This one sounded so promising, I just had to try it! Used my gaiwan, increasing by 15 sec with each steep.
Wash: I took a sip of it, and yum! Nice and sweet, with a strong honey smell. Can’t wait to get brewing.
1st steep: Buttery, strong honey like scent.
Taste: Sweet, slightly vegetal. Notes of a wine-like flavor are present. Honey notes are also present. There is also a slight buttery note, and the mouthfeel is smooth.
2nd steep: This brew smells very sweet, slightly like honey, and has a stronger wine like scent to it.
Taste: Sweet, honey taste in front, followed by the wine like (barley?) taste. Ends with a nice sweet note, mixed with a little vegetal oolong taste. I’m also picking up some fruitiness. It’s almost like what a mango flavored honey tastes like. Interesting. Buttery note I picked up previously wasn’t detected this time around, but I don’t miss it! This steep was exceptional!
3rd Steep: Smells more like a wine, with very light honey notes.
Taste: This one is less sweet. Tastes more like a dry wine. Has a bit of a drying effect on the mouth, too. The slight sweetness of the cup comes at the end of the sip. Fruitiness is absent in this cup, as well, but it’s nice in its own way. Still think the second steep is going to be my favorite.
4th Steep: Surprise! The sweet smell is back! Honey and wine.
Taste: This brew is sweeter than the last, but still not as sweet as the 2nd. It’s also slightly buttery again. Very smooth, not drying anymore. The wine taste is very laid back in this brew, and what I can only describe as a “typical oolong tea” taste has entered the picture. Slightly earthy, and delicious. Interesting steep.
5th Steep: Sweet and the most wine-like smelling brew. Nice honey-ish notes, too.
Taste: Reprise of the 2nd steep! Well, almost. The wine taste is a little stronger in this one, but the honey taste and the slight fruitiness is back. There’s also a lingering sweetness at the end of the sip! Yum!
I feel like this tea could probably go a few more steeps, but I think I need a break. It’s kind of late, and if I don’t stop now I probably won’t sleep. ;)
Overall, a very, very nice oolong. A new favorite, that’s for sure. Thanks Azzrian for bringing this one to my attention! And thanks Mandala for having this one in stock!
