Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Peony Tea S
Tea Description:
In spite of its curious sounding name in English, the Dong Ding Oolong is one of the most well-known and beloved teas from Taiwan. It’s strong rich flavor and lingering aftertaste has enchanted countless drinkers across the generations.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
The more acquainted I become with Peony Tea S, the more impressed I become. This is a company that is dedicated to delivering the very best teas … and this Dong Ding is proof of it. While Dong Ding is one of the Oolong types that I have a little less experience with (I’m much more familiar with Tie Guan Yin and Ali Shan, for example), of the few Dong Ding Oolongs that I’ve tried, this is certainly right up there with the very best! It is so delicious, my mouth actually seems to water in between sips as my taste buds anticipate the flavor of it.
What I noticed first with this Dong Ding was it’s fruity character. It has a strong fruit-like presence, with tastes that are reminiscent of sun-dried fruit such as a dried plum or possibly a raisin. It has that sugary sweetness of the dried fruit … and then I notice a more caramelized kind of taste to it … like raisins that have been reconstituted and then cooked back down into a sweet, caramel-y sauce.
There is very little floral note here – oh… there’s some, certainly. I notice a certain amount of floral tones in just about every “green” Oolong I encounter, but, the floral tones seem to be washed over by the sweetness of the fruit. In the background, I notice a hint of nutty flavor that begins to develop.
Also in the background, I notice the faintest vegetative note – almost like it’s tempt the palate into a game of hide and seek (“try and find me!”) and along with it is a savory quality. Not quite sour … not quite. Not at all bitter. Very smooth, sweet and relaxing to sip, but all the while, it keeps my taste buds guessing with its complex character.
This Dong Ding is truly memorable – one of the best I’ve tried. Sweet and caramel-y; those are the flavors that stand out the most to me. Some astringency, a slight dry sensation toward the tail, leading into the aftertaste that is gently sweet.
Taiwan Green Style Dong Ding Tea from Fong Mong Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Fong Mong Tea on eBay
Tea Description:
The hand-plucked leaves of Dong Ding Oolong are grown in the Dong Ding region of Taiwan at the elevation of 740 meters. At this elevation, the leaves absorb moisture from the surrounding fog and clouds every morning and afternoon which is ideal for Oolong plants. Due to the unique geographic location and stringent selection of leaves, this is the finest Dong Ding Oolong from the Dong Ding estate.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is a fabulous Dong Ding … it is sweet with strong fruity notes. Usually with a greener style Oolong like this, I expect a strong floral note, and while there are some flowery tones to this cup, I taste more fruit than flower. Very nice.
The fruit tones taste somewhere between peach and plum. It is pleasantly sweet with hints of sour. There is a nice roasted note to the background, reminding me a bit of toasted grain. The floral note is subtle and develops as I continue to sip. The astringency toward the end is slightly dry and leaves the palate feeling clean. There are some crisp, delicate vegetative notes as well.
The first couple of infusions start out very light – touching on all of the flavors I mentioned. With subsequent infusions, I notice the vegetative tones emerging more, and the floral notes becoming more distinctive. The fruity notes of the first few infusions begin to subside, and a savory bitter tone starts to reveal itself, offering contrast to the sweet flavors of this cup.
The final infusions (I steeped this tea six times) were much more vegetative and floral than the first infusions, but they were still very tasty. I do think I preferred the fruity notes of the first couple of infusions, but, overall, it was a very pleasing experience from start to finish, and the transitions of this tea are fascinating to explore.
Taiwan High Mountain Oolong Tea from Bird Pick Tea & Herb
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Bird Pick Tea & Herb
Tea Description:
High Mountain Oolong Tea is synonymous with the finest Oolong teas in the world. They are grown at high elevations in Taiwan, which has a unique environment due to its geographical location, mountainous terrain, and subtropical climate. The result is a greater quality tea. Also known as Wu-long Tea, this semi-oxidized tea is commonly brewed strong and is known to help metabolism.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I’ve not had the opportunity to try a lot of Bird Pick Tea & Herb’s teas, but the ones that I have tried, I’ve been very impressed with and I can say without hesitation have been among some of the very best that I’ve tasted. This Taiwan High Mountain Oolong is no exception.
This is exquisite! The flavor is sweet and creamy, but not in a similar way to the creamy, buttery and/or milky notes that I’ve experienced from other green Oolongs. This is a bit like sweet cream, yes, but, it doesn’t ever feel like it’s going to overwhelm the palate the way so many milk Oolong teas can. It finishes so softly, so cleanly. I get that sweet, creamy taste but without feeling like it’s building up on my tongue.
There is a lovely fruit note here as well, as though the sweet cream had been sweetened with fruit. Plum, perhaps? But a bit sweeter … like the sweetness of the plum without the tartness.
And of course there are some floral notes – but again, the floral tones are different here. They aren’t sharp – just smooth and sweet. Like a flower from a dream: sweet, soft and gentle. Nothing distinct or rudimentary, instead, this is like a billowy cloud of flowers floating off in the distance.
Another lovely and unique tea experience from Bird Pick Tea & Herb. I love this!
Sun-Link-Sea Oolong Tea from Fong Mong Tea
Leaf Type:
Oolong
Where to Buy:
Fong Mong Tea on Ebay Tea
Description:
Located between Xitou and Ali Mountain in central Taiwan – Nantou County, Sun-Link-Sea is famous for its amazing “sun links sea” scenery. Situated at an altitude of approximately 1600 – 1800 meters, Sun-Link-Sea has an average temperature of 20 degree Celsius all year long. Sun-Link-Sea tea tree mountains, not as high as other high-mountain tea tree ones though, with their distinctive geographic environment, gestate another different fragrance and taste which is another characteristic fine tea of Taiwan high-mountain teas.
Tasters Review:
I have been doing some real soul searching lately! And in conjunction with my favorite time of the year – SUMMER – this tea has certainly helped me along my journey! I LOVE Sun and with a name like Sun and Sea – I don’t think you could go wrong! This is a beautiful named tea for a beautiful tasting loose leaf!
It’s incredibly refreshing and hydrating! It makes your mouth water! It’s near ‘milky’ but has a bit of sugar snap peas type taste in the end-sip! It’s lovely! It’s a great sipping tea or a gorgeous gulping tea! It’s might fine hot or cold! It’s a pure delight!
Taiwan Pou Chong from Fong Mong Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Pouchong
Where to Buy: Fong Mong Tea on eBay
Tea Description:
Lightly fermented and also lightly baked, Pou Chong Oolong Tea preserves the most freshness than any other Oolong teas. Fresh tea leaves contain a large number of beneficial elements to human body. Pou Chong Oolong Tea is produced under the most original tea-making procedure, reserving the maximum and most natural fresh nutritions, without any additives, which you can absorb the most essence of the nature, and is also the finest companion to leisure life and health.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
It’s been a while since I’ve had a Pouchong, and it is one of those teas that … every time I do have it … I find myself wondering why it has been so long for me to revisit it. It is so delightful, similar and yet unlike other Oolong teas. And this Pou Chong from Fong Mong Tea is absolutely amazing.
There are those who might argue with my choice to distinguish Pouchong tea in its own category, separate from other Oolong, but there is a reason that I do so. I find Pouchong to be somewhere between green tea and other green Oolong teas. It is not quite an Oolong … but not quite a green tea. It is … a Pouchong. It’s lighter than a typical Oolong, but still replete in sweet, creamy goodness. It has lovely green tones that fall somewhere between sweet grass and mild steamed vegetables, lightly seasoned with melted butter.
With the first two infusions, I found myself enchanted by the sweet, creamy taste while the greenery seemed to peek through, hinting at a more vegetative taste to come in future infusions. The second cup (infusions three and four) delivered the promised vegetative tones without coming off as a bitter grassy taste, instead, it was more like a sweet steamed vegetable complete with a soupy broth. I also noticed a floral tone starting to emerge – is that orchid? or perhaps honeysuckle?
With the third cup, the flavor became slightly more savory, with much of the creaminess having tapered off by this point. It is still remarkably smooth, but in a slightly different way than the first cup. Whereas the first cup was smooth because of the sweet creamy notes, the smoothness now comes from the uniting of flavors – the floral tones are less sharp, the vegetal tones are softer, this cup is more relaxed and soothing.
Overall, I found this to be a really enjoyable Pouchong. One that is really worth exploring – and Fong Mong Tea has prices that makes the exploration affordable!