Uh oh, first to review this one? Eep.
Dry tea smells quite vegetal. Almost overwhelmingly.
First infusion (204F/30s)
Smells floral. Smooth, light, buttery. Delicious. I think I’d prefer it to be stronger, but it is delicious.
Second infusion (204F/1min)
A bit vegetal, and there’s a bit of a sharp spicy almost astringent flavour that is quite lovely. That flavour is familiar, but not always as strong in other teas. Still somewhat floral, and an oolong aftertaste.
Third infusion (205F/1min)
Less floral, again I think I’d like it a bit stronger.
Fourth infusion (205F/1min (I think))
Losing flavour, more of a fruity, round sweetness with lingering oolong aftertaste. I think if I continue steeping I’ll bump up the infusion time. Nearly did it earlier.
Ooh, returning to the first sip, it’s definitely sweeter. Mmmmm. I take back my comment about it being too weak. Retrospectively, the second infusion is actually too strong.
Oh, this is fun. I’m sipping back and forth between my four cups, tasting them all in and out of sequence. Yum yum yum.
I think next time, I’ll go with 30, 45, 60, 120 seconds for my infusions.
I have to admit that during steeping, when smelling the wet leaf, I was very worried that this was going to be intensely vegetal, but only the second infusion was a bit.
Man. This was good. I’m going to have to compare it to the Autumn Tieguanyin, and the one from DavidsTea. I don’t know whether a “good” oolong is judged by its longevity (i.e. how many good infusions you can get), or its flavour. I’m not sure I’ve yet had a “bad” oolong. Or at least, not a bad green tieguanyin-style one or milk oolong.
I just read this over and apparently I am incredibly scattered tonight! Ah well. I was in lovely oolong land. Forgive me :P
ETA: Love how I reviewed this, and was promptly followed by two others :P I guess everyone received their orders last week and waited to try things until the weekend! Fifth infusion (203F/2min). The aroma is wonderful – I don’t know if this is because the leaves sat overnight, or what. But Yum. All oolongy and floral. The flavour is surprisingly strong for a fifth infusion. I am getting some grassy notes and astringency along with – oh, there it is, the oolong aftertaste! Nom nom nom – the rest of the deliciousness, but they’re manageable. Looks like I should be taking this to a sixth before throwing out the leaves so I can try my shu nuggets…
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I couldn’t resist anymore with people reviewing all the teas I was going to order that I finally just ordered. I want this one now!
Oh jeez this post makes me even more impatient for my Verdant Tea order to show up!
Must try this in the next three days, I’ve been putting it off due to migraine land. Question is do I bring this in to work to let others try, or savor at home first? Hmm.
How much do you like your coworkers? :P
I’m waiting for more spring greens to arrive before I place my Verdant order and the anticipation is just KILLING me! Gotta make the last of my autumn TGY last. rocks back and forth hugging it
I couldn’t resist anymore with people reviewing all the teas I was going to order that I finally just ordered. I want this one now!
Oh jeez this post makes me even more impatient for my Verdant Tea order to show up!
Must try this in the next three days, I’ve been putting it off due to migraine land. Question is do I bring this in to work to let others try, or savor at home first? Hmm.
How much do you like your coworkers? :P
I’m waiting for more spring greens to arrive before I place my Verdant order and the anticipation is just KILLING me! Gotta make the last of my autumn TGY last. rocks back and forth hugging it