Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: thepuriTea
Tea Description:
Dan Cong Oolong is, perhaps, our best tea. It is handcrafted from the leaves of the famous Dan Cong tea bushes of Phoenix Mountain in Guangdong, China, and then well oxidized and roasted for a remarkably rich, nuanced aroma and flavor. Its dark, wiry leaves are highly aromatic. Open a package and you’ll immediately smell apricots, peaches and bittersweet cocoa powder. The clear, pale-golden brew has lively aromas of apricots, nectarine, firewood, dark chocolate, and toasted walnuts, pecans and hazelnuts. Its flavor is fantastically sweet and complex, with notes of fruit, honey, natural osmanthus flowers, wood and minerals. The aftertaste is phenomenally full, and it changes with each re-infusion of Dan Cong Oolong.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
My favorite Oolong tea is Ali Shan, but, I think that this one may narrow in to be a close second. The flavor is outstanding!
The leaves have been deeply oxidized as evidenced by their dark color. The dry leaf is wiry and long, and possesses an aroma with deep fruit, flower and earthy notes.
The flavor is intense. I have spoken with a few people on-line who have mentioned that they do not like Oolong because the flavor is so light, to these people, I say, try Dan Cong! This is not a delicate brew; it is so flavorful and complex.
The first thing I notice is a piquant fruit note that tastes of apricots and peaches. I taste the osmanthus flower, and its natural peach-like tones further accentuate the fruit tones of the tea. There is a lovely sweetness to this that reminds me of wildflower honey.
I can also taste the firewood as mentioned in the description with hints of smokiness, and a distinct sharpness that arrives mid-sip that evoked thoughts of firewood before I even having read the description.
I don’t know that I taste the individual nutty flavors that are mentioned in the description, but there is a nuttiness to the flavor profile. Toasty and delicious! I also taste hints of cocoa within the brew, but, not a strong sense of dark chocolate. More like a hint of cocoa intermingling with the toasted nut flavor.
One seriously fabulous Oolong. I highly recommend this to any tea drinker.
***Now through the end of February, you can receive $5 off your order with thepuriTea. Just enter in the code: lulu in the coupon field during check out to receive your discount! Savings + Great Tea = AWESOME!
Earl Grey from thepuriTea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: thepuriTea
Product Description:
The small, blue-black tealeaves of our Earl Grey are brimming with the bold, citrusy, sweet aroma of pure bergamot (citrus fruit) essence. A classic breakfast blend or afternoon tea, its deep garnet brew has a bold, zesty flavor that’s great alone, with a dash of sugar or a drop of milk, or alongside pastries, scones and cream, or petits fours. Our Earl Grey is supported by the complex flavors of its malty, chocolaty, earthy Fujianese black tea base, making it a far more complex brew than most Earl Grey teas out there. Whether you’re a new tea drinker or an Earl Grey aficionado, this Earl Grey is an excellent choice.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
It’s no secret that I love Earl Grey tea, but there are just two Earl Grey teas that I consider favorites. But now, I may have to make that three.
Yes, it’s true, I have just found a new favorite Earl Grey. This is amazing.
The black tea base is strong. Earthy and rich, this tea adds a great deal of depth and flavor to the cup that the average Earl Grey tea lacks. There are background notes of cocoa and malt. It is astringent but not bitter. It is absolutely delicious.
On its own, I think that the black tea base would make a great tea. But, this IS an Earl Grey tea, and it can’t be an Earl Grey tea without the bergamot. The bergamot oil used here is of excellent quality, as evidenced by its flavor. The citrus tones are tangy and bright, and the floral notes that so often grace an Earl Grey are less evident. I can still taste a hint of it – letting me know it’s a bergamot – but, it doesn’t come off as perfume-y. It is one of the smoothest tasting bergamot flavorings that I’ve encountered in the years that I’ve been enjoying Earl Grey.
My only complaint is that thepuriTea has difficulty keeping this one in stock. The stock was just recently replenished, so if you love Earl Grey, you should get this one NOW while it’s available! This one should be a MUST TRY on your list! It’s that good.
Oriental Beauty from thepuriTea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: thepuriTea
Product Description:
Originally developed to mimic the fruity notes of Darjeeling Second Flush, Oriental Beauty has since become a tea that stands tall on its own merit. Also known as Eastern Beauty, Bai Hao Oolong and White-Tipped Oolong, Oriental Beauty is a dark oxidation oolong with wiry leaves and the occasional fuzzy tea bud. Woodsy, spicy dry aromas evolve into an enchantingly sweet copper-colored brew. Aromas of fruit, flowers, spice and wood carry through into the smooth, round, full flavor, which features notes of rose, plum and cedar. The aftertaste is accented with flavors of rosewater and cardamom, making it a great choice for pairing with Indian or Moroccan dishes. It’s also delicious on its own or paired with white chocolate and hazelnut truffles or cedar plank grilled kabobs of sweet potato and lamb.
Taster’s Review:
Reading the description of this tea as I sip it, I must say that the description is pretty spot-on. The aroma of the liquor is pleasantly spiced with deep wood tones. The flavor is sweet with distinctive wood-like notes and hints of flower and fruit. I can even taste the rose water and cardamom aftertaste.
As the seasons slowly begin to change from the heat of the summer to the cooler air of autumn, this tea seems to reflect this time of year. The lightly spiced taste reminds me of the warm flavors of fall, and the crisp floral notes and sweet fruit notes remind me of the beauty of summer as its final moments come to a close.
The sip begins with a wash of flavors that is sweet and warm. Toward mid-sip, I taste a just slightly sour note that accents the sweetness of this tea. Sweet flavors of roasted peach. A floral note and even a slight nutty flavor in the distance. Only a very faint astringency that I can detect, and only when I’m really focusing on it. A casual sip would miss it completely. No bitterness. Just sweet, warm comfort – Oriental Beauty style!