Author: Oolong Owl

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2019 June White2Tea Club feat. 2019 Hype Sheng Puer

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Hype is back! White2tea’s 2019 Hype Sheng puer sports the same wrapper art as last years though the blend is different as it includes aged material. We seem on track to get a new Hype cake in the White2Tea club and this is one of the months it is a deal as the club price is cheaper than the cake (club= $29.99, Hype = $38 not including shipping). Also included in this month’s club is 2019 If You’re mini cake, but I’ll save that for another blog post. Leaf and Steeping Method As I unwrapped Hype I got a lovely… Continue reading, hoot!

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2018 Han Lu and 2016 Shou Mei White Tea from Serendipiteacha Studio

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For me, it is always exciting to try some teas from a local vendor. I did Serendipiteacha Studio’s Dancongs last time, but today I’ll be drinking some of their white teas. 2018 Han Lu (Cold Dew) White Tea Interestingly, 2018 Han Lu is a winter Fu Ding Da Bai cha. This tea is picked after the shou mei, exposing the leaves to colder conditions. I almost thought this is a Baimudan as there are some fuzz buds going on mixed with dark leaf. The leaf smells like sugary coconut drink. I used 1 gram of leaf per 22ml of vessel… Continue reading, hoot!

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2019 Plum Beauty Black Mengsong Dianhong from Bitterleaf Teas

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Out of Bitterleaf Tea’s new non-puer teas, their new Plum Beauty Black Mengsong Dianhong tea caught my eye right away. This black tea is the same material as their silver grade Plum Beauty sheng. In addition, Bitterleaf Tea’s Mengsong Plum Beauty black tea goes through a roast session. An extra roasting adds some additional oxidation and aging potential. Leaf and Steeping Method These leaves are huge and spacious! You will need a gaiwan or a wide mouth teapot. The scent is strongly fruity. I saw a warning to do an 80-85F water temperature. I first debating hitting 200F/92C, but then said… Continue reading, hoot!

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Gongfu2go – Portable Gongfu Style Tea Brewer from Crimson Lotus Tea

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The Gongfu2go is a portable gongfu and grandpa style tea tumbler that is able to gravity pour as well as flip tea filter. The double cap and separate chamber action give a lot of flexibility to this tea device. A Crimson Lotus Tea creation! I was sent a Gongfu2go a few months early to test. It quickly became my car gongfu teaware. Gongfu2go Specs Two 150ml/ 5oz chambers. Double-walled borosilicate glass. Ceramic twist valve with stainless steel filter. Stainless steel lid interiors. Food grade silicone lid seals. Carrying handle on both sides. 9.5” / 24cm tall, 2.75”/ 7cm diameter. Hand… Continue reading, hoot!

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2018 Balance Shou Puer from Yunnan Sourcing

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On my last Yunnan Sourcing order, I bought a couple of their newer shou puers. The 2018 Balance Shou Puer caught my eye as I do like golden needle. I let mine rest a month in the open air before tasting. Balance is made of 2017 Lincang/Mengku material pressed in October 2018. Leaf and Steeping Method Balance sports gorgeous gold and brown colours. The cake has a light wet pile scent, smelling richly earthy and a little funky ground. 2018 Balance shou cake is on the crumbly side from all the fine leaves. Yunnan Sourcing goes overkill on bubble wrap,… Continue reading, hoot!

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Jin Xuan GABA Black Tea from Eco-Cha

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Today’s tea is Eco-Cha’s Jin Xuan GABA black tea was a part of their tea club. This is a Summer 2018 tea promised to be rich and fruity. I have been on the hunt for interesting (and not horrible) GABA teas, and Eco-Cha fits the bill. Alas, this GABA black is from an old tea club, but it is an interesting tea and example of the fun teas Eco-Cha gets for its exclusive members. Eco-Cha goes more into this tea in their blog. Leaf and Steeping Method The dry leaf has a soapy plum scent on the twisted long leaves.… Continue reading, hoot!

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2018 Lucky Puppy Sheng Puer from White2Tea

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I purchased a sample White2tea’s 2018 Lucky Puppy a few months after it came out. After trying a sample, I went in on a full cake. For 2018 I was determined to buy one expensive cake and ignore the rest, as that seems cheaper than sample runs. I’ve tried a lot of White2Tea over the years, so I know what I am generally getting into. I then sat on this review for half a year. When you drink Lucky Puppy there is a lot of tea drunk feels so writing and editing tea drunk writing is a feat. I then… Continue reading, hoot!

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2017 Ghost White Tea from Kuura

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After multiple requests and a free shipping sale, I made my first order with Kuura. I’ve been wanting to try Kuura for a while, and a sale gave me a good opportunity to try them out. I am starting off with Kuura’s 2017 Ghost White Tea, a 200 gram cake. I blind caked it because I don’t mind try buying white tea in volume and Kuura does awesome wrappers. Leaf and Steeping Method Ghost is pretty with a rainbow of leaves and fuzzy grey buds. Sadly once steeped white tea gets ugly. I went with my usual white tea steeping… Continue reading, hoot!

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2018 Cha Nong Hao Meng Song Village White Tea Cake from Yunnan Sourcing

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I purchased 2018 Cha Nong Hao Meng Song Village White Tea Cake on a whim, hoping Meng Song white tea will be tasty. This white tea is all assamica, harvested in April 2018 and pressed in December 2018. Cha Nong Hao is a small batch brand, though I purchased it from Yunnan Sourcing. Leaf and Steeping Method Unwrapping the cake unleashed a scent bomb of floral. After it settled, the white tea smells like tulips. Gorgeous colors on the Meng Song white tea cake, I especially love the autumn red leaves. I encountered a strange curly thing that isn’t a… Continue reading, hoot!

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Cha Ka and Sae Gyokuro Matcha from Samurai Tea Master via Sei Mee Tea

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Matcha is generally made from a specially grown and processed tea called Tencha. There are always exceptions to this, as sometimes tea sellers grind up other teas like Sencha or various Chinese Greens to cut cost or create a new profile. The matcha today is made with Gyokuro, which commands a luxuriously higher price for Japanese teas. The cultivation of Gyokuro and Tencha are similar, as they are both shaded, steamed, but Gyokuro is rolled whereas Tencha is destemmed flakes. There is also a long research rabbit hole as different cultivars could be used for both teas, also changing the… Continue reading, hoot!