Another sample from Teavivre. Thank you so so much. I always appreciate these samples! This is the last of my last sample package to review, but there is already another sample package on the way! The leaves have a bright and fresh fragrance, very floral, though not as floral as another Teavivre oolong (the Nonpareil Anxi Qing Xiang TieGuanYin smells like an entire Spring garden). I tried to go with the steeping parameters for their other green oolongs, since I don’t like this suggestion of 17 ounces (a tablespoon of leaves, 212 degrees, a rinse, 1,2,3,4 minute steeps). I went with two teaspoons of these bright green bundles.
Steep #1 // 7 minutes after boiling & a rinse // 1 1/2 min steep
The leaves are almost bursting out of the basket, I can’t imagine using more! The flavor is nice but it doesn’t taste overly like flowers, or peach (or any other type of fruit), or like a creamy milk oolong, or vegetal. Usually oolong can fit into a category, but this one does not, at least not on the first cup. This is a different oolong — it isn’t as floral tasting as the scent is. There is a bit of an odd flavor to it but it certainly isn’t astringent or oversteeped. It’s quite a mystery. The color of the cup is between the mellow yellow of a light oolong but not quite bright yellow.
Steep #2 // two minutes after boiling // 2 min
Hmm. This is the oddest oolong I’ve ever tasted. I don’t think it is oversteeped but it has a sour flavor to it, even a fuzzy texture to it. It has hints of pineapple flavor to it… or maybe some unripened fruit and autumn leaves. It’s such a different flavor for oolong. Not a fan of this oolong, but it could just be my tastes. I think some of Teavivre’s other oolongs are better. Give them a try!
