Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Tea Mania
Tea Description:
Rice tea is a specialty of Northern Thailand. The tea is similar in taste to Genmaicha but is produced fundamentally different. Genmaicha is made by steamed green tea which is enriched with roasted rice. Originally, this was done to stretch the expensive green tea. Nowadays, this days Genmaicha is a popular specialty in itself.
In contrary, for our rice tea we use is green tea from Doi Mae Salong which is enriched with a wild-growing Thai herb that resembles the taste of jasmine rice. The green tea itself is Chinese-style roasted and then rolled into beads like Oolong. The tea can be infused several times and keeps the typical rice aroma till the end.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Wow! This Rice Fragrance Santikhiri Green Tea from Tea Mania is a really unique tasting tea! Yes, it is quite similar to Genmaicha, although I can taste differences between the two.
Perhaps the biggest difference to me is that this tea has a softer flavor. Genmaicha tends to have a more “roasty-toasty” kind of flavor, owing to the popped rice, perhaps? Sure, I still taste hints of a toasty note here, but, this tastes more like a sweet rice. It kind of reminds me of the cereal that I make of left-over rice.
After I’ve made a batch of rice, there is usually a little bit left over, and rather than allow that to go to waste, I save it and then reheat it. First I “rehydrate” Craisins with a little bit of water, and zap it in the microwave for a couple of minutes until it’s hot and the Craisins have absorbed most of the water. Then I add the left-over rice and reheat the rice. The remaining water that hasn’t been absorbed by the dried cranberries helps hydrate the rice. Then I add a little bit of milk and cinnamon. It’s quite yummy, reminiscent of rice pudding but easier to make!
That’s what this tea tastes like, except that I don’t taste any Craisin or cinnamon flavor! But I taste the sweet rice notes and it’s quite delicious.
I taste subtle vegetative notes from the green tea – which has been wound into little pellets resembling a green Oolong. In fact, had I not known that this was a green tea, the appearance of the dry leaf would lead me to identify this as an Oolong tea. The vegetative notes are quite delicate here, and if you are one who tends to shy away from green teas because you don’t care for that “green” flavor, I do believe you would find this tea to be agreeable.
I also taste distant jasmine notes which further enhance the rice flavor. Such a sweet and unique tea. It really is AMAZING. I’d recommend this to all tea lovers, if for no other reason than because it is truly exceptional. I don’t think I’ve ever tasted a tea quite like it, and I’m really glad that I got the opportunity to try this!
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.
Oolong # 17 Jade Pearls First Flush from Tea Mania
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Tea Mania
Tea Description:
Oolong # 17 Jade Pearls First Flush is picked by hand and rolled. It’s well known for its distinctive flavor and fragrance notes: a little bit orchid and a hint of lily of the valley. Oolong # 17 Jade Pearls First Flush is only picked in the winter. The slow growth in the winter helps to develop the complex flavors.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Oh … NICE! This is a truly LOVELY Oolong from Tea Mania! The second tea that I’ve tried from this company, This Oolong #17 Jade Pearls First Flush is solidifying my opinion of this company which is – quite simply: they offer great teas!
This Oolong has a lovely floral quality to it – it is both flowery in aroma and in taste. I taste notes of orchid and hints of honey that evoke thoughts of honeysuckle. It’s a very gentle tasting tea … and while some floral tasting Oolong teas can come across as sharp, that’s not the case with this tea. It has a very subtle, soft approach, and it’s smooth from start to finish. Very little astringency.
The texture is also smooth and soft, and it has a delicate broth-y character to it – think of a comforting bowl of chicken broth when you’re feeling under the weather … that’s the kind of texture I get from this tea: soft, warm, comforting.
And because this is a top-quality Oolong, I was able to get a whole lot of infusions out of one measurement of leaves … this is the kind of tea that you want to spend all afternoon with, just allowing the teas to slowly unfurl as you enjoy the soothing liquid they produce. I found that the flavors became stronger with the third and fourth infusions, and then by infusions number five and six, I noticed that the flavors seemed to become more unified and seamless. Every new cup of tea became a new adventure … each cup lovely and delicious … but presenting itself in a new way for my palate to explore it’s complexity.
Really, this is a top-notch tea. If you like floral Oolong teas … this one should be at the top of your MUST TRY list!
Oolong Black Pearls from Tea Mania
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!