I am absolutely, positively pooped. I didn’t sleep well last night, probably because I knew it was critical that I wake up on time this morning to get oldest daughter to the airport over an hour away for her flight to N. Ireland.
I am also elated and delighted. I found a new tea shop! It has actually been there for three years but I had never seen it before, and it is a shopping center I have only been to twice that I can recall.
They have a web site, too: www.tinroofteas.com. They had great teaware as well as a big selection of high quality teas. They will also make you a cup of tea, and they have tea flights two weekends a month, with the final tea being paired with chocolate. Oh, joy!
The proprieter was fun to talk with and very sweetly let me sniff dozens of canisters. There were some delectable smelling teas that I hope to try in the future, especially the Fig Formosa. For today’s purchase I chose this Tung Ting as I have never had one before and wanted to try it.
The dry leaf appearance was as expected – tightly rolled and deep dark green in color. The fragrance is excellent! There is a floral headiness that just intoxicated me.
Because I was fall-over tired, I didn’t do my best job steeping this. I didn’t cool my water enough, I didn’t get the timer set on the first pot, and yet the tea forgave me. I am now on the fifth steep and the tea is more floral than ever. The first steeps had a hint of astringency, possibly my error or possibly for palate cleansing. Either way, it was pleasant then and is still gong strong. I am going to go for a couple more steeps. I am enjoying the natural floral taste too much to quit now.
This is one of those oolongs that are the reason I drink oolongs. I am so so glad I got 100 grams.
Edited to add: I just walked past the living room where I made this tea and had the tea set still sitting out. The aroma wafting from that room was so lovely I had to come in and make another steep. This must be six or seven, but the floral loveliness is still going. Wow, I am glad I bought this!
