in Teacup
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Life in Teacup
Tea Description:
Production Year – 2012
Production Season – Spring
Production Region – Taiwan, Taizhong County, Li Shan Range, Gu Mai Tea Farm, 1800-2200m
Style – Modern green style
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Yeah, I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – Li Shan/Ali Shan Oolong teas are among my favorite teas … in my top three! (#1 is Yellow Tea, and the Li Shan/Ali Shan Oolong teas would be #2 … and probably my favorite Earl Grey would be #3.) And THIS Taiwan High Mountain Oolong from Life in Teacup is one of the VERY best that I’ve ever tried of this type of Oolong.
I mean … Oh Wow! This is so delightful! Sweet, creamy, lush! Beautiful layers of flavor. The high notes are that of sweet cream … so smooth that it feels creamy as well as tastes it. Melding with that note of cream is the faintest hint of vanilla. Just beneath the creamy tones is a hint of exotic flower that develops as I continue to sip. Sweet honey-esque notes as well as a slight vegetative tone lie just under the floral tones. There are quiet notes of earth in the distance.
I love how smooth this tea is … no sharpness! There is a slight astringency that develops as I continue to sip, but it is so slight that unless I’m really focused on the nuances of the sip (which is something I need to do to write a review!) … the astringency can go unnoticed. There is nothing bitter whatsoever about this tea … it is so pleasurable to sip from start to finish.
Do yourself a favor and brew this tea in a gaiwan (or Yixing teapot) to get the most out of the leaves. I managed TEN very flavorful infusions … making this tea not only a wonderful treat for the palate, but also a very economical one!
If you like Ali Shan/Li Shan High Mountain Oolong Teas – this one is one you MUST try!
Green Tea Powder from Nuvola Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Nuvola Tea
Tea Description:
Nuvola Premium Green Tea is not only a treat to the eyes, but also is abundant in antioxidants Catechin and Vitamin C, which could help boosting the immune system.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
When I first received this sampling from Nuvola Tea, I thought it was Matcha. It says Green Tea Powder on the package, but, that usually means Matcha to me, so I was surprised when I visited the Nuvola Tea Website and saw that this was harvested in Taiwan. 
So now I realize that this is not “traditional” Matcha, since it was produced in Taiwan, and not Japan. But, since it *looks* like Matcha – being a green powder and all, I decided to prepare it the same way I would Matcha. I got out my chawan and chasen, and I whisked it with hot water until the liquid was jade green and frothy … and looking a lot like, well, like a bowl of Matcha.
It doesn’t taste quite the same as Matcha, certainly. Matcha tends to be a softer, buttery flavor, with a sweeter overtone. This has more sharpness to it, but, it is still quite tasty. It is more of a “bittersweet” kind of taste with notes of vegetation. It has a creamy texture, and it is quite smooth. It doesn’t taste or feel gritty. In that sense, it reminds me of Matcha … the smooth, thick mouthfeel. There is a light, tangy astringency to this … in fact, there is an almost “citrus-y” finish to this Green Tea Powder.
And I’m feeling much the same effects from this Green Tea Powder as I do from Matcha. That sort of energetic feeling that pumps through the veins after I drink a bowl of Matcha? Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about … I feel that same rush from this Green Tea Powder. It’s revitalizing!
This is certainly a lot more economical than most Matcha out there, so I’m thinking that this would be a great tea to use in smoothies and such. And it’s tasty on it’s own too – it tastes great hot or cold … try adding a couple of scoops to a bottle of water and giving it a good shake to incorporate. It’s a great way to enjoy green tea on the go!
2003 Reserve Four Seasons Oolong Tea from Butiki Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Butiki Teas
Tea Description:
Our aged oolong is sourced from the Dong Ding tea growing region of Nantou County in Taiwan and was harvested in the spring of 2003. The varietal is Si Ji Chuan also known as Four Season. Our aged oolong was crafted by blend master Chen Pei Wen and is re-roasted every 2-3 years to minimize moisture content. 2003 Reserve Four Season Oolong is a rich full-bodied silky tea. The charcoal-colored leaves of this smooth oolong produce notes of honey suckle, bark, and grass and has a natural sweetness with no astringency present. This tea is also low in caffeine.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
The aroma of the dry leaf of this 2003 Reserve Four Seasons Oolong Tea from Butiki Teas surprised me a little. Normally, when I smell an Oolong, I smell floral notes, or sometimes hints of vegetation or sometimes fruit tones. I didn’t smell any of these notes … instead, I could detect notes of earth and even a pipe tobacco-y kind of scent. My SororiTea Sister, Azzrian, described the scent as
reminiscent of a campfire, or an old library, slightly musty, with a hint of leather
and yeah … I get those comparisons as well. It definitely has an “old” kind of smell … like something I’d associate with a distinguished, elderly, well-read gentleman who smokes a pipe.
Given the hint of earth to the aroma, I expected this tea to have an almost pu-erh-ish kind of flavor to it, even though it’s an Oolong. And it does have a flavor that is vaguely similar to that of an earthy pu-erh. But it is also very Oolong-ish in many respects … like a dark, charcoal-roasted Oolong.
It is indeed earthy, but I do not find the earthy tones to be overwhelming or off-putting. I like the way these earthy tones mingle with the roasted notes, creating an almost “coffee-like” taste to me. It has a sweetness that reminds me of molasses. Very distant floral notes in the distance … these are almost overpowered by the strong roasted tones, but, if I focus on the flavors I can taste them. In the foreground, there are notes of leather, tobacco and oak. This is definitely a masculine kind of tea … very rugged and yet very distinguished.
I really enjoyed this tea … and I enjoyed taking it through its paces as it delivered many wonderful, delicious infusions. This is one tea that is definitely worth the time to get to know, especially if you’re one who appreciates a truly unique Oolong!
Taiwan Green Tea from Nuvola Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Nuvola Tea
Tea Description:
This tea is a collection of Premium Taiwan Green Tea. Mellow and refreshing in flavour with a delightful green colour, our premium Green tea is not only a treat to the eyes, but also is abundant in antioxidants Catechin and Vitamin C, which could help boosting the immune system.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
My first cup of this Taiwan Green Tea from Nuvola Tea was a very surprising cuppa! The flavor was so delicate and sweet! Mere hints of vegetation, mostly what I tasted was an almost candy-like sweetness with a soft mouthfeel and a very delicate quality to it. 
I had expected a stronger flavor from it, though, so I decided to see what would happen when I brew the leaves a second time, and this is where the flavor intensified for me. This cup brought forth the vegetative notes that I expected. The second cup proved to be broth-y in texture and taste (imagine a vegetable broth that was made from leafy greens), with a slight (barely there, but it’s there when you focus on the sip!) citrus-y tone that expresses itself toward the end of the sip. There is a light astringency toward the tail, and the aftertaste is delicate and sweet, reminiscent of that first cup that I so enjoyed.
I find the flavor to be very crisp and pure, much what I’d expect from a green tea, but that first cup is different enough from other greens to make this tea one that you want to TRY! I like that it’s sweet, and that the slight tangy citrus note contrasts with the sweetness just enough to enliven the palate. It’s a very refreshing cuppa!
Another EXCELLENT tea from Nuvola Tea. Definitely one of the best pure green teas I’ve had in a while from a company that continues to impress me with it’s fine quality teas!