Phoenix Oolong

Tea: Supreme Phoenix Oolong
Vendor: Aroma Tea Shop
Price: $16.00 / 2 oz
Source: Guangdong, China
Vendor Description:Our Supreme Phoenix Oolong has an even more astonishing fragrance and aroma compared to the lower grades. This top grade Amber Oolong also originates from the Phoenix Mountains of Guangdong Province of China. Not to be missed for those who love a rich Amber Oolong.

Leaf: This tea has a smaller leaf size than most Phoenix Oolongs that I have tried. There are a fair amount of smaller pieces in the mix and a light sweet characteristic phoenix aroma to it.

1st Infusion Parameters: 5g, 5oz, 208F, 5s rinse, 45s

1st Infusion: This infusion has a rich chocolaty brown hue to it. The aroma is bold and intense. It is less floral than some others I have tried, but still strong and distinctively phoenix. The flavor is very bodied and bold. It feels centered in the front and middle ending with a light aftertaste. The aftertaste is light and clean.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 208F, 45s

2nd Infusion: This infusion has the same rich brown hue to it. The aroma is still bold, it has an almost savory aroma to it. The front of the flavor is very bold and intense. It is very smooth all the way through tapering down to a light bitter aftertaste. It is strong and has quite a bit of intense flavor to it.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 208F, 1:30

3rd Infusion: This time the color was a little lighter brown. It was still crystal clear with a bold and rich aroma to it. The flavor was a lot lighter than before, but it finishes with a clean aftertaste and just a hint of astingency.

4th Infusion Parameters: 208F, 3:00

4th Infusion: This infusion has the same brown hue to it. The aroma is light, and there is not much left to it. The flavor is light and crisp, it is showing signs of letting up. There is a medium astringency on it, but it is still flavorful.

Rating: 8/10

Conclusion: This is a pretty good phoenix oolong for the lower end spectrum. At it's price it's about on par for what it should be. It's not as specialized in flavor as the specific variety bushes, and the flavor shows that. It is about where it should be for it's price. While bold and intense it is broad and unrefined. What it lacks in clairty it tries to make up for in intensity.