Orchid Oolong

My first steep of this was “Hey, this is a pretty good green-ish oolong, but not anything I haven’t tasted before. Hellllllooooo Orchid?”

BUT

My second steep is redolent of the finest vanilla extract. I say extract because there is a particular boozy, intoxicating quality to this flavor. It’s floral, and delightful and downright lavish! I actually stopped what I was doing and said, “Oooh!”

I just have a teeny ounce of this from my birthday gift certificate from this now defunct shop, but I am definitely searching for another orchid oolong to keep in my cupboard, because woah – this is fantastic and so up my alley!

Have you had an Orchid Oolong you’re crazy about? Do tell! I’m in the market!

This is a gift from the lovely JacquelineM!

I was really eager to try this tea way back when I first read Jacqueline’s tasting note on it. I never dreamed she was going to send me some of that precious final ounce!

I made this in my eight ounce glass pot. I washed the leaves for about 20 seconds or a shade less, then steeped for two minutes. I set the pot on the tea table as I went to the kitchen to get something, and when I came back there was a light, lovely floral fragrance to greet me! The liquor is pale gold to medium gold. The aroma is lightly creamy/ buttery with a very, very slight nutty note if you really look for it, instead of the really roasty/smokey flavors you find in the darker oolongs. But mostly this is a lovely floral escape!

Thank you so much for sharing this, Jacqueline!