Shan Lin Xi

Just getting around to this steepster select (RIP) sample from probably 2013 or 2014.

1st, 2 min:

The aromatics of this tea are as beautiful as you’d expect from a green oolong. Floral and creamy with a front of lavender that fades to sweet cream as the tea cools. The flavor is really striking. Floral with a rather sweet vanilla flavor. As I keep sipping the vanilla adds notes of cardamom and a very gentle cinnamon.

This tea is a little too singularly sweet to be something I would drink regularly, but it’s a nice treat, perhaps as a desert tea.

2nd, 2 min 30 sec:

By the end of this steeping the leaves have really unfurled and are lovely whole leaves with light visible bruising. I’m very happy this round is less startlingly sweet than the first. The vanilla flavor has faded a bit and has left a nice combination of florals and cardamom/cinnamon. This pairing with less of the sweet vanilla is much more to my liking.

3rd, 3 min:

The spices are starting to fade and I’m left with just the florals. Definitely not an unpleasant cup, but I think thats my sign that this session is done.

This Shan Lin Xi by Eco-cha by way of Steepster Select is quite delectable. I steeped the leaves three times, and each time the pale-green liquor was smooth and satisfying. Seems like a very good TGY or maybe a cross between that and a milk oolong. Or maybe this is an entirely different genre new to me! Glad that I have a second envelope of this one…

I’ve really enjoyed this one today at work. I think oolong is my new thing. I’ve been drinking an awful lot of oolong lately. This one is really nice. Slightly sweet, slightly fruity, really smooth. Resteeps well. It’s kept me company through multiple mugs during a crazy frustrating day at the office. I don’t get piney from this one, like the description says, but I am really enjoying it. I’m debating on ordering more right now, or if I need to hold off as I have way way way too much tea on its way. This one will probably wait for a while, but Eco-Cha, you are on my list.

There are so many aromas from this tea that it is difficult to pick them out. I am getting floral notes, peach, resin, corn, and even what I can only describe as butter. Despite the complex layers of aroma it is a very pleasant smelling tea. The floral and peach carry over into the flavor of the tea as well. It is amazing to have a tea this complex, but not be overwhelmed by it. In addition to the fruit and peach, there is a slight citrus, almost grapefruit, towards the end which keeps the tea from getting too sweet. I will be buying more of this tea as one cup is not enough to fully explore it.

This is the second tea I’ve tried from my recent Steepster Select box.

My first few sips, I felt taste-blind, couldn’t really pick anything out. It does have a slightly pine smell to it. After letting it cool a few moments and sipping again, there is a slight sweetness or fruity quality to it. The description on the card says ‘pear-like fruitiness’.

It’s a very nice oolong, but, perhaps my tastes just swing differently as I’m a teensy bit underwhelmed by it.

There are many steeps from this tea. I’m probably on the 5th or 6th steep now which is on the down side from its prime steep. It started off light and mild and increased to a filling flavor yet still keeping its lightness. Now off the cliff side it’s coming back around to the lightness yet still keeping the aromas but not as full a flavor. This tea came from the steepster select box from jan. 2014. A very yummy oolong that can be drunk in large quantities throughout the morning. It’s not too strong and it keeps up with the promises of fruit and pine qualities.