Hand Picked Bao Zhong

This is my chosen gong fu tea of the day. I got this sample from Amy Oh… thanks! This is my first tea from Samovar, which is a tea company I’ve always wanted to try. I have enjoyed the bao zhongs I’ve had before, but I’ve never had one gong fu.

There isn’t much info about this tea online because it is not on Samovar’s websites, so I used approximate brewing parameters from Naivetea for their bao zhong. I also didn’t rinse this one. In the first steep, 30 seconds, I definitely smell buttery asparagus notes, which are really the main fragrance here. It is definitely sweet, fresh, spring asparagus like we’re getting now. The flavor, though is first sweet and fruity (one of Amy’s posts said there are supposed to be notes of mango in here, and I can see it), then followed by some spring vegetables. Really, really lovely.

Second steep (45 seconds) is much greener in color, and it smells more buttery. But the taste is kind of meh? Not exciting. Same with the third. Same thing as has been happening with most of the oolongs I try to steep gong fu. I dunno, I think maybe I am increasing my steep time too fast? Maybe I should stick with similar timed steeps for the first few at least? I mean, the third steep isn’t bad but it’s nothing to write home about. Why do I get great first steeps and then mediocre steeps for the rest of them in seemingly all the oolongs I try to steep gong fu? Especially when I’ve read so many times that people think the second steep is often the best. Not for me. Gotta figure this out.

A hotter, short fourth steep (boiling, 20 seconds) hints at the notes of the first steep, but they are weaker. An improvement over the second and third, though.

Rating this one on the delicious first steep, which was delightful. Thanks for sharing this with me, Amy!

Thank you ssooo much Amy for this delicious Oolong! I wasn’t aware that this was a Thai Oolong until I read your notes, so it is my first as well. :))

When I warmed my glass tea press and poured the dry leaves into it the aroma was very creamy to me. I was surprised because this tea was greener than I expected, but IMO somewhere in the middle of the Oolong spectrum. The wet leaves smelled wonderful, with a creamy fruit aroma I love so much. The cup color was a lighter yellow, with a light fruity & creamy aroma.

Initially this Oolong reminded me of the milk Oolong I had a while back, but slightly greener, with no artificial powdery aftertaste left on my palate. This was so creamy and I loved the smoothness of the cup. I did notice a mild peach aspect to this one, and I agree with Amy, this Bao Zhong is mild in flavor. This is probably due to the hand rolling of the leaves. Not whimpy in taste, but a more gentle, calming, reflective brew.

My second steep was much the same as above, but more creamy, smooth, and fruity. I did seem to pick up more of the greenish character in the second cup. I wouldn’t call it flowery, but slightly vegetal in nature. I did get peach notes. Now I think I understand what people mean when they say an Oolong is buttery. I guess I just feel that “buttey” is what I call creamy (it is part of the creaminess) in describing the tea.

This Bao Zhong Oolong is one of those teas I could really get addicted to! Thanks again Amy. :)) I’m gonna go take a leap, and steep another cup of this tasty Oolong. :))

Cupped & Reviewed: Wednesday, February 29, 2012.

Had the most delicious Hand Picked Bao Zhong tea today at Samovar/Yerba Buena in San Francisco. Yes, this place is expensive but at least the waitstaff is incredibly friendly and nice. My firs time trying a Thai oolong. I was told to steep the leaves for only 20 seconds, but I gave it at least 60 seconds and it was still really good.

The notes at the teahouse called this buttery with mango and asparagus. I was not disappointed. This was a delightful, light butter and vegetal tea with a very smooth mouthfeel. I did not pick up so much on the mango. Picked up a bag to take home with me, I will really enjoy this.