Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: T-Oolong Tea
Tea Description:
This high quality Long Feng Xia Oolong tea is handpicked, handcrafted and produced from Qingxin Oolong varietal grown in Long Feng Xia district. The aroma and taste of the tea are very floral and sweet. This tea has honeysuckle-like flavors and a sweet long lasting aftertaste, and it stands up well to multiple infusions. It is rich, smooth and delectable with almost no bitterness and astringency. Absolutely a very wonderful oolong we highly recommend.
Learn more about this Oolong here.
Taster’s Review:
I realize that I previously reviewed this tea, but that was last year’s harvest, and this is a whole new harvest! With new harvests come a whole new opportunity to explore new tastes within the tea!
This is so smooth and beautiful! It has a strong floral essence, with foreground notes of honeysuckle that remind me of my gramma’s house when I was younger. She had a honeysuckle bush that grew just outside the window of the bedroom where I would sleep, and on the warm days when the Santa Ana winds would blow, I would be treated to the most amazing honeysuckle essence that not only filled the olfactory nerves but also seemed to tantalize the palate. I also taste a hint of orchid in the distant background.
Like I said, a strong floral essence, but, what I’m liking here is that the taste and texture is so smooth that the floral notes do not taste sharp. They meld into the tea, allowing the other flavors to come forth. The creaminess is not as strong as I remember from the previous harvest, this is more like a rich smoothness rather than a thick creaminess. Fruit notes begin to emerge toward the end of my first cup (which is the combination of the first two infusions), providing more of a sweetness than a real distinct fruit tone.
With subsequent infusions, I find that the floral notes begin to taper somewhat. No… not really taper. That’s not quite the word I’m looking for. The flowery notes are softening, though. They are still very present, but, the layer of floral notes becomes slightly more transparent, allowing for easier tasting of the layers of vegetative notes and a subtle touch of cream. The fruit tones are emerging more now, almost tasting like something between a peach and a sweet grape. It has a very thirst-quenching taste … very calm, very pleasant.
An amazing Oolong that is certainly worth checking out with every new harvest!
Shanlinxi Long Feng Xia Oolong Tea from T-Oolong Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: T-Oolong Tea
Tea Description:
Our Long Feng Xia Oolong tea is handpicked and handcrafted. The tea is produced from Qingxin Oolong varietal grown in Long Feng Xia district located in the mountain areas of Shanlinxi, frequently covered with fog or clouds. The ideal tea growing environment of the high mountain plantations makes the tea high quality. The brewed Long Feng Xia Oolong has a strong floral and sweet aroma and taste, a long-lasting flavor and a strong sweet aftertaste. It is very smooth and delectable.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
This is the first tea that I’ve tried from this company, and it’s absolutely delightful!
I steeped this in my gaiwan, starting with a quick 10 second rinse, and then infusing for 1 minute for the first infusion, and adding 15 seconds to each subsequent infusion. I combined the first two infusions for my first cup, then the third and fourth infusion combined made up my second cup, and finally, the combination of infusions five and six made my third and final cup.
With my first cup: the flavor is intense! A lovely sweetness that reminds me of honeysuckle. The floral notes start off very strong and begin to mellow toward the end of the sip. There is a mild fruit-tone to this tea as well, starting off with a peach-like flavor that tapers into a citrus-y tone which complements the light, tangy astringency at the tail. The mouthfeel is very creamy and smooth, and the aftertaste is sweet.
My second cup delivered a stronger floral taste, tasting almost like orchid and honeysuckle. The fruit notes that I noticed in my first cup seem to be overwhelmed by the floral notes. The mouthfeel seems a little less creamy, but it is still thick and silky.
My third cup was milder than the second with softer floral notes; and more of a unified flavor than the first with the floral notes and re-emerging fruit tones becoming more of a seamless flavor. The astringency is lighter, as is the mouthfeel.
I am so pleased with this tea, and it has piqued my interest in this company. I can’t wait to try some of their other offerings … and be sure to stay tuned for more reviews!