Bao Zhong

Bao Zhongs are my favorite types of oolongs. I got hooked on them when I received a sampler from The Tea Smith as a gift, and it was one of the included types. Of course their teas are almost impossible to get stateside, so I’ve been trying many other Bao Zhongs (or Pouchong, as it’s also called). I think they’re my favorite type of teas hands down, so of course I had to try one from Persimmon Tree! I’ve been really pleased with their blends I’ve tried so far, but I haven’t dipped in to the unflavored offerings yet.

Well, it’s everything I expected it to be: softly floral and fruity, with grassy vegetal notes and a very full body for a light oolong. There are notes of lilac, and it almost reminds me of mimosa, one of my favorite summer smells. It’s springtime walks, summer heat, and dewy grass. It’s also great iced, and cold brewed it has almost a citrusy kick. Possibly my favorite from TPT that I’ve tried so far!

Sample Saturday Continues It is nice to have a straight Pouchong! This tastes almost exactly like Coconut Pouchong by Golden Moon Tea less the coconut!
I think these are the only two Pouchongs I have tasted. Maybe. Heck I don’t know I’m just trying not to fall asleep so I can go to sleep at a decent time tonight BEFORE my second wind hits me and keeps me up till 4am!
This is a slightly astringent tea – but I did steep the full 5 minutes – maybe I could have went with 4 and not have the astringency.
I have this as a sample I ordered from The Persimmon Tree which is very nice you can get 1.00 samples with free shipping! WOOT!
The floral notes come through strong – a definite jasmine taste.
A very good tea at a pretty fair price!
I think all of the Persimmon Tree teas are on a discount now but a little bird told me that starting June 1st there will be an iced tea sale! :)

Loose
Appearance: grey green large pouchang curls
Aroma when Dry: dry, subtly smoky floral notes
After water is first poured: sweet beans, floral notes
At end of first steep: clear
Tea liquor:
At end of steep: clear
Staple? no
Preferred time of day: any
Taste:
At first?: buttery sweet lima bean bean and cauliflower notes, vegital
As it cools?: notes get creamier, smoother, open up, tea gets juicy
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? Yes, creamy, almost milky vegetal notes, bean,corn notes

Second Steep(5min):
At first: buttery, light mineral notes, vegital, brothy
As it cools: notes open up again

I decided to try out my husband’s fuzzy logic expensive rice cooker to make congee, which turned out amazing! I remember eating congee with my Grandma for early lunches (with hours at the stove making it) and sometimes during our weekly trip to china town in Vancouver. I got that comfort food drooly fuzzy high feeling that I thought I should follow up with a good oolong or green.

DRY: soft floral and fruity – a pear kinda fruity.

STEEPED: strong floral smell! Steeps up a yellow tea.

TASTE: floral and sweet – a delicate fruity sweet zing overtop earthy light oolong. The more I drink this cup of tea and as it cools, the earthyness comes out more and becomes slightly astringent.

WHO’D LIKE THIS TEA: floral tea lovers!

COMMENTS: First sip I was like “WHOA” drinkable perfume, light, delicious! I was in total tea love until the last cooler sips of tea. The astringent dryness at the end of my cup was kinda odd since I didn’t get that with the tea very hot. This tea was perfect until I hit that.

Overall, pretty amazing. I might tweak the steep time shorter or cooler water to avoid that astringent zone, but I could see this tea being a part of my permanent stash, but I have a few more oolongs to try from Persimmon Tree first.

Oolong teas are so addicting! The complex flavors are so intoxicating and this tea falls right into that deliciously flavored oolong journey that these teas are so well known for. The floral notes are definitely there from start to finish but along the way is a deep rich sweetness that is difficult to describe, but yummy all the same. I was able to get three good steeps out of this one, with the third being about 1/3 weaker than the first two. A fourth steep seemed too weak for my tastes. Another great tea from Persimmon Tree.