Pineapple Oolong

Tea: Pineapple Oolong - 8510
Vendor: Lupicia USA
Price: $9.00 / 50g.
Vendor Description: Taiwanese oolong tea flavored with sweet pineapple using the famous Taiwanese pineapple cake as its image.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea is a yellow green Taiwanese style balled oolong tea. There are small dried pieces of pineapple. The leaf has a very matte color to it, it looks like a rather large amount of stem is still attached on the balls. Most are multi-leaf clusters. The aroma to the tea is sweet and somewhat confused. It is a mix of the sweetness of the fruit with the fresh aroma of the Taiwanese oolong. There is a rather wide variety int he size of the leaf balls.

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

1st Infusion: The tea has a bright yellow hue to it. The aroma is predominantly that of a green oolong, it is bold and strong, but not very clear. The flavor of the tea has a snappy pineapple flavor sitting atop the green oolong flavor. The flavor reminds me very much of a dried piece of pineapple, but the tea isn't very sweet. It's for the most part light and short lived. The dried pineapple flavor feels as though it's masking the green oolong flavor slightly. The two flavors seem to go well together, but the pineapple is a bit on top.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 1:30, 208F

2nd Infusion: This infusion has a golden brown color it it. There is less aroma, but what is there feels very wide and broad. The flavor is bolder with a stronger pineapple flavor. It feels like a good pairing of the sweetness of the pineapple and the freshness of the oolong. Strangely this pairing brings to mind hints of beer flavoring. There is a light astringency on the back end of the tea. As the flavor progresses it feels as though it deepens.

Rating: 7/10

Conclusion: Interesting flavor pairing. The two seem to go well together, although the pineapple is edging out above the oolong. Although sweet pineapple tends to be more outstanding of a flavor than a fresh Taiwanese oolong. Although it's pretty good, at it's price it is a bit steep. I think for it's price I would like to stick to something a bit more refined and unflavored.

Ba Xian Dan Cong Winter Single Bush

Tea: Ba Xian Dan Cong, Winter Single Bush
Vendor: Jing Tea Shop
Price: $29.00 / 100g

About this tea: This tea was a sample provided to me by Salsero over at Tea Chat. This tea is no longer available from the Jing Tea Shop website so the information pertaining to it is a bit short.

Leaf: This tea is a mix of dark black colored leaf along with some green leaf. This reminds me of the Yulan Dancong from Canton Tea Co. Some of the leaves are light green in color. There is a light floral aroma with a medium intensity to the leaf. Most of the leaf is slightly wider and flatter than most Dan Cong oolongs.

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

1st Infusion: The tea is a yellow green hue. It has a very vibrant aroma and reminds me of freshness. There is quite a bit of aroma to this tea. The flavor is bold and full bodied. There is a light tinge of sharpness and a light side of the mouth sense of astringency. The tea has a definite green freshness to it.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 45s, 208F

2nd Infusion: This infusion has a browner hue than the first. It is less floral of an aroma. It feels thicker and heavier. The flavor is lighter and snappier, with a light sense of astringency.

Rating: 7/10

Conclusion: The first infusion of this tea had a fantastic sense of aroma. Unfortunately that all but disappeared in the second infusion. I'm still not quite sure what I think of greener Dan Cong oolong teas, and this is definitely one of them. The price is affordable for a good Dan Cong, but there are others that perform better for less.

Narcissus

Tea: Narcissus
Vendor: Lupicia USA
Price: $5.00 / 50g
Vendor Description: Oolong tea with a distinctive aroma and refreshing astringency. As it has a refreshing aftertaste, it even goes well with oily dishes.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea is a large black colored oolong tea. It reminds me somewhat of the Glorious Seed (Se Zhong) tea in terms of shape and light rolling. It however is a much darker oolong than Glorious Seed. While Glorious Seed was a green oolong, this is a much darker oolong, with an aroma that reminds me of Wuyi oolongs. (I have a feeling that is what this one is.)

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

1st Infusion: This infusion has a thick and heavy aroma to it. The tea has a hue similar to that of a light cup of coffee. The flavor is thick and rich. Most of the flavor is on the outer sides of my mouth. The central portion of the flavor isn't as strong as the sides. It starts out up front but moves to the sides instead of down the center. There is a very heavy roasted type flavor to this tea.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 1:30, 208F

2nd Infusion: This infusion has the same dark coffee brown hue as the first. The aroma though is much lighter than the first. The flavor is still rich and bodied. It is intense and bold, starting early on in the front and moving into a nice middle flavor. It is much stronger than the first infusion.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 2:00, 208F

3rd Infusion: The hue this time was a bit lighter than the second infusion. There is still a light aroma to the tea. The flavor is significantly lighter than that for the second infusion, but it feels very even from the start to the finish. It finishes with a light sense of astringency.

4th Infusion Parameters: 3:00, 208F

4th Infusion: This infusion has a lighter copper color. The flavor is even lighter than before, although it still has a good degree of body left to the tea. There is no bitterness or astringency though.

Rating: 7/10

Conclusion: This tea is best described as an everyday Wuyi. Although I have no idea if the tea is actually from the Wuyi mountains, it feels like it is. The flavor isn't as refined as some nicer Wuyi oolongs, but it is representative. It's relatively nicely priced and has the strength to continue for a fair number of infusions.

Feng Huang Milan Dancong

Tea: Feng Huang Milan Dancong
Vendor: Jing Tea Shop
Price: $4.99 / 100g
Source: Guangdong, China
Vendor Description: Everyday milan tea from the Wudong Mountain, Feng Huang town. The tea only went through its first baking steps which allows the leaves to offers a more flowery then honey profile. The liquor is quite pure, after taste has medium lenght. The tea will be rebaked later in the month so now is a good time to get acquainted with the flowery character of a milan dancong.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea is a very large and fluffy black leaf, rather well cared for and unbroken. There is a light aroma to the leaf. It is a very phoenix style characteristic aroma. It is rather faint so it is a bit difficult to narrow it down a bit more than that. The leaves are an assortment of brown hues.

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

1st Infusion: This tea has a lovely sweet and floral aroma. The liquor shows a clear brown hue with shades of red. The aroma feels very broad and general. The flavor matches the aroma well, both in breadth and generality. The flavor of the tea is very bodied. Despite the heavy body it has a nice and light, flavorful feeling to it. The core of the flavor is very thin, but the sides are stronger than the core of the flavor. There is a thickness left on the tongue as an aftertaste. The backend of the flavor is somewhat thick.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 208F, 1:00

2nd Infusion: This infusion was a darker golden brown hue. It is lightly murky with a lighter aroma to it. The flavor still lacks the central portion of the core as the first infusion though. There is a light astringency and bitterness in the flavor. It feels a bit sharp on the tongue, but shows a decent body. The flavor is in general a very smooth, yet crisp flavor overall.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 1:45, 208F

3rd Infusion: This infusion was a more golden brown hue than previous infusions. This one again shows a light aroma, no real change from the previous infusions, just simply a light aroma. The flavor was a sharper bitter flavor again. It finishes with a medium high astringency on the backend. There is a snappy bitterness in the aftertaste.

Rating: 3/10

Conclusion: This tea was interesting. Aside from the Royal Phoenix from Tao of Tea it's the only other Phoenix that I have found in this particular price range. From what I have seen of teas in this range though, it leads me to believe that it's better to just stay above this range if you're looking for a Phoenix oolong. For me one of the most alluring parts of a Phoenix is the ever so disticnt, yet indescribable aroma. That is something that was utterly lacking with this tea. Also the depth of the flavor were not showing that well before the tea turned more bitter and astringent. When going for a Phoenix oolong in my opinion you should, as Emeril would say, kick it up a notch! Thank you to Salsero over at Teachat though for providing me this sample.

Jade Dew Mingjian

Tea: Jade Dew Mingjian - 6286
Vendor: Lupicia USA
Price: $7.50 / 50g
Source: Taiwan
Vendor Description: Fully enjoy the luxurious flavor just like jasmine with the winter-picked Taiwanese oolong tea.

Leaf: The leaf consists typically shaped ball formed oolong tea. The balls are smaller than most that I see, but typically tightly rolled with some stem visitble. The leaf is very matte in color, and it has a very sweet and heavy aroma to it.

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

1st Infusion: The tea has a radiant green color. It is green, radiant and quite clear. There is a heavy yet bold and strong aroma to the tea. The flavor is very focused on the front and middle portions of the flavor. It shows a very round flavor overall.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 1:00, 208F
2nd Infusion: This infusion has a much stronger aroma, yet retains the radiant green color of the first. It has a thick and rich aroma to it still. The flavor has moved toward the back end in this infusion instead of the frontal notions from the first. There is a light sense of astringency on the back now.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 2:00, 208F

3rd Infusion: This infusion was much bolder in color. Instead of the radiant green of the first and second infusions it switched toa more yellow green color. The flavor is much bolder than the first two, and shifted back toward the front of the flavor. It feels a bit empty and ends with a light astringency on the back end.

Rating: 7/10
Conclusion: This is a pretty solid Taiwanese oolong. There isn't anything terribly outstanding, detracting, or unusual about it. It's pretty characteristic for the class of oolong. Simple, smooth, green and normal. It is reasonably priced for a solid green oolong. It holds up well for a few infusions and is a very good representation of class.

Snowy Leaves

Tea: Snowy Leaves
Vendor: Lupicia USA
Price: $7.00 / 50g
Source: Guandong, China
Vendor Description: Oolong tea which is commonly used in Guangdong Province. The very large tea leaves picked from ladders from self-standing single tea trees characterize this tea. Rich and mellow aroma and solid taste.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea consists of large dark black leaves. There are small hues of brown and grey on the leaves, nothing out of the ordinary for a Phoenix oolong. The leaves are a moderately large size for their type, not overly large or small.

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

1st Infusion: This tea has an amazing aroma to it. It is floral, yet sweet and malty at the same time. It is very distinctively a phoenix oolong aroma, but it is not terribly refined or clear. Instead it is a broad encompassing, yet pleasant aroma. The tea itself is a beautiful brown hue. It has a sharp flavor, yet has a very smooth body to it. There is a long aftertaste and a mouth watering and warming feeling accompanying it.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 45s, 208F

2nd Infusion: This infusion has a lighter aroma, but still the same inviting floral feel to it. The flavor for this infusion is richer and bolder. It has a golden brown hue with hints of red. Again the flavor has an interesting mouth watering feel ot it. Overall it has a very bodied flavor.
3rd Infusion Parameters: 1:30, 208F

3rd Infusion: This time around the hue turned to a more golden color. The aroma has died down a bit, it is not as heavy anymore, but the floral characteristic is still readily found and it is more noticeable. The tea itself has a full body with a lighter flavor to it. The core of the flavor feels a bit empty though. It finishes nicely with a nice light sense of astringency.

4th Infusion Parameters: 2:15, 208F

4th Infusion: This infusion was lighter, but still had a rich color to it. The aroma was just noticeable at this point, with traces of the floral characteristic shining through. The flavor was richer than the 3rd infusion, with a generally intensified feel to it. This infusion felt smooth and welcoming, and left with a light sense of astringency again.

5th Infusion Parameters: 3:00, 208F

5th Infusion: This infusion had a light background aroma, nowhere near as prominent as the first few infusions. The flavor mirrored the waning aroma, in that it was much lighter and nowhere near it's previous bretheren. There was no astringency, but even in it's weakness this tea felt calming.

Rating: 10/10

Conclusion: I have been searching for different Phoenix Oolongs for a while, trying to find one more apt for daily drinking than some of the higher end ones. This seems to fit the bill quite nicely. It has a very solid and lasting flavor, with no major downsides. It is not overly cheap, nor overly expensive. It fits the bill quite nicely for a nice Phoenix oolong. This is one of my preferred Phoenix oolongs now.

Royal Phoenix

Tea: Royal Phoenix
Vendor: Tao of Tea
Price: $8.75 / 2.5 oz
Source: Guangdong Province, China
Vendor Description: In some areas of the Phoenix Mountains in Guangdong province, China, there are wild tea plants that remain a source for some of the best oolong teas in the world. Leaves from these old tea trees are prized for the flavor and full body. Making Royal Phoenix oolong invloves precise rolling and baking techniques to fully develop a toasty texture, fragrant aroma and taste similar to nectarines and peaches.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea is a dark brown – black leaf. The leaf is somewhat smaller than other Phoenix oolongs. The leaf is somewhat broken.

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

1^st Infusion: The tea has a lightly sweet aroma to it. It somewhat reminds me of a greener oolong. It has a light golden brown hue to it. It has a clear transparency to it. The aroma is sharp with woody tones to it. The flavor has a sharp almost soapy characteristic to it. It also has a medium bitterness to it, which is rather strong for a first infusion. There is no astringency and the flavor is overall somewhat weak.

2^nd Infusion Parameters: 45s, 208F

2^nd Infusion: This infusion has the same muddled woody aroma to it. It has a very sharp feeling on the tongue. The flavor is overall the same as the first infusion.

Rating: 1/10

Conclusion: This was a rather disappointing tea. For a phoenix aroma it doesn’t have the same characteristic floral characteristic to the aroma. The flavor was too sharp and bitter for a first infusion, and the flavor felt very muddled and confused. It’s not a very good flavor overall and it feels too harsh.

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.

Mt. Ali Taiwan Oolong - 6290

Tea: Mt. Ali Taiwan Oolong -6290
Vendor: Lupicia USA
Price: $26.50 / 50g
Source: Jiayi, Taiwan
Vendor Description: A flowery flavor diffuses throughout your mouth the moment you taste this winter-picked Taiwanese alpine tea.

About This Tea: This is one of the winter harvest oolongs that was sampled at the Lupicia Tasting event.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea comes in the form of large rather uniformly sized balls. They have a clean and clear, yet strong aroma. The aroma exudes a sense of green freshness and floral notes. The balls have a light glossiness to their green hues.

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

1st Infusion: This tea has a brilliant floral aroma to it. It is very clear and singly refined. The tea itself is clear with an almost radiant light green color to it. The flavor matches the aroma with a sense of freshness and alight clean flavor. Tucked in the folds of the crispness of this tea there are light floral notes.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 208F, 1:30

2nd Infusion: The aroma of this tea intensified with this infusion. The hue shifted a bit toward the yellow side of things. The flavor matched the intensification of the aroma and showed itself as a rich, clear and singular flavor. The aroma feels very well tied to the flavor, both feel crisp and clear.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 2:15, 208F

3rd Infusion: This infusion has an even deeper green hue. It has the same rich and intense taste to it, there is a little bit of an astringency on the back end of this infusion though.

4th Infusion Parameters: 3:00, 208F

4th Infusion: The aroma in this infusion is starting to lighten up. The hue is a lighter clear green color. The flavor is still very singular and refined. The astringency is built up a bit more to a medium astringnecy.

5th Infusion Parameters: 4:00, 208F

5th Infusion: This infusion has a noticeably yellower colro to it. The aroma is a bit hard to detect at this point. The flavor feels a bit on the light side, and it's not as deep of a flavor as it was before.

Rating: 10/10

Conclusion: This tea is quite a fantastic Taiwanese oolong. The flavor is clear and refined, it held up without significant change for 5 solid infusions. It is rather pricey though at around 50c/g. All in all quite a remarkable tea.

Huang Jin Gui

Tea: Huang Jin Gui - 7005
Vendor: Lupicia USA
Price: $7.00 / 50g
Source: Fujian, China
Vendor Description: Famous oolong tea from Fujian Province. It is very popular with its light refreshing taste. A tea with golden water color and elegant aroma like Osmanthus flowers.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea ranges in color from a light to dark green leaf. It is rolled, but not quite like some tightly rolled Taiwanese oolongs. It's loosely rolled. It has a light dry aroma to it.

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

1st Infusion: This tea has a very flowery aroma to it. It is very crisp and uplifting. The color is a clear pale yellow hue. The flavor is very crisp, pairing well with the aroma. There are floral notes in the aftertaste. There is no bitterness to astringency, simply a smooth light floral flavor.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 208F, 45s

2nd Infusion: This infusion was a darker yellow-green hue. The flowery aroma still remained, but it hinted almost to the sweetness of a dan cong aroma. The flavor was overall stronger with a mouth watering feel to it and left with a light clean aftertaste.
3rd Infusion Parameters: 1:15, 208F

3rd Infusion: This infusion was a yellower hue than before, but retained hints of green. There was effectively no aroma to this infusion. The flavor was bold and up front this time. There was an empty feeling in the central flavor. It then finished off with a light sense of astringency on the back end.

4th Infusion Parameters: 208F, 2:00

4th Infusion: This infusion was a lighter hue than before. There was no astringency this time around, and overall the flavor was very unassuming and conservative.

Rating: 5/10

Conclusion: This was overall a very unassuming and mundane oolong. While there were no significant faults to it there were no major selling points either. It's an average green oolong with a somewhat average price to it. It's a bit high, but within acceptable tolerances. It would be a good tea to introduce someone to a general green oolong.

Winter FengHuang WuDong Old Bush DanCong "Huang Jing" 2007

Tea: Winter FengHuang WuDong Old Bush DanCong "Huang Jing" 2007
Vendor: Hou De Asian Art & Fine Tea
Price: $19.50 / 2 oz
Source: Wu Dong, Feng Huang county, Guang Dong, China
Vendor Description: A truely unique and precious fenghuang dancong! To make this HuangJing dancong, only winter-season hand-harvested leaves from over 50 years old bushes in WuDong plantation area can be used. Also, more mature leaves instead tender ones are used. The very bold and expressive looking dry leaves is electrifying just by looking at them. When I first time to try to brew it, I was puzzled by what and how to deal with those monster leaves!

This dancong gets its name from the noble golden-yellow color on its dry leaves. The kneading of leaves is different from traditional stripe-form rolling: leaves are folded several times and tightly pressed. I asked the producer for the reason, and he hinted that the mature Winter leaves are very thick so difficult to roll into stripe form. Also due to the bold and thickness, the leaves are easier to "receive firing effect" in such loose form.

Aroma is richly creamy, floral, with a hint of hearty fruitiness.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea is very large and full leaves. They are very fluffy with a brown hue that has hints of green. There is a little bit of blackness to the leaf as well. There is a light faint aroma to it. Some of the leaves have a gnarled looking texture to it which I thought was a bit unusual.

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

1st Infusion: This tea has a light amber color to it. There is a lot of aroma to the tea. The aroma was soft, it was sweeter than most other DC's that I have had. The tea has a very mouth watering feeling to it. It is full bodied with a touch of astringency. The flavor is smooth and calming.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 208F, 45s

2nd Infusion: The tea had a light clear color again. The aroma was sweet and reminded me of autumn. It was quite bold. This time around the flavor was a bit more intense. It gave me a mouth cleaning feeling with it's touch of astringency. There was still an interesting mouth watering feeling to it.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 208F, 2:45

3rd Infusion: The duration of this infusion was an accidental oversteep. Because of this there was a lot of power and strength to the tea all around. The aroma was bold and very present. The taste matched, there was a medium sense of astringency that developed as well. It was all around very pleasant despite the oversteep.

Rating: 8/10

Conclusion: I wasn't terribly impressed by this tea. At almost $10/oz I somewhat expected more. The astringency I found in the first two infusions was a bit of a surprise, since it normally doesn't show up that much until later. The aroma was unique as well as the presentation of the leaf, but overall I have had teas that have a very similar experience for less.

Yulan Dancong

Tea: Yulan Dancong
Vendor: Canton Tea Co.
Price: £9.99 / 50g
Vendor Description: The leaves are a golden-green with a wrinkly surface and have a peach-like fragrance. The liquor is full-bodied with a thick texture and has a deliciously sweet, long-lasting aftertaste which means it is a good example of a high quality Yulan. The flavour develops with each brew saves should be infused several times.

Additional Vendor Information:
Origin: Wu Dong Mountain, Chao Zhou, Guang Dong.
Harvest : Winter 2008
Varietal : Single Bush Yu Lan
Altitude : 400m ~ 600m
Certification : Small production direct from the farmer.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea is somewhat unusual looking. The leaves are long, dark and twisted like other Dan Congs, but instead of the more traditional grey edges around the leaves the edges of the leaves have some green accents to it. They are very well formed though and well cared for. The leaves are large and intact.

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

1st Infusion: The first infusion produced a clear light yellow green hue. The aroma is very green it reminds me of green oolongs, like a dong ding or most Taiwanese oolongs. The flavor exhibits a very green crispness to it. The flavor overall is quite light. The aroma leads right into the flavor though and shows a harmony that is at times rare to find. It is light boded, but the flavor builds up more towards the backend.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 45s, 208F

2nd Infusion: This infusion produced a deeper golden yellow hue. The aroma is now a cross between the floral loftiness of a Dan Cong and a crisp green oolong. The flavor is more bodied, to the point where it is quite well bodied. There is a light astringency on the backend even though the flavor feels a bit light. The light flavor still feels very much like a Taiwanese green oolong.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 2:00, 208F

3rd Infusion: This time around the color took a yet darker hue almost at an amber yellow color. The aroma was very much still a green oolong, the floral points had faded away. The flavor was very light. The flavor and the color were somewhat out of sync with one another. It was quite light considering the darkness of the hue. Aside from a medium sense of bitterness the flavor was quite light overall.

Rating: 7/10

Conclusion: I still don't really know what to make of this tea. It is very unique to say the least. It feels very green, it shows many characteristics of Taiwanese oolongs, but at the same time shows the traditional Dan Cong flavors and aromas. It is a bit on the pricey side, I think I prefer the Milan Dan Cong to this one.

Snow Orchid Dan Cong Oolong 2007

Tea: Xue Lan Xiang (Snow Orchid) Dan Cong Oolong 2007
Vendor: Seven Cups
Price: $11.80 / 50g ( for the 2008 currently)
Source: Chaozhou City, Guangdong Province
Vendor Description: Snow Orchid is the most popular Dan Cong tea due to its strong peach aroma and taste. The strong oxidation and roasting allow the special character of this tea to remain stable for at least two years. Appreciate the dry leaves that smell like the local orchids blooming in winter from which this tea is named. After brewing, the clean honey tea color will yield a robust flavor that fill the mouth and leaves a complex lingering aftertaste. The Chaozhou people, from whom this tea comes, are famous for their rich diet and frequently pair this tea with meals to improve digestion.

Additional Vendor Information:
Tea Bush: Mi Lan Xiang descendent from original Feng Huang Shui Xian
Tea Master: Ye Han Zhong
Harvest Time: middle of March
Picking Standard: zhong kai mian (2-3 slightly open leaves)
Brewing vessel: glass cup, gaiwan, glass or porcelain pot, yixing pot
Brewing Guidelines: 1st infusion 1 Tbs per 12 oz 212F for 1 min
Infusions: at least 6 times

Leaf: The leaf for this tea had smallish leaf for a Dan Cong. It is still large in size. The leaves are black with brown highlights and grey on the edges.

1st Infusion Parameters: 4.28g, 5oz, 208F, 45s, 5s rinse

1st Infusion: This infusion has a light brown color. It is almost red in hue. The aroma is interesting, it has a certain woodiness to it. The flavor is light with a pronounced sharpness on the back end. I found that the aroma was quite captivating with a very nice smoothness up front. There was a very light astringency on the back end. The flavor is lighter than most Dan Cong.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 1:30, 208F

2nd Infusion: This infusion has a stronger core Dan Cong aroma to it, the aroma was much sweeter this time. The color was a red-brown hue. The flavor is much richer and quite full bodied. It was lightly sweet, but much more flavorful. There is a medium sense of astringency. It gives me a peaceful feeling.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 2:15, 208F

3rd Infusion: This infusion had a lighter red-brown hue to it. The flavor was even richer than the second infusion. It was smooth and a bit more subdued. There was a medium sense of astringency. It leaves a bit of a rough feeling on my tongue.

4th Infusion Parameters: 3:00, 208F

4th Infusion: This infusion had a light brown hue with a very light aroma. The tea is still smooth and flavorful with a medium sense of astringency.

Rating: 9/10

Conclusion: This was a very flavorful DC. This was very enjoyable and is rather inexpensively priced. The flavor got richer for the second and third infusions for three very pleasant infusions. I can't think of any significant downsides to this tea. Thank you to Jessica over at Authoritea for this sample.

Da Wu Ye - Big Dark Leaf 2008

Tea: Da Wu Ye - Big Dark Leaf 2008
Vendor: Tea Habitat
Price: $30.00 / oz
Source: Guangdong, China
Vendor Description: Da Wu Ye in literal translation is Big Dark Leaf, one of the 2 main varietals of Phoenix Oolong Tea. This particular varietal is suitable for making Jiang Hua Xiang-Ginger Flower Fragrance Dan Cong tea. Ginger Flower Fragrance Dan Cong is one of the most difficult teas to produce and the most sought after. All Ginger Flower Fragrance Dan Congs are made of Big Dark Leaf varietal, not all Big Dark Leaf varietals can be made into Ginger Flower Fragrance Dan Congs.

Aroma of this tea is magnificent, distinctively pure, subtly rich, shyly beautiful. Flavor is honey water in a desert, nourishment that eases away tension. Texture is rich and buttery. A tea you want to drink if you like to lay on a chaise and day dream.

Leaf: The leaf for this tea had absolutely no dust to it, the leaves were all very large long thin black leaves. All beautifully formed with just a light sweet aroma to them.

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

1st Infusion: This tea has an absolutely astounding aroma. It is floral with a certain thickness to it. Even within the floral aroma is a calming sweetness. The tea itself is an amber yellow-brown hue. The flavor is very rich and up front. It starts out strong and then tapers to a nice aftertaste. The aroma is bolder than that of any other Dan Cong that I have tried. The taste is floral and pleasant pairing well with the aroma.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 1:15, 208F

2nd Infusion: This time the tea was more of a chestnut brown hue. The aroma is richer and stronger, and a bit less floral. Instead of a floral loftiness it has a more savory thick feel to it, yet despite the thickness it feels clear and clean. The flavor is smooth and pleasant with a light bitterness and finishes with just a hint of astringency. The flavor is quite intense and tapers down into a lingering aftertaste paired with a clean feeling.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 1:45, 208F

3rd Infusion: This infusion was smooth with a little less assertive of a flavor. The core of the flavor is still quite strong, but the sides of the flavor were a little less intense with this infusion. There was not quite as much aroma to this tea this time, which was a bit saddening. The tea felt very graceful with this infusion though.

4th Infusion Parameters: 2:30, 208F

4th Infusion: This infusion had a lighter straw yellow color. The aroma was not very prominent, but it felt very thick and heavy. The flavor was light, and not terribly flavorful, but the tea had a very strong thickness. The underlying flavor was still there, but the forward portion of the flavor wasn't as prominent. There was a medium sense of astringency on the backend.

5th Infusion Parameters: 3:30, 208F

5th Infusion: This infusion had the same straw yellow color to it. The aroma felt the same as it was with the 4th infusion. It was lighter, and a little bit less flavorful this time around. The flavor is thinning out at this point, but it is still light and smooth. It has a long taper to an aftertaste.

6th Infusion Parameters: 6:00, 208F

6th Infusion: The tea was quite honey colored with a light and sweet aroma. The flavor was a bit watery, it showed that there was not much left to this tea. It still has a tastiness to it though which was quite enjoyable.

Rating: 10/10

Conclusion: This tea was absolutely phenomenal. The flavor was strong and intense on the front end and held out for a surprisingly long time. The aroma was in a word; sublime. After doing this review I actually brewed it a few different ways, and the most surprising of which was a 6 oz infusion I made using only 3 leaves. Despite only three leaves being used it had an absolutely sublime aroma again and went for 3 infusions.

Se Zhong

Tea: Se Zhong - 7007 (Glorious Seed under the new Lupicia naming scheme)
Vendor: Lupicia USA
Price: $5.00 / 50g
Source: Fujian, China
Vendor Description: Popular oolong tea from Fujian Province, has a faint floral aroma and a greenish sweet flavor. The tea leaves are rounded small and firm.

Leaf: This tea is rolled into little balls similar to a Taiwanese oolong, but not as tightly. They're still farily loose. There are some rather sizable pieces of stem in the mix as well. The balls have a mix of green and brown hues to them.

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

1st Infusion: This infusion has a clear yellow brownish hue to it. There is a very light yet uplifting floral aroma to this tea. The flavor is light and clear, to match well with the aroma. There is no aftertaste to speak of, just a simple clean flavor.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 208F, 1:15

2nd Infusion: This infusion has a rich dark yellow hue to it. The aroma is still floral, but lighter than the first infusion. The flavor is still somewhat light, but it is bolder up front this time. There is no aftertaste, but the front has a feeling like a very well balanced tea. It is bodied, but does not have much flavor behind it. It is like you can feel the texture of the tea, but can't bring to mind much in terms of a central flavor to concentrate on. It's an almost creamy flavor, but it has a very warm mouth feeling to it.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 2:25, 208F

3rd Infusion: This infusion has the same yellow-brown color as before. The aroma is even less noticeable this time around. Despite the decreased intensity it is still the same aroma. The tea has the same texture as before. There is a certain smoothness to it that is hard to describe. It finishes with a light astringency. Overall this infusion has a floral and pleasant oolong flavoring to it.

4th Infusion Parameters: 3:30, 208F

4th Infusion: This is again the same hue as the previous infusions. There is not much aroma to it this time around. The flavor is a little bit lighter. After sipping this tea there is a cooling feeling in my mouth. There is a medium sense of astringency on the backend, but not much else besides that.

Rating: 6/10

Conclusion: This wasn't a particularly mindblowing tea, in fact it feels quite mundane and average. It is however a very nicely priced oolong. It produced 4 rather solid infusions, which for it's price is quite good. I haven't had many oolongs which have a very similar flavor, so the flavor is somewhat unique.

Pouchong

Tea: Pouchong
Vendor: Canton Tea Co.
Price: £8.99 / 40g
Source: Xu Family Farm, Wenshan, Taipei province, Taiwan
Harvest: Spring 08
Vendor Description: Pouchong is one of the most famous of all Taiwan teas and ours is from one of the best producers. This deliciously smooth, very lightly oxidised green tea is almost an oolong. It has delicate floral notes with smooth, sweet undertones and a soft apricot finish. All the Pouchong produced at the Xu Family farm is bought up very quickly by local buyers. We are the only company outside Taiwan to have access to this exceptional tea.
Additional Vendor Information:
Grade: Top grade AA

Leaf: The leaf for this tea is a very light and fluffy green leaf. The shape and size somewhat remind me of a Wuyi or Dan Cong Oolong. There is a very fresh aroma to it and the leaves have a very matte green color to them, spanning the spectrum of green colors.

1st Infusion Parameters: 5g, 5 oz, 185F, 5s Rinse, 1 Min

1st Infusion: The tea has a clear green hue to it. The aroma reminds me of a Taiwanese green oolong. The flavor is very light and smooth. It has a very green and fresh feeling to it. Rather surprisingly it gives me a very wet feeling in my mouth. There is a strong central flavor with no bitternes or astringnecy.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 30s, 185F

2nd Infusion: Again this feels very much like most green oolongs. The color is a rich shade of green. The flavor is smooth with a barely noticeable sense of astringency. The flavor is very strong and intense.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 1:30, 185F

3rd Infusion: The flavor is still rich and fresh. This infusion feels very much like the second infusion. It is very pleasant and enjoyable, with just a hint of being lighter than the second infusion.

Rating: 7/10

Conclusion: This is a very enjoyable tea, it has an outstanding flavor to it. The downside to this tea though is that there is nothting that feels that oustanding about it aside from it's very fresh and light taste that it has. As enjoyable as this taste is it does not account for the somewhat steep price for this tea.

Milan Dancong

Tea: Milan Dancong
Vendor: Canton Tea Co.
Price: £6.99 / 50g
Source: Wu Dong Shan, Chaozhou, Guangdong province.
Vendor Description: This wonderful oolong comes from a plantation on the lower slopes of Wu Dong mountain. The leaves are thoroughly fermented and baked to produce a rich liquor with unique flowery and honey notes that can be enjoyed through multiple infusions

Leaf: The leaf for this tea appears to be thin delicate wiry black leaves. As normal for a Dan Cong it is very low density and it has a very floral aroma. There is a bit of green coloring to the edges of the leaf.

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

1st Infusion: There is a very strong and sweet floral aroma to this tea. It is very characteristically Dan Cong in nature. The tea has a rich golden brown hue to it, this hue is quite surprising for a 45s Infusion. The flavor is very up front and very characteristically Dan Cong. The flavor is centered in the early to mid portions of the flavor with little to no portion in the late flavor. It is light bodied, yet has a very intense flavor. The flavor has a sharpness to it, but not so much so that it becomes a bitterness.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 45s, 208F

2nd Infusion: This infusion has the same golden brown color. The aroma is more floral this time, but not as sweet as the first infusion. The flavor is sweeter and still light bodied. The flavor is much longer lasting and has a nice tapering aftertaste.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 1:00, 208F

3rd Infusion: This infusion was lighter yet, but still had quite a floral aroma to it. The flavor is a bit lighter. Despite being lighter in flavor it is quite rich in taste. Despite being lighter it is still quite enjoyable.

4th Infusion Parameters: 2:00, 208F

4th Infusion: This infusion has a sweeter aroma than the 3rd. The tea still shows a beautiful golden brown hue to it. The flavor this time around is very even throughout. It carries a bold flavor from the beginning all the way to the end to finish in a long lasting lingering aftertaste.

5th Infusion Parameters: 3:00, 208F

5th Infusion: This infusion has a light aroma now. There is no color change to speak of, but there is a waterniess in the flavor that shows signs of the tea giving up. Despite the watery aspect of this flavor it is still a very good flavor.

Rating: 8/10

Conclusion: This is a very good Dan Cong. It's not necessarily the best on that I've had, but it's also far from being the worst. On the scale of Dan Congs it's priced right in the middle of things, closer to the bottom end than the top though. The quality of the flavor though leans more toward the higher end ones, which makes it quite a good value DC. The sweetness aspect was a bit unique to this one in the DCs that I have tried. I very much enjoyed this tea.

Shui Jin Gui 2008

Tea: Shui Jin Gui (Golden Water Turtle) Light Roast Rock Oolong 2008
Vendor: Seven Cups
Price: $14.30 / 50g
Source: Fujian, China
Vendor Description: There are four famous ancient rock oolong tea including Da Hong Pao, Bai Ji Guan, Tie Luo Han and Shui Jin Gui. Of these, Shui Jin Gui and Bai Ji Guan are have a mild and sweet character compare to the other rock oolongs. This Shui Jin Gui is lightly roasted to easily appreciate the floral aroma. The light pure taste has a sweet flavor without bitterness. This is a perfect tea for new drinkers to appreciate one of the ancient rock oolong teas. see Shui Jin Gui for most information on origins of this bush
Additional Vendor Information: Location: Fujian Province
Tea Bush: Shui Jin Gui
Tea Master: Liu Guo Ying
Harvest Time: April-May
Picking Standard: zhong kai mian (3 slightly open leaves)
Brewing vessel: glass cup, gaiwan, glass or porcelain pot, yixing pot
Brewing Guidelines: 1st infusion 1 ½ Tbs per 12 oz 212F for 1 min
Infusions: at least 6 times

Leaf: This tea is comprised of large black leaf. It looks quite typical for a Wuyi Oolong. The leaves are light and fluffy, twisted as is normal. There is also a very prominent and heavy wuyi aroma to it.

1st Infusion Parameters: 2.5g, 3oz, 208F, 45s, 5s rinse

1st Infusion: This infusion has a light amber hue. There is a pleasant light roasty aroma to it. The flavor is light with a sweet aftertaste. The flavor seems to develop more as the cup progresses. The flavor is mostly in the early portion and finishes a light sense of astringency.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 1:30, 208F

2nd Infusion: This infusion has a darker brownish hue than the first one. The aroma is rich and sweet. The flavor is light and crisp. It has a very clean feeling to it. The middle of the flavor pokes out some hints of a heavy flavor and leaves with a heavy aftertaste. The afteraste was heavy as if the tea were all around heavier.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 2:00, 208F

3rd Infusion: This infusion has the same enjoyable wuyi aroma. The flavor is bold and rich, it is upfront and smooth. The tea really opened up for this infusion. Although it leaves a bit of an empty aftertaste on the back end.

Rating: 8/10

Conclusion: This tea is very subtle. The first two infusions are light and pleasant. It's almost as if it takes the first two infusioins to open up, but the subtle infusions are light and pleasant. The tea is well handled and very intact, which for a wuyi is impressive. Thank you to Jessica over at Authoritea for this sample.

Melon Oolong Cold Brew

Tea: Melon Oolong Cold Brew - 8239
Vendor: Lupicia USA
Price: $9.00 / 50g
Vendor Description: Sweet aroma of juicy melons and aromatic Taiwanese oolong tea.

Infusion Parameters: 15g, 1 L , Overnight steep in refrigerator.

Infusion: This tea infused into a clear yellow color. It has a sweet aroma, it's like a light cantaloupe aroma. The flavor is somewhat unusual, it is very cool and light. The strength of the flavor on my tongue very much reminds me of a piece of cantaloupe. The tea feels crisp overall with an aftertaste that reminds me of melon rind.

Rating: 5/10

Conclusion: I liked this tea this way. It was cool and refreshing, but the price of the tea is a bit high considering the ratio used. It makes for a somewhat expensive cup of iced tea. It is however very cool and refreshing. I wonder what this would be like with an actual piece of cantaloupe.

Ali Shan

Tea: Ali Shan
Vendor: Adagio Teas
Price: $29.00 / 5 oz
Source: Taiwan
Vendor Description: Oolong tea from Taiwan. Formosa, meaning 'beautiful' was what the Portuguese explorers called this island. The oolong tea grown here continues to be called as such. The exquisite bouquet of Formosa Oolong tea is regarded to be the finest in the world. Complex floral notes echo on your palate as you enjoy this product of Taiwan's Ali mountain. Light bodied and softly sweet with an underlying complexity, this oolong will surely come to haunt. Perfect for multiple infusions.

Leaf: This leaf consists of large tightly rolled leaf balls. They vary in size from shades of light green to dark green. There is a distinctive green oolong aroma to the leaf, although it is on the lighter side.

1st Infusion Parameters: 5g, 5 oz, 208F, 1 min

1st Infusion: This tea has a light green hue. It is quite light and clear. There is a very prominent green oolong aroma to it though. The aroma is similar to a Tie Guan Yin, but not quite. The flavor is very light and crisp. The majority of the flavor is found in the center portion of the tongue, there are light amounts of flavor in the general body of this tea. It feels like a very mild green oolong, with a very relaxing feeling to it.

2nd Infusion Parameters: 45s, 208F

2nd Infusion: This infusion has a bolder yellow color to it. The aroma is also stronger. It is obvious that the tea has opened up a lot more for this infusion. The flavor is bolder and fuller. It shows a strong green oolong aftertaste. It is very warming yet holds onto a very sharp green oolong tanginess to it.

3rd Infusion Parameters: 1:30, 208F

3rd Infusion: There is no significant color change in this infusion. There is slightly less of an aroma to it though. The flavor is yet again bolder though. But even with the decrease in the sharpness it feels bold, almost like it softened out after the second infusion. It finishes off with a light sense of astringency.

4th Infusion Parameters: 1:30, 208F

4th Infusion: The color is slightly lighter this time around. The aroma is about the same as the third infusion though. The flavor is sweeter and lighter this time around.

5th Infusion Parameters: 3:00, 208F

5th Infusion: This time the flavor was showing obvious signs of waning. The color and aroma were both very light. The flavor showed signs of wateriness and a lack of strength.

Rating: 9/10

Conclusion: This was quite a solid offering from Adagio. It held up very strongly for 4 infusions, with a light 5th. One thing that I don't particularly like about this tea though is that you have to order between one sample size and 5 oz. It's a large jump in purchasing. Especially with the number of infusions you'll get out of each time with this tea, 5oz is quite an extensive purchase. That said though, the tea is a good price, it's a solid flavor.