For those wanting to delve into Taiwanese oolongs, this right here is where you start. Frankly, despite the risk of committing oolong heresy, I would say this easily competes with high mountain options. The taste is a bit more burly and “big” than high mountain teas, but it is extremely well balanced and has no rough edges. If you lined up this against three gao shan oolongs, I would have picked this one. It is PACKED with flavor. At half the price of gao shan, the price/value ratio knocks it out of the park.
The taste develops vigorously in-mouth, and maintains its dynamic flavor profile throughout many infusions. Green veg to marine saltiness/umami to creaminess to a fruit explosion at the end – it is a rollercoaster of a ride. I really can’t recommend this tea enough. Excellent offering from Beautiful Taiwan Tea Company.
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Dry leaf – fresh parsley and cilantro, floral. In preheated vessel, roasted nut and popcorn-like notes (not unlike Bi Luo Chun) arrive.
Smell – peas, spinach, savory herbal, creamy milkiness
Taste
- Arrival: VEGETAL – sweet peas, and fresh green veg
- Development: MARINE – some savory marine saltiness and umami like a sencha, mineral/rock; VEGETAL – sweet grass (sencha-like again); CREAMY – milky flavor envelops original vegetal notes and starts to sweeten them up
- Finish: CREAMY – milky flavor overtakes other savory notes, CITRUS – lemongrass notes present
- Aftertaste: FRUIT – papaya, pineapple, peach; HERBAL – spearmint; FLORAL – light floral, just a hint of sweet flowers.
