We don't know when or if this item will be available.
“Sipdown #32 I had planned to do short steepings with this one in my yixing, but I didn’t. I went with the steepster select suggested prep. This is a nice one, although not better than any in my...” Read full tasting note
“Grabbed this one at random from my steepster box and kind of groaned. I don’t love oolongs, but it’s what I grabbed so I made it exactly per the instructions on the bag. The first thought upon...” Read full tasting note
“Wowzah!!! I’m loving all these new teas that I’m falling in love with through steepster select! I loved this one too! This is my second encounter with Red Robe… But I am far more in favor of this...” Read full tasting note
“Steeped this according to the instructions on the package. Just off boiling and for about a minute and a half. Maybe a bit longer because I didn’t hit the timer on my microwave immediately. I...” Read full tasting note
A gorgeous wuyi oolong with a deep rich liquor, big aroma, and a complex flavor that lasts steep after steep.
Origin: Fujian, China
Tasting Notes:
Caramelized sugar and grains with a floral finish.
Company description not available.
Despite being a fan of Wuyi rock oolongs, this is my first Da Hong Pao, and it is amazing! I enjoyed the roasty, burnt caramel aroma. Prepared this the gongfu way in my yixing whilst indulging in my second addiction: pipe smoking. The sweet tobacco with the roasted aroma of the Da Hong Pao was enough to settle me in for the night for many more steepings. I would definitely like more of this one…
I really enjoy this tea. This is not surprising, since I like wuyi and oolongs overall as a rule, but this one is really quite good. There’s something particularly satisfying about its roasted scent and taste on a cold morning in particular. If you like Red Robes you’ll certainly like this one. The only downside is that I don’t have more.
I cold-brewed this for 22 hours, and then poured on ice. Since I didn’t have it hot, I can’t compare flavor profiles. But it seems that cold-brewing really draws out strong barley notes, with an undertone of brown sugar sweetness. Very nice to drink. I enjoyed each sip.
Steepster sample 3 of 4
This tastes exactly, and I mean exactly, like the unnamed Shui Xian I had logged a while back. Even the dried leaves look very similar. Which makes sense, since they are both Wuyi oolongs. And it’s definitely a good thing, because it’s wonderfully roasty and substantial, fragrant with a lingering sweetness. I hadn’t thought to describe those flavors as caramelized sugar before, though, and that seems to be what most users are tasting. At any rate, now I know where to find more of an old favorite, or at least something very much like it!
Yummy!
I’m always afraid to try the Steepster teas because there’s no way to get more of them if I fall in love. Just a small teaser and hah! no more for you!".
Luckily this isn’t a fall in love tea but I’m still drinking it with a bit of distance, not wanting to become attached.
When I first poured the water over it the tobacco smell was super strong and I started to get turned off from it. But then after I let it cool to drinking temperature. I found it delightfully rich and caramel. Burnt flavors but in a good way, not charred. It reminds me of these amazing gelato bars, they’re like popsicles but made from gelato, and there’s a burnt caramel flavor that just knocks my socks off every time. That’s what this tea tastes like. The mouth feel is thick enough to be reminiscent of gelato too.
I feel weird comparing tea to gelato. The whole hot/cold thing seems a bit of an odd contrast but as I’m stream of conscious typing that’s exactly what this tea is.
Ok maybe I do like it enough to want more of it. Damn you steepster select!
Other people seem to really like this one, but I don’t really. It kind of tastes just…meh….to me.
Well, it was free in a free Steepster Select box, so I’m not going to complain too much. I tried it. This one just isn’t for me.
Free is good.
Yep. And I don’t feel guilty or like I’m wasting my money when I decided I’m not going to have any more of this one. Since other people have liked this one, though, I’ll probably add the other packet of this to a TTB I’m in and hopefully it will find a good home.
Usually when I add a tasting note, it’s got some stuff in there about music or life or something. Not this one.
Got some Da Hong Pao, Red Robe #55 from the Steepster tea of the month (which I’d recommend to anyone) and let me tell you what it smells like:
Marijuana.
Not like skunk bud that makes neighbors call the police and/or move, but garden variety. The sort that your skeevy neighbor’s van smells like. The flavor is the same as the smell too.
It’s not a bad thing, I was just really surprised to get a whiff of it and think, “Where do I know this very specific smell from? Ah. Yes. Now I know. Pot.”
When it comes to Oolong teas I’m pretty persnickety, but this tea hits all the right notes. A roasty Oolong with sweetness at the end of the sip and light, but distinct, floral notes. I like. I’m really enjoying the grain flavor followed by burnt sugar (I almost said caramel, but it taste more like burnt sugar me). Right now I’m working on my second steep and I’m letting the tea cool a bit to see if the floral notes become more apparent. I think they might.
I still wouldn’t call myself an Oolong lover, but I could see myself keeping some of this in my cupboard and enjoying it.
