Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Red Leaf Tea
Product Description:
Oolong tea is a perfect balance of oxidation between black and green tea that produces a strong cup of tea that includes a sweet aftertaste in the mouth. This take on the traditional Earl Grey tea combines premium loose leaf Fermosa oolong tea with bergamot orange for a new twist on the classic. With the addition of Jasmine flowers to balance out the blend this is a nice taste alternative to the black tea based versions of Earl Grey. This smooth but yet intense flavor makes Oolong Earl Grey a real hit with tea lovers of all kinds.
Taster’s Review:
Red Leaf Tea has the most extensive collection of Earl Grey teas that I’ve ever seen. And as an Earl Grey aficionado, that makes me very happy … and when I browse their website, I find myself to be a bit like a kid in the candy store: not sure where to begin, because I want to try everything!
This Earl Grey offering combines the enticing flavor and aroma of the bergamot orange with Formosa Oolong. I love Formosa Oolong teas (my first Oolong was a Formosa, and it will always hold a special place in my heart), so I was fairly certain I’d love this Oolong Earl Grey.
And I do!
That being said, this IS quite different from a typical Earl Grey, starting with the Formosa Oolong base. As Formosa Oolong is a bit lighter in flavor than a typical black tea, this Earl Grey has a much lighter flavor to it. I would describe it as diaphanous, as it doesn’t possess the same strong, solid background of black tea flavor that one might be used to when drinking an Earl Grey; instead, it is more of a delicate taste. The mouthfeel is smoother and there is less astringency too.
Something else that is unusual about this tea is that the fruit notes taste different. Yes, it still tastes like bergamot orange, but there is a little more to it, and then I realized … it tastes like peach with the citrus. And that makes sense, since Oolong tea (especially the Formosa varieties) have that fuzzy peach taste to them. The combination of fruit-y notes here is really quite delicious.
The bergamot itself is a fine quality bergamot, with notes of tangy citrus. It isn’t overdone in this blend, and it doesn’t taste off in any way. It tastes very bright… perhaps even brighter than in a typical black Earl Grey because of the lightness of the Oolong. The jasmine notes are subtle; it is just enough jasmine to enhance without the cup tasting soapy.
A well-balanced blend, and an overall AMAZING tea from Red Leaf Tea! I recommend this to all Earl Grey enthusiasts out there!
Strawberry Oolong from Butiki Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Butiki Teas
Product Description:
Strawberry Oolong is a high altitude Taiwanese tea that has a refreshingly sweet and natural flavor. Distinct floral and strawberry notes are present in this smooth bodied tea. Add some brown crystal sugar for a desert-like treat or sip it plain for a natural flavor. Strawberry Oolong is good for multiple infusions.
Taster’s Review:
This is an excellent strawberry tea. So sweet and berry-licious!
The strawberry flavor is sweet and has very little of that tart-berry flavor that is often associated with strawberry teas. This is a sweet RIPE strawberry flavor. There is only a hint of the berry tingle lingering in the finish. Very little astringency, just delicious strawberry flavor. YUM!
The Oolong is a creamy smooth Oolong with a rich, buttery taste to it. There is some vegetative taste to the Oolong as well, and it works very well with the strawberry notes. There is a certain floral quality that gives this a very spring-time kind of feel. Like the first ripe strawberries of spring – the best strawberries of the season!
If you’re a fan of strawberry teas, you should really give this one a try. It may just become your new favorite.
Hong Yu (Red Jade) Taiwanese Black Tea from Zi Chun Tea Co
Tea Type: Black Tea
Where To Buy: Zi Chun Tea Co
Product Description:
A high quality organic black tea – this unique tea was developed & refined by the Taiwan tea research station. It is a cross between an Assam strain from Burma & a local wild strain. A truly great tea.
A noticeable cinnamon aroma and carries a subtle, but pleasant mint flavor.
Tasters Review:
WOW! Just…WOW! This is SO amazing on SO many levels! This is a mighty fine Black Tea, right here, folks!
Hong Yu (Red Jade) Taiwanese Black Tea from Zi Chun smells a little like tomato soup and/or tomato bread…I LOVE the aroma! The taste is toasty, creamy, malty, a mellow black tea, meets a hint of cherry tomato type undertone but then changes up and evens out.
By the after taste I can find that mint note the description says lingers…it’s so amazingly different I can’t NOT like this one! I would HIGHLY recommend this tea to ANYONE!
Dong Ding Cui Yu Oolong – Competition Grade IV from Life in Teacup
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Life in Teacup
Product Description:
Production Region: Nantou County, Taiwan
Style: Traditional medium roast
Taster’s Review:
I love teas like this – ones that are full of mystery and intrigue.
The mystery begins with its welcoming aroma. It is a lightly roasted scent with hints of a floral quality. It’s very intriguing; beckoning me to sip.
The sip starts out with a light roasty-toasty taste. What is so unique about this particular “roasty-toasty” Oolong is that that toasted flavor is delicate and doesn’t overwhelm the cup. Instead, it is so light that it keeps me curious – did I just taste that? And this curiosity keeps me sipping.
There is also a sweet vegetative taste to this Oolong that slowly evolves into more of a floral note. Yet another subtle tone that keeps me wondering.
This particular Competition Grade appears to no longer be available on the Life in Teacup website, however, there are similar Oolongs that are available, and I highly recommend getting some before they sell out!
I prefer this tea hot, but it is alright iced too. I have never been less than impressed with the teas I’ve received from Life in Teacup. Their teas are always of utmost quality, and this tea is no exception. This tea is delightful!
Taiwan Wuyi Oolong Year 2006 from Life in Teacup
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Life in Teacup
Product Description:
Production Year: 2006
Production Season: Spring
Production Region: Nantou County, Taiwan
Style: Traditional heavy roast
Taster’s Review:
The aroma of the dry leaf is very heavily roasted with charcoal-ish undertones. The liquor is significantly softer in fragrance. Those notes are still there, they are just much more delicate.
The flavor is remarkably gentle compared to the strong scent of the dry leaf. There is very pleasing roasty-toasty flavor to this tea, and a sweetness that ties into that toasted flavor.
The mouthfeel is quite soft and smooth, I would compare it to what liquid silk might feel like on the palate. The mouthfeel does not linger, however, because there is a light astringency that cleanses the palate, leaving only a sweet roasted flavor that lingers in the aftertaste.
I would describe the overall cup as a masculine one. There is a woody undertone, giving this a very outdoorsy, rustic kind of appeal. With Father’s Day just around the corner, this would be an excellent gift for the tea-drinking man in your life!