Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
About Tula Teas:
We are firm believers in the idea that the best teas come from small, family-owned tea gardens. This is not simply a matter of do-gooder wishful thinking, but a high level of firsthand experience with the incredible teas that result from the skilled hands of artisan tea growers and tea masters. The experience, expertise and tradition involved in producing these meticulously hand-processed high-elevation teas dazzle the mind and, more importantly, the senses.
Learn more about Tula Teas on their website.
Taster’s Review:
This is a really pleasant Charcoal Roasted Oolong. When I encounter a charcoal roasted tea, I always worry just a little bit that the flavor is going to have too much of a charcoal-y taste, which can overwhelm some of the delicate nuances of an Oolong.
But here, the charcoal flavor is well-pronounced without overpowering the delicate qualities of the Oolong. I taste a bit of charred wood in the aftertaste, but it doesn’t taste overwhelmingly charcoal-y. In addition, the roasted notes bring the nutty flavors forward, which seems to enhance the sweetness of the overall cup.
This Oolong tends to taste a little less floral and a little more fruity. I taste hints of melon and even a slight citrus-y tone to this cup. These fruit notes give this a juicy quality that is very refreshing and thirst-quenching, and offer a nice contrast to the savory vegetative tones and fresh, herbaceous notes of the cup.
A splendid Oolong. I see that this tea is not currently available on the Tula Teas’ Oolong collection, but, I hope they’ll get it back in stock soon. It’s a good one!
Zealong Dark from Tula Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Tula Teas
Tea Description:
Dry, the large, twiggy, army-green and pine-blue leaves of Zealong Dark smell roasty and nutty. Fleeting floral undertones in the dry leaf emerge alongside aromas of toasted almonds, warming spices and charred hardwoods as the leaves brew into leaf-and-bud sets. The golden-hued brew is rich — think toasted almonds, cinnamon sticks and roasted grains — and it is neither bitter nor too sweet, thanks in part to delicate floral notes and hints of Wuyi-oolong-like minerality. The finish of this unusual oolong is roasty, floral and slightly drying, with a persistent raw almond flavour.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Having previously tasted and reviewed their Zealong Pure, I thought that this one might be like it, but, they are really quite different. This Zealong Dark has been roasted, which has given the sweet, buttery character more of a toasted nut kind of flavor. The roasting has also imparted a charred quality to this tea, almost like charcoal. This tea that woodsy and rustic kind of flavor to it.
My first cup of this tea (the combination of my first two infusions) delivered mostly that charred wood kind of taste, as well as the nutty flavor I described, and a sweet, honey-like undertone. With the second cup (infusions three and four), revealed more of a floral note which provided a sharp contrast to the now softer rustic, woodsy taste. My final cup (infusions five and six), I found that the honey-esque sweetness really emerged, complimented by the floral tones and the sweet nutty flavor.
There was also a savory element to this last cup, one that was only hinted toward in the second cup but now is much more pronounced. It isn’t exactly bitter, and not exactly sour either… but somewhere between these two savory elements. Very intriguing, indeed.
I have been very impressed with the New Zealand Oolongs that I’ve tasted from Tula Teas. If you are an Oolong enthusiast, these are definitely worth exploring!
Zealong Pure from Tula Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Tula Teas
Product Description:
A true rarity in the world of tea, Zealong Pure is a New Zealand oolong produced with traditional Taiwanese oolong processing methods. It is organically grown and harvested in the Waikato region of New Zealand, where the foggy climate echoes the growing conditions of Taiwan’s high elevation tea production regions. The famed purity of New Zealand’s environment lends itself to organic production methods and brings out the fresh, clean taste of this unusual oolong.
Read more of the description here.
Taster’s Review:
I think I’ve only tried one other Oolong from New Zealand, and I loved it. This one might even be better!
The flavor is lush and smooth. It has a lovely floral background and a creaminess in the foreground. I almost want to call it a “buttery” creaminess, but, it doesn’t taste quite the same as the buttery notes that I’ve tasted in other green Oolong teas. It has a little less of the “milky” sweetness and more of a creamy-nutty sweetness. The mouthfeel is like velvet – very luxurious to experience.
One of the best characteristics of Oolong teas is multiple infusions! Not only do you get great value with Oolong tea, but with each infusion, different flavors emerge. With the third infusion, I noticed more of the floral notes come through. It is still sweet, but in a different way. The buttery taste subsides a little bit as does the mouthfeel, allowing the sweetness of the flower to come alive.
Another great tea from Tula Teas!
Green Mulberry Tisane from Tula Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal Tisane
Where to Buy: Tula Teas
Product Description:
Mulberry “tea” is drunk throughout Asia for health and wellness and it’s the personal favourite “comfort tisane” of Tula’s founder. Its flavour is often compared to green tea, so it is a popular alternative to green tea for those who are lowering their caffeine intake and those who love green tea, but want something that doesn’t taste bitter when overbrewed.
Our award-winning Green Mulberry tisane is made from the most aromatic strain of mulberry plant (Morus Alba). It is organically grown and processed by a small, woman-owned company in Northeastern Thailand, where the climate and soil are ideal for mulberry leaf production. The result is an antioxidant-rich, great tasting, caffeine-free infusion.
The deep golden infusion has a savory aroma with hints of hand-rolled green tea, steamed lacinato kale, toasted pumpkin seeds and brewed raspberry leaf. The flavour is boldly nutty (a bit like a fine Long Jing) with vegetal undertones and delicate berry sweetness. The aftertaste is a completely different experience from the taste: the flavour is still nutty, but it’s far, far sweeter. It has notes of mulberries (of course), but also blackberries, raspberries, slippery elm bark and crushed rose petals. This wonderfully layered infusion is a supertaster’s dream come true.
Taster’s Review:
This is surprisingly delicious. I was unsure about it at first. It looked different and smelled different. Not bad, just … different. In fact, it smells quite good and it reminded me of my vegetarian days when I ate quite a bit of kale. It is something that I don’t prepare now because I’m the only person in my family “brave enough” to eat it. Sometimes, I find myself missing it.
One of my favorite preparations for kale was to boil it until it was barely tender enough to eat, and then I would sauté it in browned butter with a little bit of garlic and blanched, slivered almonds.
And while it may seem as though I am digressing a bit, I’m not. Because this tisane tastes quite a bit like this kale dish. It has a pleasant vegetative taste with faint butter notes and a sweet nutty taste. There are also some berry-like flavors that come through.
Overall, this is a very flavorful and rewarding tisane. It is sweet, it is savory, and it is delicious. While many tisanes may come across as somewhat thin in flavor and/or texture, you won’t find that to be true with this tisane. It has a smooth, pleasing texture and the complexity of a fine Oolong!
YUM!
Four Seasons from Tula Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Tula Teas
Product Description:
Si Ji Chun Wulong
Mr. Liu’s Garden
Dong Ding Mountain, Nantou, Taiwan
2010 HarvestOur fantastically nuanced Four Seasons Oolong is from Dong Ding Mountain in Nantou, Taiwan. Four Seasons is a varietal developed in the 1980s. This one was specially grown and handmade by a tea competition judge who is known for his tireless work in working with and developing new tea varietals that are naturally pest-resistant (to eliminate the use of pesticides) and adaptable to climate change.
Taster’s Review:
The fragrance of the dry leaf is very enticing and beautiful. It has a fantastic floral scent that reminds me a bit of a dew-drenched flower garden in the springtime just as the sun begins to warm the leaves and petals. The aroma carries over to the brewed tea as well, making this a very inviting tea to sip.
And I am glad to accept that invitation, because this is truly a remarkable Oolong. The flavor is delightfully complex with notes of creamy butter and flower, hints of vegetation and spice, and a delicious background of fruit-like flavors.
The sip begins softly with a whisper of creamy goodness, and then a sharp, sweet floral quality emerges. All the while, I can taste the notes of crisp apple and a hint of plum. The sip ends with a bit of cleansing astringency that leaves just enough of the spice notes and a tangy note of citrus on the palate to enjoy in the aftertaste. It’s really a delicious cup.
This tea is aptly named, because all at once it has flavors that represent all four seasons: Spring with its beautiful floral tones; Summer with a sweetness of sun-ripened fruit; autumn with a hint of nut and spice, and winter with its warm, comforting buttery notes.
I really enjoyed this Oolong. Each infusion (I managed six from one measurement of leaves!) is very flavorful and unique in its own way, so please do yourself a favor and savor each infusion! You’ll be happy you did!