Light Roast Anxi Traditional Tieguanyin

Quick backlog, forgot to note this one down earlier – glad I’m getting some flavour from it now, even if I was somehow managing to confuse it with Yu Lu Yan Cha Black! Having a second infusion now :) For some reason, I’ve been craving “dry” teas lately, as in, ones that are light and non-vegetal, which this one is. Hits the spot :)

ETA: OH man. Second infusion of this one sat overnight as I passed out early again, and I’m positive it only got better! The oolong flavour is SO strong and delicious now, I could drink this forever!

I had a nice lunch at the London Tea Room with my friend today. I drank a pot (including resteep) of Shu Puerh, she had a pot of Ginger Lemongrass. Of course, we sampled each others teas. She didn’t care much for mine (& admittedly, it wasn’t my favorite puerh either, but acceptable). I wasn’t really too excited about her selection, but I do love ginger, so I gave it a go. Unsweetened it was just ok, but with a little stevia, it was really very tasty! Ginger, lemongrass, turmeric, licorice root.

I’ve been home teaching for a few hours, sipping the Light Roast Anxi Tieguanyin. It really reminds me of the sticky rice dessert you get at Vietnamese restaurants, with a mild floral scent & a slightly salty taste. I followed the western brewing suggestions & am currently enjoying the 4th infusion.

Ohhhh I got my oolongs in the mail.

Let’s talk this tea. I smelled the dry leaf of the Spring TGY and it reminded me a little of the raw butternut squash I had cut up recently. THEN I opened this one up! Now THAT is squash! No, deeper! Definitely pumpkin. Pumpkin and spiced rum and oolong and yeeeah I’m drinking this one tonight.

I’m sure it comes as no surprise that this tea just gives and gives. The flavours evoke so many autumn feelings – I love it! I definitely want to don a knit sweater with a thermos full of this and go apple picking.

My first experience with this tea was with my gaiwan. I just love to get on the boat and take a ride through the flavours as they change. When I see the reference to simmering oatmeal, this tea really evoked a memory of a recipe I have for slow cooked steel cut oats with pumpkin puree and spices, topped with whipped cream. Ah, fall! How I love thee!

Also, let’s not talk about rain. I guess it goes hand in hand with fall here – I only like it when I don’t have to go out in it – and the grey depresses me so! That said, with a tea like this to keep me warm, I think I’ll be okay :)

Easily one of the best TGYs I have ever had the opportunity to taste.

Oolongs….someday I will find one that doesn’t have that taste that I dislike. This one is close. Ill go through the multiple steepings to give this a full shot, but I don’t think ill likely be stocking this up.

I do like the initial taste of this one though.

Edit: I’m beginning to think it’s the smell even more than the taste… later steepings of this aren’t half bad.

I appreciated this sample that I received with my order. I have enjoyed every tiguanyin from Verdant, and this is no exception. The light roast is quite pleasing. Being somewhat lazy today, I did 20, 40 and 60 second steepings but put them all in one big cup. I’m sure I’ll get several more infusions. I do not have the gift of discerning and describing all the nuances of each infusion the way people like Terri Harplady do. I’m glad for people like Bonnie, Terri, Azzrian, and numerous others that do this so well on Steepster. All I can say about this particular selection is that it is very good and I’m glad I’m sipping it today.

I really do not know how to describe this tea. I brewed it up several different ways and it tastes so good every time. There are hints of sweet potato, which is interesting and various other flavors I cannot describe. I am in love.

I actually got this as a sample a while back, but I got too caught up in my work, and didn’t get arround to trying it out. Since I’m officially done with classes for the semester as of now.

Anyway, first cup, 15 seconds. I’m really plased with the tea so far. The creamy smoothness of aged Tieguanyins is soemthing that I really enjoy, and this is a paticularly fine example. Better yet, the tea has some amazing fruity qualities, which transition into an interesting aftertaste that lingers for a good two minutes. It’s hard for me to describe what I’m tasteing, but it is certainly pleaseant. The result is a fantastic tea, perfeect for the cold weather in the D.C. area today.

This tea was fantastic, great flavor, lots of nuances, held up for a number of infusions (though the first was clearly the best). If they weren’t already sold out, I’d be ordering more and stocking up. But really one of the best oolongs that I’ve ever had – if more comes available I will easily put in a 4-6 oz order, I liked it that much.