Rose Oolong

Rosey tea number two, and this one is a sipdown. I’ve had this sample for a while and this is the last of it, though I think it may have to be a reorder. A lot of flavored oolongs are made on a formosa base, which isn’t one I care for a lot on it’s own, so I love that this one is a nice green one. Don’t know what type, but it is pretty tasty. I also love the combo of rose, lemongrass and ginger. It’s not really a combo I would have thought up, but it is fantastic. Not to mention great for the stomach after a lunch of greasy pizza.

I received this as a sample today and it is so pretty that I couldn’t wait to try it out. Tiny rosebuds are scattered throughout deep emerald oolong balls, which are punctuated by woody lemongrass. It’s truly a beautiful tea.

195/2 min. I smell lemon and I taste lemon. Unfortunately, that’s all I can taste right now. I believe there’s too much lemongrass in here and it has overtaken the flavor completely. I cannot taste rose at all, even though I was able to smell a hint of it when it was dry. Where is the oolong?

Second steep: 3 min. Okay, less lemon. That’s good. I’m also able to pick up on more of the ginger flavor. Oh, and oolong, too. It’s finally making an appearance.

Third steep: 4 min. Much better. The lemon has been toned way, way down and the oolong is coming forth in a trusty oolong manner. No rose or ginger flavor to speak of, though. It’s very pleasing and by far my favorite of the three cups. I won’t try a fourth steep as I don’t believe it would hold out that long. The leaves barely contain any scent now.

This is a really good flavored tea. I don’t taste the oolong much, but it is unobtrusive and serves as a smooth, perhaps slightly floral green base for some really good flavor. This combo is very refreshing, but also stately. Imagine the scent of a potpourri made from rose petals and citrus peel. Now imagine neither of those were dried and you were tasting them in a slightly muted form instead of smelling them, in addition to a brightness or zesty-ness that makes you think of soda-fountain dresses and bright sunny days. I really, really like the flavor of this tea!
And the flavor just keeps on keepin’ on as well: three un-timed steeps, well over 7 minutes cumulatively and these leaves still have flavor to give. I believe the first time I drank this I did a 45 second steep, which was very intensely citrus-y, followed by two or three more additional steeps, adding 30 seconds each time. The citrus mellows out but the rose and sweet citrus keeps on going.
Best part about this tea is that it is super cheap for how good it is, 2-3 bucks and ounce, I think. I am all over it!

VERY aromatic! The tea that keeps on going and going and going! I get about three to four steepings on average from this otherworldly ambrosia of rose and lemongrass without sacrificing flavor, each pot just as good as the last. The delicate oolong is just the icing on the cake. Highly recommended for oolong fans.