In Pursuit of Tea

Pretty yummy. Although by now I’ve learned not to read any review that contains the word “mouthfeel”. Puts me off whatever.

I used two Steepster Select sample packs in a 170 teapot. The very soft aromas out of the package are reminiscent of snapdragon and hay. I brewed this for a coworker and myself so I married the first two steeps. The brewed aromas are more pronounced with a hint of sugar cookie in the air. The flavor is bountiful of lilac? gardenia? oh what is the flowers name? Great mouth feel and a superb golden color soup.

3rd and 4th infusions are even better and it continued to steep out for 10 times before trailing off.

All in all not a bad representation of a green oolong that can be your every day or special something. I would add that the sample pack says to brew at 200F for 3 minutes for what I’m assuming is a 4g pack, yet the website calls for boiling water. There is also instruction to use short steepings in the descriptive paragraph. I like how some sites give directions for both Gong Fu and Western preparation. Makes it easier for the not so sure, new to tea crowd like I was.

This is my second tea from the Steepster Select box.

First impression – I began steeping this tea and within a few seconds the smell of this tea was absolutely amazing. It has a lush honey smell with a sweet fresh cut tobacco undertone.

First sip – Crisp and sweet with absolutely no bitterness. Nice and mild and quite fragrant (in a good way).

It has some of the flavors that I like in a good green tea but with a much sweeter base and a nice deep tobacco flavor. I like this quite well without any sugar or cream. It’s a nice flavor and a great tea. I think this is a new favorite. Highest rating i have given a tea yet.

Edit – This tea gets even sweeter as it cools! Yummmmm!

I can smell pure lilacs.

I taste florals and rice.
Very light, no astringency (Yea!)

Very light color.

Boiled: 200F, Brewed: 2 mins 30.

I’m new to this and didn’t realize multiple steepings are allowed. :) Will report back.

As some other tasters have noted, this is certainly a high quality tea.. However, it was not for me. It is a very strong, tobacco-y yunnan. The earthiness is nice, but the tannins are also very present, which gives it a little more acidity than I like.
I would suggest this tea to anyone who likes a tea with complex flavor that still packs a punch!

Very mild, with almost a milky flavor. Light- to medium-bodied, but kindof one-note to me, didn’t taste or smell the florals that were described. Fine flavor, just a bit one-note for me. 6.5/10, would drink again, just a bit boring compared to some other teas.

After a restless night, I chose this black tea as my first cup from my Steepster Select box. I opened the packet, usually good for one cup, and noticed the amount inside was much more than what I usually use for a cup, so I may have been conservative on the first steeping. I also steeped it to recommended directions, whereas I would probably steep a black for longer.

With that being said, the cup came out light and somewhat crisp, like a silver needle white tea, but with the sweet undertones that reminded me of an English Breakfast tea.

Though I used less than recommended, it is clear that this is not a strong black tea. I prefer much bolder, stronger black teas and was expecting that, I did find it enjoyable. I’ll be sure to try again with more tea and perhaps a longer steeping time.

Steep Information:
Amount: 4 tsp
Water: 1000ml at 200°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: roasty, vegetal, hints sweet and floral
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, floral
Flavor: sweet, floral, with a nutty,roasty and vegetal finish
Body: Light
Aftertaste: roasty, slightly astringent
Liquor: translucent light yellow green

From the Steepster Select tea subscription.

Very nice oolong, i prefer a silky mouthfeel to this slightly gritty one, but the flavor combination (sweet, floral and roasty) is what i love and expect from oolongs.

Resteep:
1000ml at 200°F for 3 minutes 30 seconds
more yellow brown than yellow green
less sweet, still delicious

a bit silkier actually

Resteep:
1000ml at 200°F for 4 minutes
now a light brown orange color
nuttier, roasty, hints of floral

Resteep:
1000ml at 200°F for 4 minutes 30 seconds
light brown orange color
nuttier, roasty, hints of floral
A little washed out, not sure how many more steeps it can do, but work day is almost over so i may not find out.

Rating: 3/4 leaves

Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2014/01/in-pursuit-of-tea-loose-leaf-oolong-tea.html

This oolong is quite different from other teas of the same variety that I have tried. It is very floral – a little cloyingly so. However, it is very smooth. I have only steeped once thus far, so I will see how the second steeping unfolds… But I can’t say this was a favorite for me.

I really enjoyed this tea very much. I was concerned that the subtle umami flavor of this tea was a product of something undelightful, but that flavor is nice. I would really like this tea with lighter vegetarian noodle dishes and brothy soups as well. Yum!

Nice aftertaste not bitter

Love this light and floral aroma of traditional Oolong tea.

A delicious light and floral tea. I’m going to attempt a resteep when i finish this pot.

It’s nice for a before bed time tea. Nice and light

Reviewing my first tea from Steepster Select! This is an intense, full bodied Yunnan, for sure. Although it is aggressive with its pipe tobacco earthiness, it has enough sweetness to balance it out nicely. Very enjoyable! I’m honored I was given the opportunity to try the box from December for free!

this is a good Four Seasons…one of the few green oolong teas I enjoy…110ml gaiwan 8g tea…

I got to go to True Food Kitchen today (it is a little far from my house, otherwise I would live there). We had a wonderful meal and then for dessert, we shared the flour less chocolate cake and drank this wonderful tea with it.
The jasmine in this green tea is perfect. It is not overpowering, it really smells like you are walking through a jasmine garden and drinking green tea. They really balanced this tea perfectly with the floral note because if it is too much floral, I don’t like it as well. It was definitely a delicious ending for a meal.

I live on the edge of the winery property, and this morning my neighbor had someone in his yard using a leaf blower starting at 8 am! This did allow me to have an early morning gong fu session with this tea, though…

I really enjoyed this tea very much. I was concerned that the subtle savory/umami flavor of this tea was a product of what I had just eaten last time I tried this, but that flavor is still there. I would really like this tea with lighter vegetarian noodle dishes and brothy soups. I might even reorder this one!

I’m going to hold back on rating this one. I steeped it per the instructions directly after eating a small potato that I must have put 4 tablespoons of nutritional yeast on. My mouth was already full of umami flavor, which made this tea taste especially yummy. I guess I’ll have to wait to see how it tastes on its own. It seems to have a nice balance of floral and vegetal flavors, though.

Wonderful. My first Yunnan and something worth writing about. It feels like I’m drinking what it feels like to sit on a soft, beat up leather couch in front of a fire place with snow falling outside in silence. Yes, I’m serious. Its smooth but it has depth with the tobacco notes and the sweetness at the end. Wow. I haven’t been feeling good lately and this just brought my spirits back up. Man, this is good tea.

I love black tea, so this is definitely my fave in the December ‘13 round of Steepster Select. I enjoyed mine with just a touch of local honey. Everyone else’s tasting notes hit the nail on the head, so I will refrain from paraphrasing. But can anyone tell me where I can purchase more of this tea? I checked out the In Pursuit of Tea website, but I didn’t see this particular one anywhere. Thanks!