Tag: oolong tea

No comments

Spring 2019 Nangang Competition Grade Baozhong from Tributary Teas

  By ,

I lately have been having an obsession with the old-style Nangang Baozhong. Modern Baozhong, the high floral fronted low oxidized oolong, I love in the spring and summertime. The old school traditional Nangang Baozhong I find I can drink all year round as it’s less floral and more hearty. This Nangang Baozhong comes from Tributary Teas, a new online tea seller that plans to have a small rotating stock of exciting Taiwanese teas shipped from California. Right now on their site, they got a number of uncommon oolongs. For Oolong Owl readers – 20% off and free 25-gram sample with… Continue reading, hoot!

No comments

2019 Organic Chingjing Gaoshan High Mountain and Hong Shui from Tillerman Tea

  By ,

On the tea table today is Tillerman Tea’s Organic Chingjing Oolongs – a Gaoshan High Mountain and a Hong Shui. These are both by farmer Yen Ching-Yu (Katie). I have had these teas from previous years, so it will be interesting to see what has changed with the season and technique. Organic Chingjing Gaoshan High Mountain Oolong Tillerman’s Organic Chingjing Gaoshan High Mountain Oolong is of Qing Xin cultivar that is grown at 1800m. This is a Spring 2019 oolong with 35% oxidation and lightly baked. The dry leaf smells soft sweet and floral. After a rinse, the leaf smells… Continue reading, hoot!

No comments

Alishan and Sun Moon Lake Black from Song Yi Tea

  By

Today we are checking out Song Yi Tea, specifically their oolong and black teas. They have a website, but the shop redirects to their Etsy storefront. Song Yi Tea mostly sells Taiwanese oolongs but they also have some Taiwanese black teas and Yunnan puer. Song Yi Tea’s Exquisite Alishan Oolong Tea Exquisite Alishan is a Qingxin cultivar High Mountain Taiwanese Oolong. The leaves are vibrant green with a milky, nutty and floral scent. I used 1 gram of leaf per 15ml of vessel size, gongfu steeped in boiling water. Interestingly, Song Yi Tea has the same instructions on their site. Thumbs… Continue reading, hoot!

No comments

2019 Smooth Water Baozhong Oolong from Floating Leaves Tea

  By ,

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!

No comments

2018 Lucky Accident Oolong from Old Ways Tea

  By ,

2018 Lucky Accident Oolong is a blend of Huang Guan Yin and Qi Lan. The blend, like its name, is an accident as Old Ways Tea’s aunt accidentally mixed the two teas together, birthing a surprisingly good blend of tea. I’ve had both teas separately, and both teas are good teas. I purchased this tea after hearing a number of my tea friends raving how good it is. It is sadly one to easily miss or skip as you see “oh a cheap blend, whatevs,” and go for the Rou Gui. Leaf and Steeping Method Once I opened the little 8… Continue reading, hoot!

No comments

2019 Spring Dong Ding Laoshi from Tillerman Tea

  By ,

Tillerman Tea sent me the 2018 Winter Dong Ding Laoshi last season. I saw it sell out fast before I had a chance to review it (and I generally don’t like reviewing stuff that isn’t available unless it is educational). I shared some with a local tea friend as a session closer and we were both surprised how crazy good this Dong Ding is. When the new 2019 Spring Dong Ding Laoshi arrived, I jumped at the opportunity to get some vendor samples for review. The 2019 Spring Dong Ding Laoshi is medium-level charcoal roasted by Tillerman Tea’s Teacher (Laoshi)… Continue reading, hoot!

No comments

2019 Spring Shan Lin Xi and Hehuan Shan High Mountain Oolong from Floating Leaves Tea

  By ,

Let’s check out Floating Leaves Tea’s new 2019 Spring High Mountain oolongs. I went with Shan Lin Xi and Hehuan Shan this year, both being favorites in blind tastings. Floating Leaves Tea’s 2019 Spring Shan Lin Xi High Mountain Oolong Shan Lin Xi is generally my favorite High Mountain oolong and I buy it when it is available. I am super excited that Floating Leaves Tea got it this season, after not carrying it for a while due to previous seasons not making the cut. The leaf is floral, sweet, buttery, and a touch roasted in scent. I steeped my… Continue reading, hoot!

No comments

2018 Old Tree Shui Xian from Old Ways Tea

  By ,

Today’s review is Old Ways Tea’s 2018 Old Tree Shui Xian. The package is labeled Lao Cong Shui Xian oolong, which means the same thing. This tea was picked back in May 2018 and pulls all the stop with old tree material and charcoal roasting. The dry leaf smells of honeyed florals and wooden branches. Each packet is 8 grams, I just threw the whole thing into my gaiwan. This clocks my ratio at around 1 gram of leaf per 12ml of vessel size. I am gongfu steeping with boiling water. The hot leaf has a scent of fruity sweet… Continue reading, hoot!

No comments

Tuberose, Almond, and Duck Aroma Phoenix Dancongs from Serendipiteacha Studio

  By

I enjoy drinking a bunch of Dancong at once as it is fun to compare and I love filling gaiwans to the brim with tea leaf to go hog wild. Today’s Phoenix Dancongs are from Serendipiteacha Studio, based in Seattle. All these teas are from Spring 2018. I used around 1 gram of leaf per 12ml of vessel size, gongfu steeped in boiling water instead of the western instructions. Phoenix Dancong Tuberose Aroma Tuberose Aroma, aka Ye Lai Xiang, is promised to be heavy in the floral notes. The leaf has a juicy floral and sweet nutty scent. Rinsed, the… Continue reading, hoot!

No comments

2018 Winter Wild Garden GABA Oolong from Mountain Stream Tea

  By

Today’s review is Mountain Stream Tea’s 2018 Winter Wild Garden GABA Oolong. This GABA is a little different than the usual GABA teas as it is from a wild tea garden and promised to not be sour like other GABA Oolongs. That sourdough off taste is something I’ve grown to dislike in GABA tea, so I am looking forward to this. I purchased this tea on a whim with my first Mountain Stream order. Leaf and Steeping Method The leaf smells roasted sweet potatoes and a bit fruity. Some sniffs are pumpkin like. I used 1 gram of leaf per… Continue reading, hoot!