Nonpareil Anxi Qing Xiang Tieguanyin Oolong is a hand crafted oolong harvested from Anxi County, Fujian Province, China, sold by Teavivre.
My sample came in mega vacuum packed packaging. Inside, the tea was wrapped in more vacuumed packaging.
These vacuumed oolongs look and feel so cool, irresistible to squeeze like bubble wrap. Vacuumed Oolongs are also known Tea Owl weapon alternative to rocks in socks (I am unsure why a Tea Owl would need a weapon…)
Dry Leaf
Nonpareil Anxi Qing Xiang Tieguanyin Oolong leaf is in large clumps of oolong.
Some of the tea is wadded in balls, while others sport some pointy hats, like gnomes. Tea gnomes! The tea smells quite fragrant and fresh with a buttery floral scent.
Steeping Instructions
Teavivre always lists western as well as gongfu steeping instructions, which is really nice. For fancy oolong like this, gongfu is the optimal choice in my opinion. I followed Teavivre’s Gong Fu steeping instructions, but found them too be too long of an infusion, leading to some overpowered tea.
In the end, I steeped Nonpareil Anxi Qing Xiang Tieguanyin Oolong in a glass gaiwan with boiling water. I did a 5 second rinse and did the first infusion at 20 seconds. Each infusion I added 15 to 30 seconds.
Tasting of Teavivre’s Nonpareil Anxi Qing Xian Tieguanyin Oolong
Nonpareil Anxi Qing Xiang Tieguanyin Oolong steeps up a pristine clear, light yellow tea with a mega orchid scent.
First and Second Infusion: Nonpareil Anxi Qing Xiang Tieguanyin Oolong sips in with lots of flavor being quite fresh and sweet floral. There are delicate lemon cream notes with a strong finish of floral that reminds me of orchids and roses. The floral notes is the most prominent flavor, 6/10 on the Floral Meter as it is not perfumery or over the top. The after taste of Anxi Qing Xiang Tieguanyin Oolong is a lovely peachy floral.
This tea is like sipping on a lemon ice soda, carrying a basket of fresh flowers. on a breezy summer day wearing a summer dress and over sized sun hat. The tea is so fresh, breezy, light, refreshing and cheerful, warmed by the sun.
Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Infusion: With each infusion of Anxi Qing Xiang Tieguanyin Oolong there is less lemon notes and more mellow smooth flavor. The tea is getting buttery with a floral finish. The tea floral has gotten lighter, down to a 4/10, with a more butter cup flavor than orchid.
The final infusions had no floral aftertaste, replaced with a bit of dryness, 2/10 Astringency, that made the tip of my tongue went dry.
The leaf quality looks pretty good. Nice big leaves, some in perfect condition, some a little owl pecked.
With big leafy Anxi Qing Xiang Tieguanyin Oolong made my gaiwan was full and bursting!
At the 3rd infusion my gaiwan was already full. Last infusions the lid of the gaiwan was resting on leaves rather than on glass, making a satisfying “PLOP” sound when placed.
Comments
I’m more of a higher oxidized oolong drinker, but I found Nonpareil Anxi Qing Xiang Tieguanyin Oolong to be excellent. The best quality of Nonpareil Anxi Qing Xiang Tieguanyin Oolong is the freshness – the flavor is clear, clean and crisp. The flavor is also strong and delicate at the same time with a pleasing amount of floral notes.
Nonpareil Anxi Qing Xiang Tieguanyin Oolong is totally for a floral tea drinker and would be much loved by Tieguanyin fans. Teavivre has amazing teas, so be sure to check them out!
(tea provided for review / tea affiliate)
