This tea is practically MADE for multiple steepings. The dry leaves are loosely rolled and the first steeping, which is only 30 sec, is enough to draw out a bit of the flavour, but because the leaves haven’t unrolled it’s quite light, the infusion a pale gold colour.
The 2nd infusion is for 1.5 minutes and this time the leaves have started to uncurl into more leaf-like shapes. The liquid is the colour of golden honey and spinach-bread taste is more prounced and robust (I use the term ‘robust’ relatively – it’s no where near the robustness of an Assam or other black tea).
Upon the third infusion (2.5 minutes) I can see that the leaves are quite green-looking, interestingly enough. Are Ti Kuan Yins supposed to be some of the lesser-oxidized oolongs? The taste is more vegetal this time and not as robust as the last steeping. I think I’ll leave it at three steepings for tonight, although I’m sure I could probably get at least another two steepings out of this tea.
