This evening, my head is feeling a little foggy. I need to sit down and relax a bit. I just got a shipment of tea from Adagio, so it seems like a perfect time to break that open! I got a sampler pack of a few different oolong teas. Oolong is a tea that I’ve tasted now and then, but never really bothered to sink into. So here we go! Starting with Tie kuan yin, the iron goddess of forgiveness and mercy.
First steep
This steep was light. It reminded me of the first steep of bai mudan in that it very, very light, with a hint of floral tones. It is slightly vegetal, like Chinese greens. There is a little more depth to it which I can tell I’m not uncovering, but mostly it is just very light. I enjoyed it, but I was not overly impressed. I’m definitely liking this better than some other oolongs I’ve had.
Second steep
And here is some of the depth and complexity the first steep hinted at. The scent is more what I have gotten from the oolongs I’ve tried in the past. A little more earthy than vegetal. I’m starting to detect some of the nutty textures. The floral aroma has toned down a bit, but I can still tell that it’s floating right beneath the surface. The first steep was smooth, and this one is even more so. It feels like I’m sipping the lightest velvet.
This oolong has been very warm and filling. Just two cups, and I don’t think I can drink anymore right now. I’ve enjoyed this. I think I will probably enjoy it even more in the future when I have a better idea of what to expect.
