Regional Oolong Group Buy Discussion

I figured it would be convenient to create a new thread discussing the teas from Liquid Proust’s 2017 group buy to get the conversation started.

I’m going to do a comparison tasting of the BTTC charcoal roasted side by side with the unroasted for a friend that has never had an oolong tea on Friday.

I was really blown away by the Nepali Wild Orchid Pearls, I visited a touring orchid special exhibit at the Denver botanical gardens a few months ago, and this tea aroma is spot on like one of the orchids there.

I think I will have to revisit the Assam Oolong, it wasn’t quite like any other tea I have smelled or tasted. I almost got ripe puerh or long aged black tea vibes drinking it.

I look forward to hearing your opinions as we all drink through our bags over the next few months.

58 Replies
JXTUCK006 said

I came here to say exactly that. The assam oolong is coming across like shou to me.

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KimK said

Interesting, I will try the assam oolong tonight. I too really liked the Nepali Wild Orchid Pearls and have been drinking it all day to see if I pick out its nuances. The roasted taste in the beginning is always a favorite for me. To me, it offers a rich, toasted bread flavor right up front then settles down to floral notes with a second steep. Most of the time I do gong fu style but was on the run today so prepared 2 tsps, 185F, 3 mins for first steep then went to five minutes for the second. Both went into a carry cup. Not the best way to taste, but sure did allow me to have a great cup of tea all day.

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For reference, the surprise is : https://beautifultaiwantea.com/products/jing-mai-gu-shu-oolong-orbs

I will eventually get to tasting these and throw in my remarks as well.

Really looking forward to this complex Assam now :)

Excellent choice, I placed an order from BTTC when they had a sale and picked up come of these. One of the more unique and delicious tea experiences I have had, I’m glad to be able to discuss it with others now.

I’m wondering what people have to say about the jingmai gushu oolong orbs! I know it’s a bit of an unusual way to process jingmai tea, especially into an oolong. But BTTC claims it’s legit gushu material — though I drink a ton of tea, i’m a total newbie in this respect. Does this tea fit the gushu label? Is there anything particular to it to note that might be associated with being a gushu tea?

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The Assam oolong is really complex and enjoyable : )
Glad I read some of the remarks for this morning’s session!
I’ll do a write up after my session and try to pinpoint what’s going on

apefuzz said

I finally got around to trying the Assam oolong. Amazing flavors you can’t get in Chinese oolongs – great florals, honey, papaya notes. Actually, it’s sort of similar to a white tea or an aged white tea.

I don’t know how you got your hands on it, but thank you!

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The smoked oolong… Amazing. I’ll end up buying more of this for late night sessions outside

Yeah, really nice. I’m gonna need to get some more of that for sure!

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JXTUCK006 said

I had forgotten that you said that the DHP was bricked. I got a big grin on my face opening up that bag and seeing that. Brewing some up right now :)

KimK said

JXTUCK, what temp and for how long are you steeping?

It’s the best bricked DHP I’ve had. I break each brick into 2 and brew half in 100ml at a time

JXTUCK006 said

I used 1 of my bricks which was 12g. I only have the one gaiwan which is 150 ml, so I would usually use 10 grams. For temperature I’ve been using 185, but even after about 5 steeps it was still pretty hard. I left it overnight and started steeping again at 185. Usually about 15-20 seconds per steep since it’s coming apart more and more and there are still some dry leaves in the middle.

This is the first time I’ve had anything like this so I’m just experimenting. I wasn’t sure if doing a boiling wash would hurt it any so I didn’t try that. But when I brew up the other brick, I think I’ll try a boiling wash to see if it opens up any faster.

The first wash I did at 185 was for about 30 seconds. Typically I drink the wash because I want to see if it’s any good but it didn’t really infuse at all in that amount of time.

Hope you have as much fun with it as I am :)

I’m really digging this Bricked DHP. I also put one while brick in a 150 ml Giawan and man is it lasting! I’m on day two and I’m only getting 100ml of liquor now due to all the leaf. I think the next brick I’ll break in two like you said. I’ve never had a bricked Oolong so I’m super pleased. It’s a really great addition.

I tried breaking a brick in two and mostly ended up with dust. Delicious delicious dust.

TeaLife.HK said

If I may make a suggestion: put the dust at the bottom of your pot or gaiwan and whole leaf on top. Rinse with water off the boil, and then flash infuse with boiling water (212). Extend to 15 seconds, then 30, then a min, and continue from there.

Psyck said

When I brew dusty tea, I use a strainer with a finer mesh like this:
https://www.chawangshop.com/tea-hardware/cha-ju-tea-ware/white-porcelain-tea-strainer-with-stand.html
as it is more effective at keeping the little bits out as compared to regular stainless steel strainers.
If you are not interested in using a strainer, you could just go by the above suggestion, the initial rinse would anyway clear off much of the finer dust. I tend to rinse at a lower temperature, say 70C rather than just boiled water – probably doesn’t make much difference either way.

TeaLife.HK said

The dust at the bottom thing is somewhat like traditional Chaozhou/Fujian style brewing, where some leaf is crushed to make for punchier gongfucha. With CZ style, three solid infusions is the goal, and each infusion is done with water at full boil, and a rinse with boiling water/water just off the boil is necessary. Boiling water is also poured over the pot to keep things as hot as possible. I tend to brew all oolongs this way.

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JXTUCK006 said

I’ve probably done a good 15 or so steeps, and the bricked DHP is still going. :)

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apefuzz said

The Japanese oolongs (via Yuuki-Cha) were great. Both were quite different, with the Kagoshima having some more fruit/citrus notes, as well as quite a bit more roast flavor. The Miyazaki had really nice chocolate and dark syrup/molasses flavors. Both were very well-composed in terms of their flavor profile.

They were very different! I did a comparison tasting of the two with friends to give us something to base our notes off of, as none of us has had an oolong from Japan.

I think I brewed them a little harshly and got too much bitterness out of it (the boiling rinse really did not do the tea any favors) but it was a unique and enjoyable experience.

What were your brewing parameters?

apefuzz said

I put 3.5g in a little 60ml gaiwan. I don’t know how hot the water was, but it was off the boil. Probably 205F or so. First three infusions were less than 10 seconds. After that, I let it sit for 20-30 seconds. They really didn’t last much longer than 5 or 6 infusions.

I definitely didn’t get anything that I would call bitter. There was some astringency in the Kagoshima, but it was pleasant.

Tasty little treats! I was surprised at how inexpensive they were when I visited the site.

KimK said

Tasted the Miyazaki tonight. 3g in 75ml gaiwan around 205 -210F. Interesting taste for me. The slight roast stayed in the background through several steeps. I got a black berry/pickle juice taste upfront that persisted. Think I will let these leaves set for a bit and resteep to see if I get the chocolate or dark syrup apefuzz tastes.

apefuzz said

Wow! I definitely didn’t get any pickle juice notes! I did drink the Miyazaki right after the Kagoshima, so there could have been some interaction between the two on my taste buds.

I have to say, though, that I really didn’t think too much of them during my first session. The second session, for whatever reason, really had both of them shine. The flavors were interesting and tasty, and the price is a good deal.

I havent tried the japanese oolongs yet! Citrus, interesting. I was always a bit confused/surprised when I saw japanese Oolong/Black tea for sale. Excited to try this!

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KimK said

Well, I learned a very valuable lesson this week. Although I am attentive to using quality water I failed to test the cartridge on my Zero water filter. So, I used really bad water when I tasted the Miyazaki tea. Apefuzz, I really got the taste profile screwed up on this tea – pickle juice indeed :(.
Changed the filter and Presto! A tea with beautiful chocolate, malty notes. Now I am preparing to partake of the DHP brick with good water.

apefuzz said

Ha! Glad you fixed the pickle juice situation!

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Hoping to see mine before the weekend. I know it takes time to ship to Canada, though.

Not this long… Did you check the tracking?

I never got tracking info. I didn’t order through the store.

IG? Reddit? Steepster? Should always be some tracking

Reddit. I’m /u/cryptowillem.

I sent you a message 18 days ago, can you please respond?

I don’t have a message on Reddit from you from that date. Last message I have is from March 20th.

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