High Grade Ben Shan Oolong

Tea type
Oolong Tea
Ingredients
Not available
Flavors
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Caffeine
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Certification
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Edit tea info Last updated by RachanaC (Rachel)-iHeartTeas
Average preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 1 min, 45 sec

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9 Tasting Notes View all

  • “Wow, this tastes amazing. I remembered the last time I had this that I liked it as well but I am on my fifth infusion using my new Crane Gaiwan pictured here… http://instagr.am/p/KSgR3RyqQ2/ and...” Read full tasting note
    100
  • “Another sample to finish and use for my post dinner tea with my husband. He doesn’t mind Oolong so hopefully this will be a hit with him, I notice other Steepsterites have rated it highly. I love...” Read full tasting note
    85
  • “I’ll reiterate what I said about this being a very nice roasted oolong. However I’ve noticed that it doesn’t have as much staying power as its counterpart from Life In Teacup as I only got two...” Read full tasting note
    86
  • “Steep Information: Amount: 1 tsp Water: boiling Tool: Bee House teapot Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes Served: Hot Tasting Notes: Dry Leaf Smell: vegetal, nutty Steeped Tea Smell: buttery,...” Read full tasting note
    97

From Chicago Tea Garden

Etymology: “Ben Shan” translates to “Source Mountain”
Other Names: Benshan
 
Origin: China, Fujian Province, Anxi County
 
Harvest: Spring 2010
 
Taste: Roasted and floral, with a lasting nutty after-taste.
 
Behind the Leaf:  Ben Shan is one of the famous Anxi County oolongs from China. The name “Ben Shan” is the cultivar of camellia sinensis used to make this oolong.

About Chicago Tea Garden View company

Chicago Tea Garden is an online tea shop committed to providing extraordinary teas and tea education to tea lovers and those new to the leaf. Chicago Tea Garden's co-owner Tony Gebely also runs the World of Tea Blog [http://www.worldoftea.org] and Tweets at @WorldofTea.

9 Tasting Notes

100
431 tasting notes

Wow, this tastes amazing. I remembered the last time I had this that I liked it as well but I am on my fifth infusion using my new Crane Gaiwan pictured here… http://instagr.am/p/KSgR3RyqQ2/ and all I can say is that I truly believe that this Gaiwan has improved upon perfection. I can’t believe how well it is holding up. I love the sweet liquor I get and just how silky each sip tastes and feels. Truly a gorgeous oolong.

Daisy Chubb

beautiful Gaiwan!

LiberTEAS

Yes, I agree, the gaiwan is gorgeous. I had a couple of gaiwans for a number of years, but never really used them because the first couple of times I did, I burned my fingers on it, and decided they weren’t worth the trouble. And then, a couple of years ago, I decided to try them out again… and it is just AMAZING to me the difference it makes when an Oolong or Pu-erh is steeped in a gaiwan.

RachanaC (Rachel)-iHeartTeas

Thank you guys and I agree LiberTeas I had the same issue with my first Gaiwan I now just like you I decided to give it a try again with this new one and I love it. Huge difference. Also, with practice you can use a Gaiwan without burning your figures but it does take some doing. :)

Autumn Hearth

That is the first gaiwan I wanted but foolishly went with a dark clay dragon design that cracked the second day I used it. Can I ask if you got your gaiwan from EnjoyingTea or Chinese-Tea-Culture? They seem to be the same design, but the one from ET is lighter in color like in you picture, C-T-C’s seems darker and more green, but they offer cups: http://www.chinese-tea-culture.com/teacup-c019.html

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85
1379 tasting notes

Another sample to finish and use for my post dinner tea with my husband. He doesn’t mind Oolong so hopefully this will be a hit with him, I notice other Steepsterites have rated it highly.

I love the little hand rolled balls that Oolong come in with each one unique in shape and colours. This Oolong is a mixture of dark green, brown and dark brown but I also want to note that I can also see what looks like stem in a few places. The scent is buttery and floral and there is also a delicacy to it.

Once steeped my tea is golden yellow in colour with a sweet floral toasted aroma. Very refreshing and warming at the same time. In taste the toasted flavour is the first element before it changes to a floral rather buttery affair that vanishes very quickly. There is also a little buttery hint at the end whilst it’s mellowed and the flavours truly are spot on. It does pick up in strength but remains smooth.

Delicious. It’s a hit for my husband too and is a very nice introduction to our pudding (home made orange sponge cake with vanilla custard..hubbies favourite).

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C

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86
1908 tasting notes

I’ll reiterate what I said about this being a very nice roasted oolong. However I’ve noticed that it doesn’t have as much staying power as its counterpart from Life In Teacup as I only got two good steeps out of it before the flavour really fell off.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C

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97
788 tasting notes

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 tsp
Water: boiling
Tool: Bee House teapot
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: vegetal, nutty
Steeped Tea Smell: buttery, sweet
Flavor: vegetal, nutty
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringent
Liquor: translucent honey yellow

Re-Steep Information:
Water: boiling
Tool: Bee House teapot
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, roasty, nutty
Flavor: roasty, nutty
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: nutty, astringent
Liquor: translucent honey yellow

Came as a gift with an order from Chicago tea garden.

I could have steeped this more, but after 4 cups of tea it was time for bed.

I really love this oolong, not as much as the new zealand oolong but it’s this nice nutty roasty, but not too dark, tea.

If you enjoy a little roast to your tea I highly recommend you try this!

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/03/chicago-tea-garden-loose-leaf-oolong.html

Preparation
Boiling 2 min, 0 sec
Infusin_Susan

I have this tea as well – I bought it while I was at a tasting at Chicago Tea Garden. I love the roasted flavor and how it changes from one steeping to the next. I haven’t tried the Zealong Dark, I’ll have to get some and compare.

RachanaC (Rachel)-iHeartTeas

Hey Susan I think I was at the same tasting as you. I think you are in my neck of the woods too.

AmazonV

I hope you like the zealong, it’s my favorite, i do tend to like them lighter though, roasty i reserve for first cup of the day

Infusin_Susan

Yes, Rachel, I remember you! It was a fun afternoon, wasn’t it?
Amazon, I have the Zealong Pure but haven’t tried the Dark or Aromatic. I’m going to see if I can sample those with my next order from Chicago Tea Garden. I like roasty and non-roasty oolongs; actually, I like pretty much any oolong that isn’t full of fruit bits or fruit flavors.

RachanaC (Rachel)-iHeartTeas

Hi Susan yes very fun indeed. Also, I started following you. Maybe we will run into each other again. Btw, I LOVE the Ben Shan!

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89
123 tasting notes

A wonderfully roasted green oolong. The roasted flavor is light enough so that it never tastes ashy but instead slowly creeps up on you. You can taste both the light sweetness of the oolong mixing with the roasted flavor and they balance each other nicely. I really like CTG and I’m very sad that they are closing up shop. I am especially sad because I’m from chicago and I wanted to go to one of their tastings or classes on tea. Oh well maybe he will still do some in the future.

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86
102 tasting notes

I tried this at a recent tea tasting at Chicago Tea Garden. Everyone there seemed to like it, and I was no exception. If you like your oolongs roast-y, with almost a charcoal flavor, this tea is for you. This tea holds up well for several steepings — I’m on my fourth, and it still tastes good. The charcoal flavor dissipates a bit with each steeping, but it still tastes like a roasted green oolong. Not sweet, but doesn’t need sweetener. A little bit grassy and lightly floral, not buttery. Just a great, full-flavored green oolong.

Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C 2 min, 30 sec

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86
247 tasting notes

Thank you, Ben Shan. You have saved me from quite possibly the single worst tea tasting day I’ve ever had. This is one of the teas I bought as a sampler from Rachanac on teatra.de.

Dry, it smells vegetal and somewhat nutty. Nice, like a roasted oolong. 195/2 min. It’s a medium gold color. The aroma is still vegetal, worrying me a bit. The taste… wonderful roasted oolong. Thank goodness! I think I may have fallen over if yet another awful tea were to find its way to my teacup. This is a very nice, strong, full-flavored oolong.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 2 min, 0 sec

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