Peach Flavored Oolong

So I wake up this morning feeling drained after finishing yet another term paper. For some reason, though, I really don’t feel like black tea this morning. I guess being throttled by midterms and that paper is enough for now, no need for my first cup of tea to do the same. I’m hoping this sample of Peach Flavored Oolong is just right this morning.

The peach scent is much more subtle after being steeped than in the dry leaves. I was a bit worried about the candy sweet smell when I opened the package. If you’ve ever had those Japanese candies called “Flower’s Kiss”, that’s what the dry leaves smell like.

I guess peaches make me nostalgic for Japan. Before my study abroad trip this summer I never thought I liked peaches (I preferred peach flavoring to the actual fruit, which is kinda nuts). But, you know, JAPANESE PEACHES ARE AMAZING (and expensive…but primarily amazing). They’re juicy and sweet and flavorful and gigantic: everything peach flavoring tries so hard to be and fails.

I really wish I was better at drinking hot tea. If I were, you wouldn’t have to be subjected to my rambling as I wait for the tea to cool. It always happens. When enjoying a hot drink with someone else, I tend to start to be able to drink when they’re more than halfway done. It’s frustrating since I’m really impatient, but that’s the way I’ve always been. I can’t understand people people who order things “extra hot”. It’s just mind boggling, since I need to let the “regular hot” cool for what seems like forever. I know I should accept myself and my sensitive mouth just the way I am…but my need for caffeine is getting urgent! Go, me, for flipping out right as the reason to is gone. I can now partake!

Alright, so far the peach is more present as a scent than anything else. It’s not overpowering in the least, which had been my first concern.The oolong is smooth and mellow with not a lot of astringency. It seems pretty close to a black tea, definitely oolong, but darker rather than lighter.There’s a little bit of, what? smokiness, maybe? I like it, especially since I noticed it right as I was about to write this tea off as pleasantly simple. I’m trying to develop my palette so I can level up my tea snobbery skill. Yeah, I’m a nerd.

There’s some juicy sweetness coming out as it cools, along with a bit of astringency in the aftertaste. The smokiness is still present and keeps it from being too sweet, which I appreciate. The wet leaves smell weird in a way I can’t describe, so I’m not expecting much from a re-steep.

Overall this was a pleasant cup of tea, better than I expected. I feel alert, but not startled, which is what I was hoping for. I’m not sure about a reorder, since there’s so much I want to try thanks more experienced Steepster-ers(??), but I will definitely enjoy my sample. Maybe next time I should try reviewing tea when I’m not still asleep.

The dry leaves smell almost too peachy—very acrid and chemical. Like a Jolly Ranchers Peach Candy on steroids!

Luckily, though, the taste is pretty mellow. Basically like a roasted oolong with a hint of peach. But it’s not a fresh peach, it’s peach jam.

I want more of a “juicy peach” taste. Maybe that’s hard to achieve with flavoring (or maybe I should just eat an actual peach while drinking tea, huh? :P ). So, although this is drinkable and I will finish my sample, I will not order more.

(and I won’t be compelled to throw away my sample like I did with the Madagascar Vanilla Sunday Blend _shudder)

_{Backlogging, and based almost entirely on my memory}

Experience buying from SpecialTeas http://steepster.com/places/2931-specialteas-online-stratford-connecticut

Age of leaf: I do not know because I ordered over the phone in the beginning of 2011, and, alas, did not ask.

Appearance and aroma of dry leaf: lots of dark colored broken bits of tea, with an overwhelming smell of peaches. Dry and bakey.

Brewing guidelines: Traditional ceramic six-cup teapot, with large metallic tea-ball;
stevia added. I brewed this up with temperatures a little cooler than a black tea, and with a little shorter steeping times.

Color and aroma of tea liquor: < later >

Flavor of tea liquor: Standard floral oolong flavor such that the peach flavoring overwhelmed it(especially on the first two steepings).

Appearance of wet leaf: Clearly not a quality pluck, given that the leaves are all broken.

Value: I bought this for 75% off in their going-out-of-business sale (I think it was $10 for a two pound bag).

Overall: This was my very first exposure to an oolong tea; it’s not bad for a ‘starter oolong’, but having had a number of them since then, I now see that it really doesn’t represent anything close to what a quality oolong has to offer. I don’t know what to do with this tea. I will probably never brew it up on its own. I have considered adding it to flavor some of the more basic black teas. I don’t know. For now, I simply chalk this one up to experience. At least I do remember being excited in trying it as my very first oolong. And for the price, I can’t complain. I hope to find a home for it, sometime, as it has its qualities for those who like peach.