Feng Huang Dan Cong

Well, right of the bat, these leaves are intriguing. They are so long! In fact, they are so long, some of them could not lay flat in the strainer basket that fits in my cup. The leaves stood upright like uncooked spaghetti. Neat!

The aroma is that of cooked fruit and sweet smelling flowers. It also smells very vegetal. The taste is smooth and floral…but too green for me. I like my oolongs like I like my men…bitter and murky. Ok, perhaps that joke only works with my coffee. “Dark and roasted” is more like it when it comes to my oolongs. (Says the tea drinker with a vampiric-complected husband.) I’m glad I had the opportunity to try this tea, but it’s just not my cuppa.

My first order with TeaSpring was a speedy delight! It was thrilling to get a package from China. I think that it took no more than 10 days (including weekends) from the time I placed the order to the day of arrival.

This oolong has an intriguing taste. I would call it “peach trees a bit before ripening”. It has elements of grass, floral gardens, and young fruit. The leaf is very very long which makes measurement a bit of a challenge, but it’s always delightful to see such a long leaf. The leaf is also really multi-tinted with yellow and green and white shadings that are a real pleasure to look at.

After a brief infusion, I enjoyed a subtle, flowery tea which very much belongs in the early spring. It is not as grassy as some greens and not as astringent as some oolongs can be. It very much is a light yet complex treat, redolent of a walk through a sedate yet aromatic orchard in early spring.

Today’s Oolong was sent to me by Doulton Thank you so very much! How I love Oolong!

The dry leaves are very long and dark, much longer than most Oolong teas that I’ve encountered. The aroma is floral and fruity.

The fragrance of the tea is a little earthy, a little flowery, and a bit fruity – almost like a plum, or perhaps a bowl of peaches and plums.

The flavor – I am picking up a little smokiness in the flavor. It is a rather soft, smooth note of smoke – not quite as bold as say a “red robe” Oolong. It’s more like the peaches and plums were smoked.

It is a very smooth tasting Oolong with a pleasant mouthfeel. The mouthfeel is not quite as thick as a green Oolong. The peachy notes linger in the aftertaste. And a very nice floral note that hits you as you continue to sip the tea.

A very pleasant Oolong!

Hmmm, not much peach or flowers or sweetness or anything much. I’m just getting very astringent, bitter tea. Must be my brewing. Kind of sad about this tasting. The leaves are huge and pretty, though. Like autumn.