I would really rather my first oolong NOT have been scented, but the lady at Murchie’s gifted me a sample of this “On The House” because it was apparently top-rated and one of the best sellers last year. Very nice of her.
Going to brew this in my Libre because it’s glass, and I wanted to watch the leaves unfurl. I plan, once it’s done steeping, to pour all of the tea out into a teacup (I’m not making very much).
Water is cooling… I have no idea what temperature to brew this at. I tried to look it up, but oolongs are quite variable anyways, and I was getting results anywhere from 180-boiling. So I went “screw it, 180 it is”. Or, rather, slightly under 180. Nevermind. Steep Time was another issue, so I’m going to do four minutes.
The dry leaves are a sort of milky green jasmine maybe? The milky smell was more evident in the bag, but I transferred them to a small tin. Slightly floral sort of smell too, that reminds me a bit of Andrews and Dunham’s jasmine green.
This is very pale. Sort of a tinge of green. Light a light green tea. Dunno how it should look—the tea leaves themselves did look fairly ‘green’, so.
No milkyness in the taste. Very… green. That’s really all I’m getting. It was interesting to watch the leaves, though. They didn’t open up as quickly as I thought they would. Slightly sweet. As I continued drinking it started to get sort’ve astringent. I always figured that I would enjoy a “blacK” oolong more. This hasn’t changed that opinion. Although this is only the first steep.
Wet leaves smell… vegetal, green. Something else, which I want to say is nutty, but it’s not.
Oooh leaves are huge now. Got this water closer to 180. Going to steep this one for four minutes too. While waiting for the second steep, I noticed a weird taste in the back of my throat… Uh. Peppery, maybe?
Second one is darker, probably because the leaves were already open for this steep. Only slightly, though. Stronger smell, but still just green. More strongly vegetal than before. That almost maybe? Not quite pepper taste is back, stronger. Don’t know. Still don’t really like it. Floral jasminy smell’s still there. Oh! Buttery! I got a buttery taste for a moment there. Like a watery, milky buttery taste. I’m not sure.
Not liking this one again. Ehrck.
Third steep smells… Sweeter? Tastes sweeter too. This one’s actually kind of pleasant. When I breath out there’s a butteryness. Vegetal pepperyness.
I’d go for a fourth steep (I hear good things about fourth steeps!),but I’m too full of tea now.
Don’t know how to rate this. Hrm.
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Damnit, I was just at Murchies a fews days ago, why didn’t I get a free sample? ;P
I’m sorry! Maybe I just attract free stuff. I was showing interest in a different oolong, but they said they were out, and she offered that one instead, but I said it was okay (I was already buying something else anyways). So she just went, “I’m going to give you a few scoops on the house to try at home!” And here I am.
Damnit, I was just at Murchies a fews days ago, why didn’t I get a free sample? ;P
I’m sorry! Maybe I just attract free stuff. I was showing interest in a different oolong, but they said they were out, and she offered that one instead, but I said it was okay (I was already buying something else anyways). So she just went, “I’m going to give you a few scoops on the house to try at home!” And here I am.