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Cameron B. drank Golden Osmanthus by Lupicia

3986 tasting notes

Sipping on this one from my focus box this evening. I must have thought this was a scented tea when I ordered it, as I never order straight teas from Lupicia. Amusingly, reading through the notes it seems that others thought the same thing. But no, it’s a straight oolong that is supposed to have “a natural elegant aroma similar to osmanthus flowers”.

I don’t know about all that, but this is a very comforting and straightforward lightly baked oolong. I really like this type of roast, as there’s such a pleasant toasty sweetness to it, but the natural green flavor of the oolong is still present as well. I won’t say this is very complex, but there is a nice hint of honey and floral nectar amongst the roasted grain and fresh grassy notes. There’s a lovely sweet lingering aftertaste as well.

Cozy and yummy!

Flavors: Autumn Leaf Pile, Floral, Grain, Grass, Honey, Roasted, Smooth, Sweet

Preparation

190 °F / 87 °C 3 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML

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16 likes

4 comments

Courtney
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I’ve always wondered what exactly osmanthus was/tasted like when I’ve seen it while tea shopping.

gmathis
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It strikes me as being similar to honeysuckle, but not as overpowering.

Cameron B.
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Near one of the hotels I stayed at in Tokyo, there were yellow osmanthus bushes planted along the sidewalks everywhere. They definitely smell very sweet, according to the Internet they’re said to smell like apricots but honeysuckle might be a good comparison.

derk
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I sense osmanthus as savory apricot, sometimes buttery.

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Comments

Courtney
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I’ve always wondered what exactly osmanthus was/tasted like when I’ve seen it while tea shopping.

gmathis
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It strikes me as being similar to honeysuckle, but not as overpowering.

Cameron B.
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derk
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I sense osmanthus as savory apricot, sometimes buttery.

Profile

Bio

Hi, I’m Cameron! I’m a 30-something software engineer currently living in Austin, Texas with my husband and our two pugs, Gobo and Ume. I tend to cycle between my different hobbies, and they include piano, knitting, video games, board games, miniature painting, planners, bento, KBeauty, and – of course – TEA! But really, what I’m best at is “collecting” hobby-related things… ;)

~ 2024 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- January Sipdowns: 6
- Total 2024 Sipdowns: 6

I prefer my tea lukewarm or at room temperature and without milk or sugar. I steep Western style, and fluctuate between using big mugs or small teapots depending on the season. Occasionally I’ll brew Gongfu style when I’m in the mood. I’ll also often use a kyusu for Japanese teas.

I am always up for a swap! Just let me know if you’d like to try something in my cupboard.

Tea Preferences:
I enjoy both flavored and unflavored teas in many forms. These days, I drink mostly flavored teas, and I tend to gravitate most toward black, green, oolong, and herbal varieties. I do have a special fondness for straight Japanese green teas, however. I also enjoy maté, rooibos, and honeybush. I love matcha and drink it often! Fruit tisanes are not a favorite, but I’m always willing to try them.

I do not sweeten my teas, and pre-sweetened teas are usually too sweet for me. I also do not enjoy stevia.

Fruit: All of them! My ‘go-to’s tend to be in the red fruits, stonefruit, or citrus spectra. I also really love apple, banana, berry, fig, lychee, melon, pear, and rhubarb flavors. Tropical fruits aren’t among my favorites, but I still enjoy them once in a while – especially passionfruit, mango, and pineapple. I am not generally a fan of coconut in tea, though there are some exceptions.

Dessert: I love creamy vanilla and marshmallow flavors, along with anything in the caramel family such as butterscotch, toffee, or maple. Chocolate is also a favorite, though I’m often disappointed by it in tea. And don’t forget anything buttery, cakey, or cookie-y!

Floral: I’m a little bit more particular in this category. I very much enjoy jasmine, even strong jasmine, along with sakura, chamomile, and elderflower. Osmanthus is also a favorite of mine. But I’m not crazy about rose or lavender flavors, and I prefer hibiscus in moderation only.

Spices: I don’t generally find myself drawn to masala chai, but I do enjoy spices combined with other flavors. My favorite spices are the warm ones, especially cinnamon, nutmeg, anise, and cardamom. A bit of heat from black pepper or chili is okay too, as long as it’s not overwhelming! Ginger can be a lovely accent, but I find it difficult to drink as a starring flavor.

Aromatics: I’m obsessed with Earl Grey! I also love cooling flavors such as mint (especially spearmint), pine, juniper, and eucalyptus. I am not a fan of strong rosemary or sage in tea.

Favorite Companies:
3 Leaf
Bird & Blend
Dammann Frères
Harney & Sons
Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
Lupicia
Old Barrel Tea Co
Simpson & Vail
Taiwan Tea Crafts
TeaVivre

Tea Rating Scale:
90-100: Outstanding! Permanent cupboard resident
80-89: Great – a possible staple
70-79: Good, but I wouldn’t buy it
60-69: It’s decent
50-59: Meh… I may or may not have finished the cup
40-49: Ick. Couldn’t finish it.
00-39: Repulsive, I spat it out

I will sometimes refrain from rating a tea if I feel I’m too biased due to my personal dislikes, or if I suspect the sample has been compromised by age or scent contamination.

Cupboard Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZEuKf1-ppR-VXajO4vV39zU1N3zjFJteEPAynqD2yl0/edit?usp=sharing