Category: Floating Leaves Tea

Floating Leaves Tea recently came back from Taiwan with a lot of goodies, and one of the first teas I got was their Aged Heritage Wuyi Oolong. Dive deeper into the details, and this tea is from 2011, a Wuyi cultivar, grown in Shi-Ding where Baozhong is grown. It was processed with higher oxidation and roast, similar to a Wuyi tea. Leaf and Steeping Method The leaves smell like an old cupboard filled with roasted nuts. I went with a gongfu ratio of around 1 gram of leaf per 15ml of vessel size, steeped in boiling water. After a rinse,… Continue reading, hoot!

For the past couple of seasons, I’ve seen Floating Leaves tea come out with the Diva High Mountain. I keep meaning to try it, so I snagged the latest 2022 Winter Diva High Mountain oolong during their anniversary sale. This Qing Xin cultivar oolong was grown at 1500 meters at Smangus village in Northern Taiwan. Diva High Mountain Oolong is a more traditional style, so it is not as green as other high mountain oolongs. Leaf and Steeping Method Opening the package of oolong releases an explosion of scent. The leaves have a heavy floral scent of orchids and butter.… Continue reading, hoot!

Floating Leaves Tea’s Furry Crab oolong is a special reserve high mountain oolong grown in Wuliang Shan, Yunnan China, but by Taiwanese Farmers. Furry Crab was an oolong I bought as a tea newbie because of the inexpensive price – I recall the leaf being so broke and full of holes. Many years later in a tea industry convention, a trusted vendor told me the secret that many purchase Furry Crab and sell it as TieGuanYin, as it is cheaper and western drinkers can’t tell the difference. However, Floating Leaves Tea’s Furry Crab isn’t a low-quality tea, clocking at $1… Continue reading, hoot!

As the name says, Dong Ding Red is an oolong with plenty of oxidation and roasted in May 2020. Floating Leaves Tea has some of the best Dong Dings, so with my last order, I bought 2oz of this tea for fun. Leaves and Steeping Method The rolled leaves have a caramel scent. My gongfu ratio is 1 gram of leaf per 15ml of vessel size, steeped in boiling water. After an infusion, the leaves slightly unravel and give off a fruity sweet scent, along with caramel. Tasting of Floating Leaves Tea’s Dong Ding Red Oolong First and Second Infusion:… Continue reading, hoot!

Typically every tea season Floating Leaves Tea does blind tastings with all the new High Mountain oolongs. This year obviously group tastings cannot be a thing. A number of my friends reported Floating Leaves Tea’s 2020 Spring Shan Lin Xi was amazing this year, so I went in on 2oz. It was an easy sell as I tend to prefer Shan Lin Xi out of all the High Mountain oolongs. Leaf and Steeping Method The leaves smell creamy and buttery with a slight vegetal scent. I used 1 gram of leaf per 15ml, gongfu style with boiling water. Floating Leaves… Continue reading, hoot!

I wanted to finish 2019 by posting my most profound tea experience of the year – Floating Leaves Tea’s Taman Hong Shui Oolong. Floating Leaves Tea got me with their Lalashan Hong Shui. I loved that tea so much I didn’t review it as I wasn’t sure I could give it justice and now that tea is out of stock to buy (but I got a bag in my stash). Taman Hong Shui is similar to Lalashan Hong Shui as it is the same farmer, but it is from a different, higher peak in the same farm area. This tea… Continue reading, hoot!

2019 Smooth Water Baozhong is my favorite Taiwanese oolong this season from Floating Leaves Tea. I sampled it in the shop (already going in knowing I’ll love it as I enjoyed last year’s Nangang Baozhong), purchased, and I keep reaching for it. Smooth Water Baozhong is from Nangang, the birthplace of Baozhong. Modern Baozhong has gone very floral compared to the traditional old school Nangang style. I know many dislike Baozhong as it drinks like perfume, but this classic Nangang Baozhong is different. Leaf and Steeping Method Smooth Water Baozhong ‘s leaf has a milky floral scent. For today, I… Continue reading, hoot!