Ok, after reading Awkward Soul ‘s note on this oolong, I was worried that my ’ice wine’ tasting experience last time was a totally one-off experience. Therefore…. time to try and repeat the deliciousness! I went with probably about 1.5 level teaspoons of tea for about 8-10oz. of water, and infused for 8 minutes at 180 degrees. And, I am happy to say that the tea definitely still has the same notes that remind me of the ice wine I sampled most recently. It’s not as jarring as last time (because the ice wine memory is a touch farther back), but at least to me, it is unmistakeable, and delicious. The aroma doesn’t betray this deliciousness, mostly being of a warm, slightly sweet, woody oolong, but the flavour is just fabulous, with a sweetness that builds until the end of the sip, hitting that intoxicatingly sweet ice wine flavour which lingers in the mouth after swallowing. Amazing!
This will definitely be in my next Butiki order, which is growing quickly! Apparently I can curb my restraint in tea ordering to some degree, but when it comes to Verdant, Butiki, and DavidsTea, I’m totally helpless…
ETA: Second infusion of this today, also for 8 minutes… still getting that sweetness that makes me think ice wine, however, there is bitterness this time as well. Not intolerable, but enough to make me consider a bit of a shorter second infusion. Or perhaps, 183F was too high (3 degrees Fahrenheit making a difference? I hope not, but who knows.)
Preparation
Comments
I mean, it’s not ice wine flavoured like the ice wine teas I’ve tried from various companies, there are no real muscatel/grape notes, it’s just that syrupy sweetness, and some flavour that was bang on to whatever ice wine I tried most recently. I could probably look up what it was… my recollection tells me that it was a maple ice wine. I very nearly bought some…. regretting having not, since it’s a 4-hour drive away…
The above said, I have to say that of all the ice wine teas I’ve tried (I’ve tried at least 2, possibly 3), this would be by far the best…
Sweet, totally doing this next time I make this tea, which will be soon! It’s pretty amazing!
Mmmm Ice Wine flavored tea ….
That sounds so good!
I mean, it’s not ice wine flavoured like the ice wine teas I’ve tried from various companies, there are no real muscatel/grape notes, it’s just that syrupy sweetness, and some flavour that was bang on to whatever ice wine I tried most recently. I could probably look up what it was… my recollection tells me that it was a maple ice wine. I very nearly bought some…. regretting having not, since it’s a 4-hour drive away…
The above said, I have to say that of all the ice wine teas I’ve tried (I’ve tried at least 2, possibly 3), this would be by far the best…