Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy:  Yunomi

Learn more about this tea here.

About Yunomi:

Matcha Latte Media KK was launched in January 2012 as a result of founder Ian Chun’s work with Kyoto Obubu Tea Plantations (see Starting a Tea Business – Background). Our mission was to put Japanese culture into the hands of consumers around the world. We feel that many products, including Japanese tea, gain much of their value from an understanding of the culture and society behind them, not simply from their physical qualities. Many of these cultural products in Japan are produced by small-scale producers, and we had hoped to bring them to global markets by providing an e-commerce marketing service.

However, the Japanese tea industry called to us, and as a product so central to Japanese culture, we fell in love. 2013 marks our pivot from a consultancy into a tea business with the Yunomi.us website. We hope you will support us and follow along as we build a paradigm changing business.

Taster’s Review:

This Certified Organic Oolong Tea by the Takeo Family from Yunomi is quite unique … different from any Oolong that I’ve ever tried!  And in this case … different is definitely GOOD!

The flavor is mild, sweet, and fruity.  There is a sort of tangy note that tickles the tip of the tongue toward the finish, and that tingly sensation lasts into the aftertaste.  Almost like a “sweet and sour” note!  Quite intriguing…

This tea hints at floral notes in the distance … although I would not call this tea a floral tea.  These are mere hints … like a whisper of a breeze that has passed through a field of flowers and picked up on just a hint of the floral essence … that’s what I detect here.  This is much more fruity than floral, tasting of stone fruit, with hints of toasted nuts and a slight earthy tone and notes of mellow spice.

I brewed this tea in my gaiwan (as I do with most Oolong teas) and this allowed me to re-steep the leaves several times with very positive results.  The flavor changed with each new cup of tea … the fruity notes became sweeter and more mild as I reached my third cup.  By this time, those hints of flower in the distance have subsided, but there is still this lovely, sort of exotic sweet and sour note that keeps me captivated.

A really enjoyable Oolong … one I’d recommend to all Oolong enthusiasts … especially if you’re looking for something a little out of the ordinary!  This is truly a unique Oolong – one that deserves discovery!