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China Fine Ti Kuan Yin Oolong from SpecialTeas

Steepster Score 11 Ratings Rate This Tea

78/100

China Fine Ti Kuan Yin Oolong

Oolong Tea by SpecialTeas

Surpassing the quality of most of the commonly available Ti Kuan Yins, this grade from the Chinese Anxi County is a terrific value. Its golden-yellow liquor is smooth and fragrant, carrying a refreshing, fruity aroma as well as the sought-after orchid-like flavor.

Recommendations: Use 1 heaping tsp. per 6 oz. cup; heat fresh cold water until steaming briskly (195ºF); let steep for 2 1/2 minutes.

12 Tasting Notes

Kasumi no Chajin
64

Loose
Appearance: knobby oolong, small curl, bicolor
Aroma when Dry: creamy, notes of cucumber
After water is first poured: creamy, vanilla, cucumber, faint mint notes
At end of first steep: sweet, creamy, buttery, faint mint
Tea liquor:
At end of steep: light buttery yellow
Staple? Unsure, first tasting
Preferred time of day: afternoon, evening
Taste:
At first: buttery, earthy, chewy
As it cools ? Notes get deeper, less creamy, more vegital
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? Yes, velvety floral notes with hints of woodyness

Second steep (4min)
Tea liquor: light yellow
Aroma: fruity, floral
Taste: rich, woody, floral
As it cools: gets fruity, very brothy melon, cucumber, mint, and slight salt notes

Third steep (4 min)
Taste: rich, salty, floral,cucumber, mints, melon notes
lingers like restuarant tea

Fourth steep (5 min)
Taste: serviceable floral restuarant tea, still lingers

TeaEqualsBliss
86
TeaEqualsBliss 3 tasting notes

This is another one from Nichole! Thanks so much!

This is smooth and almost milky. There is a semi-fruit end sip that lingers on into the aftertaste a little bit. It’s a little floral and a little sweet and the vegetal notes jump in and out during the sip progression, too! Neat taste! Neat tea!

While listening to One Hit Wonders Of the 90s I’m going thru some tea stash piles and putting some more swap packages together…this one it going to go to a good home – but not before I have one last cuppa.

Anne sent me a bit of this and I’m thankful as I did enjoy the little bit I had before :)
See my previous notes…

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LiberTEAS
88

A big thanks to Doulton for sending me some of this tea!

It’s a fantastic Ti Kuan Yin. Smooth and creamy and sweet. Beautiful.

Ally928
81

This is really nice… I enjoyed it better than a more expensive Ti Kuan Yin tea I tried from the Chicago Tea Garden. It has an amazing floral scent to it, especially in the first steep. The overall flavor was kind of weak though. Slight sweet aftertaste, somewhat vegetable. Overall, this is an enjoyable cup of tea.

Justin
85
Justin 4 tasting notes

Did the first steep yesterday and didn’t have time for a second until this morning. Used 2 heaping tsp in a 14oz Yixing pot. Water was at about 195 for both steeps, 2 minutes and about 2 1/2 minutes. Both infusions were very good, the second definitely a bit darker and stronger.

Good stuff, both infusions were good at like 2 1/2 and 3 1/2.

Very good Ti Kuan Yin. Did 2 steeps for 2 and 3 minutes at around 200 degrees with 2 heaping tsp in 14 oz pot.

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Jude
76

This is a nice ti kuan yin, a gentle embrace of a tea. Fragrant and… best way I can think of describing it is it leaves your palate feeling fresh. Of course, it’s not minty fresh, it’s spring flower fresh. I’ve been spoiled by Chicago Tea Garden’s version, which has both more flavor and more subtle, dancey notes.

Michael Hall
75

All I can say is that this is my first oolong and that I really enjoy it.

cultureflip
67

Green, earthy aroma reminiscent of steamed edamame.

Its initial flavor is light and vegetal, mostly activating the back of the tongue but the aftertaste is where this tea shines, coming through with notes of fresh, green melon.