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I want to preface this by saying that this is the first milk oolong I’ve ever tried.

The leaves, dry , are tightly pressed into uniform size but not shape, and there’s definitely a different scent to them – not anything I’d ever associate with tea. Creamy is one word I might associate with it, but I don’t think that’s right. It almost smells like rice pudding simmering on the stove.

The leaves in the tasting cup are about an inch or two long, with ragged edges and a dark green, spinach-y color. The rice scent intensifies, but there’s also a more vegetal, typical “oolong” scent as well.

The liquor is pale yellow, and the rice/pasta scent comes out more strongly here. I can’t say it’s appealing to me. It subsides on later steeps and I sort of start to see where the floral notes other people seem to taste come out, but it still doesn’t taste right to me.

Up for swap if anyone wants!

Dried, this tea looks as if it will taste delicious. it’s comprised of tightly, not-quite-uniformly rolled, emerald green leaves. There’s an earthy smell to them with hints of jasmine. When brewed, the whole leaves are about two inches long, thick and rubbery, olive green with ragged edges. The liquor is pale yellow, and the taste is definitely primarily “oolong.” The floral notes come out mostly in the scent and the first few infusions, and then there is a buttery, caramelized sugar undertone that comes out at the front of the taste which really gives it some depth. It’s delicate with a dry finish, and the jasmine scent lingers on the tongue. I brewed this gong fu style and got about 7 or 8 infusions out of it (I wasn’t counting).

It’s good for what it is. It’s bright and citrusy and sweet. It tastes like summer, and it’s delicious iced. My problem with it comes in in terms of cost – it’s really only good for one strong steep, and it’s a weak tea so I brew it strongly. That being said, I can purchase the ingredients straight for much less money and blend it myself. I’m glad I bought it though, as it is delicious, just not worth the price.

It tastes like chamomile. It’s certainly a lot fresher than the chamomile found in bag form. It’s a little apple-y with a bit of grassy floral notes toward the end. It’s good with honey, although I can’t see myself drinking this every day. I imagine that I’ll be using it mostly in blends or for sick days in the future – it’s calming, if a little overpoweringly strong. I used 1tsp/8oz for 6 min and I think I need to adjust the ratios a bit.

This was decent. The aroma of the coconut in the bag was really warm, although it subsided when I brewed it. I brewed this gong fu style, and I found the coconut flavor really coming out on subsequent brewings – there were notes of coconut and butter. It was toasty and mellow. I have a feeling it’s going to be a great base for blends – I’m going to try it in a mug, and then maybe try using it as a base.

This has a beautiful bright green color. The dry leaves are small and brittle, with an earthy, vegetal scent. When steeped, they open up into large, brownish green leaves. They don’t smell particularly strong, although they certainly smell dark. The tea when brewed is vegetal and slightly sweet with little notes of honey toward the finish. I brewed this gong fu style, and the flavor just kept getting more and more complex.

This is a beautifully sweet green tea. The leaves are flat and silky, and they smell warm and vegetal. On a first steep, the tea has a vegetal flavor with a lingering finish, and notes of nut and butter.

This leans a bit toward the fig/currant flavor profile instead of the grape, which makes me a bit sad. Still, it’s not a bad tea. It brews a very pale, golden yellow and smells a bit malty. The white tea comes in at the back of the flavor and the fruit dominates; it’s a tea to drink quickly. It’s not one that you sit with for a long time and savor every different flavor.

I couldn’t drink this tea. I don’t particularly like strong rooibos teas – once in awhile, but not often – and I really didn’t like this one. I may have brewed it a bit weak, but I wouldn’t want to try it again. I found the banana to be overpoweringly cloying, and the chocolate didn’t mesh well in it. Additionally, the walnuts in it gave me a bit of a headache (but I think I’m mildly allergic, so that was to be expected).

First steeping: very light, jasmine scented tea. It’s fragrant and floral and very slightly sweet. The delicate brightness cuts through the light smokiness of the oolong. The tea brews a golden color and has a short, dry finish.

Second steeping: The floral and oolong flavors come out more clearly. It brews a bit of a darker color, and the white tea is more difficult to taste here. It’s smokier, and the oolong leaves have expanded much more fully .