The Taiwanese love a good tea competition dont they.
So glad I tried this one blind as I do often wonder if my taste gets swayed by slapping a gold star on a tin of tea, but apparently it doesnt, as I gave this one an award without knowing what it was.
I found it dark-green fresh (a bit like cooked spinach) & with a fruitiness thats a bit like cherry, or something. Anyway, it totally works, coming together to form a really refreshing drink. Even the smell coming across the room is a good one, you just can tell.
Nice pungency coming from the steeped leaf in the gaiwan, again, dark leaf, nuts & cherries. some straight sugar taste as well.
Really clear soup, not bags of flavour but there is just something about it thats right.
It isnt fruity like a really fruity tea, its still a green oolong, but there is just enough sweetness & the flavour is good. Refreshing and makes you feel good to drink it…
I defo think this is worth it, and am now very interested to try their other award winners, as in my limited experience when there are a selection of competition grade oolong about, the gold one does do something special compared to the 2nd & 3rd prize, and I would be interested to see if that trend continues in Dragon Tea House, even if Im presuming its likely to be a very subtle difference if the teas are from the same company or competition/area.
Edit* Just checked and the other award winners are dong ding, not Shan Lin Xi.. oh well :) its a 2016 from Nantou, I’m going to have a google to see who won the 1st prize & try some of that one :)
Flavors: Cherry, Nuts, Spinach, Sugar
