BigDaddy select Send Message

First time drinking this company’s teas.
Free samples, don’t you just love the anticipation of trying something different with no expectation except they don’t usually give it out free if it sucks. I purchased a sizeable order and this was the free sample sent along. I like oolongs, and generally the higher the quality the more expensive the tea. So oolong drinking can empty the pockets fast. This is listed at 100 gr for $40 bucks or somewhere about $3 a session for me. A session lasts about 3 hours of pleasure so it’s in the realm of affordable. I start from this point in my contemplation of future purchases, the deciding factor being the flavor. Now for the session.
I used my Dan Cong Yixing pot and had at it. As the water hits the leaves an ambrosial cavalcade of honey orchid hits the nose, “dude, quick, put the lid on and stop whiffing.” The first brew is sweetish, it tastes as its fragrance does, over bounding with orchid floral aromas. The next 4 steeps are why I drink tea. Pure bliss, the leaves open up and pour out their beauty. All are over the top floral with a sweet honey at the start of the sip and ending down the throat. There is a gentle dryness slash astringency that is to be expected and in this case relished in the middle sides on the tongue. The aromas and florals hang around it seems forever. Did fall off like I thought after the 7th steep but still managed to brew a few more after that. Nice tea sessions set up the day, makes you smile, relax and face the day.
This is a good, good tea and for the price will definitely be in the cupboard when next I order.

Bright, flavorful with expressions of malt and orange zest, seems to be a hint of Dan Cong oolong in there somewhere. Had nice endurance with flavors consistent throughout session. I could see this as a base for Earl Grey. Had a bit of zip to it as well. Enjoyable

Love it when you’re not expecting much and the session is really enjoyable. That’s what I had this morning. I had a crew over to do work on house so I was busily brewing and had my first steep down my throat before it dawned on me that I didn’t pay attention. The second steep was really good. Sweet nectar that had a hint of corniness, thicker than most Jade and more structured in the cup. There is also a hint of spice in the aroma that translates into the flavor but at a whisp. I brewed it up only 6 times as the flavors are mostly starting to fall away at that point and didn’t want the session to end on a flat note.

For such a bad year 2016 was, I’ve had repeated success in sipping great Taiwanese Oolongs and this is another. Always a fav of mine, Jade oolong is a grounding tea for me, usually light comfortable faint florals, hay, and grassiness. This has all that but much more pronounced. Not a rock star but more like the smooth melodies of Anne Murray. Throw in a faint bit of butter and sweetness and this makes a rainy day feel sunny all over.

Simply scrumptious! Never had roasted/baked Bao Zhong before. If I didn’t know any better I’d swear this was a Dan Cong. Large twisted dark brown black leaves with flecks of green. Wet leaf smell of baked chocolate chip cookies and floral bouquet. The flavor has almond, butter, florals, and a sweetness that is dry in nature. Steeped 10/15/20/30/40/60/90 then flavors drop off. Been looking to settle down with my tea buying, you know choose a red, oolong, pu erh and stick with it and wasn’t really prepared to like this so much. Indeed I will now have to have more of this beauty.

Nice overall presentation. Comes in individual double vacuum sealed packages. Dry leaves are vibrant green with faint grass notes. Once the water hits the leaves, aromas of gardenias fill the air. I steeped this both gongfu in a small teapot and in my Teavana large teamaker. I have to say that I prefer the western method with this tea because the flavors are so soft yet intense it takes a larger amount of tea for me to really appreciate them. Flavors of gardenia slight grassiness and milkiness are there as you would expect in an Imperial TGY. But in this tea there is something different. It brews up into a light shade of pale yellow and never gets forceful. The individual bag says “Faint fragrance The Teakettle” Just be aware that if you want the usual experience with TGY this is a more light, subdued yet enjoyable tea.

I noticed the extended forecast for dreary with a capital D for this weekend and I planned accordingly. Make some Thai jok and have this tea alongside.
First the jok (AKA congee). 6 cups H2O, 2 tbsp fish sauce, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 2 kaffir lime leaves, 1 bruised stalk of lemongrass. Bring to boil. Add 2/3 cup cracked jasmine rice, lower heat and simmer 20 minutes stirring often. Meanwhile toast 2 inch ginger and 3 fat cloves of garlic, both julienned, in neutral oil till brown and add to jok. Crisp up some Thai sausages, cut into chunks and toss in. Slice some snow peas and add at last minute then serve with bean sprouts, fried garlic bits and cilantro. Oh and the tea.
Now for the tea. In the bag it is just a run of the mill green oolong, just enough perfum to set the juices flowing but not extreme. Then I pour the first brew and oh dear, I’m having one of those very special tea moments. The wafting notes of floral bouquets and exotic fruits abound. Then the sip, man oh man, it immediately opens up on the tongue with gobs of thick honey, buttery, gardenia, star fruit and more I can’t describe. This is the best Jade I’ve ever had, ever. Full bodied and long lasting a well structured tea.
Onto the pairing. It was definitely as the weatherman said it would be, 36° and raining. When its like this oatmeal, congee and jok are my go to breakfasts. I can cook and my hubby likes something in his belly before yoga. So the stage was set. The combo of the jok with the lemongrass and lime leaves along with the meat and veg meeting the jade oolong is a top ten culinary experience for me. The flavors all complimented and balanced each other so much I didn’t want it to end.