1271 Tasting Notes
This tea I thought I would like the least out of this year’s 2015 52 Teas Holiday tea line, but I was wrong. This one is quite nice – a strong orange tea with a light hum of spices. The rooibos is a good background, and wow lots of whole cranberries!
This one shines brewed strong iced – sounds weird but since I’m in a warm climate it works quite well!
Full review, along with the other 52 Teas Holiday teas on Oolong Owl http://oolongowl.com/52-teas-2015-holiday-teas-tea-review/
I love this glass tea tumbler! It looks very nice and modern. It is glass and stainless steel with a double lid design with the filter on the bottom. The whole unit is really sturdy and quality feeling. Leak proof! You can flip the tumbler over and remove the tea leaf from the bottom. Drinking out of this tumbler is really nice.
The only con is the filter is on the small side. If you drink big honking leafed teas (rolled oolongs, wirey blacks, whites, greens) space is dicey to be able to leaf up to the 16oz capacity, especially if you like to leaf a little harder.
Full crazy in depth review on Oolong Owl http://oolongowl.com/urban-tea-tumbler-from-the-tea-spot-teaware-review/
You think it would be manageable for Gong Fu on the go? I just got mine for an early Christmas present and most of my teas are better for that method (though some of my large leaves actually do better western). I’m probably going to test it myself since I can take off and put on the strainer pretty easily, it’s just hot in doing so for obvious reasons.
I think it can be done, but the strainer is so small, would have to fill the vessel 1/4. Though it would depend what tea you are using, I tried an big leafy oolong the other day and it wasn’t expanding as well as I liked with 6g leaf in.
That’s what I thought, thank you! I don’t fill it all the way anyway so that I can easily turn it over and undo the strainer. So far, it works really well with smaller blacks and whites. I also tried it western with about two teaspoons Tea Spot’s Coconut Cabana Oolong which has small to medium leaves and I did get most of the flavors at about 8 ounces. It also worked with a little bit more water, but hotter water at a longer steeping time. The leaves themselves definitely opened, but didn’t expand as much containing more of the oolongs lighter flavors for later steeps. I think it might work with the Beautiful Taiwan Misty Mountain Oolong. The leaves for that one are pretty big, but I actually get more out of it with less leaves and more water at western. I’ll just have to see when I get that tea if it can expand enough.
Okay, so it works with the Misty Mountain Oolong. Only other problem I ran into was with high flavored teas. The washers for both the top and bottom lids are retaining flavors and scents from previous teas. Anything I can do to get those flavors out? The only thing I’ve found online is to soak the washers in vinegar.
baking soda does wonders for removing smells, just soak for awhile. Mandala Tea’s tea stain soak also does a great job. I’ve had both work for pulling smells out.
Awesome. Thanks!
I got this as a bonus sample in my order. It wasn’t something I’d order as I see coffee and run.
However, this blend is hella smooth – the roasty oolong and chicory are great, the milky chocolate smooth it out, and there’s a bit of cherry in there. The majority of the taste is the oolong base. It’s got a bit of coffee aftertaste but it’s light. Very nice blend, I could be convinced to purchase it. Evil are these bonus samples!
Preparation
This is a spicy tea! The dry leaf has lots of big plump cranberries. The taste is medium hot clove and cardamon chai like blend, with a sweet and tart cranberry vanilla finish. I’m thinking this tea would make an excellent latte!
Full review on Oolong Owl http://oolongowl.com/christmas-spice-black-tea-from-secret-garden-tea-company-tea-review/
LEAF HOPPERS GO!
Man, I’m kicking myself for not trying this oolong before Tea From Vietnam’s thanksgiving/blackfriday/whatever sale, it was 30% off! This gui fei is very nice – lots of sweetness and floral, with some woodsy, honey, and clover notes over a thick texture.
All other gui fei’s I’ve had were greener and Tea From Vietnam’s gui fei tastes more oxidized which appeals to me greatly. Give this one a shot if you love floral and oriental beauty oolongs.
Full review on Oolong Owl http://oolongowl.com/gui-fei-oolong-from-tea-from-vietnam-tea-review/
Preparation
I’m not a fan of this one. I’ve drank 25g of it and after playing with steep times, I’ve given up and decided it’s the tea.
The pu’er base sucks and just doesn’t work here, it’s burnt, bitter, and a little fishy tasting. The cinnamon isn’t sweet. The blend very much so tastes like a cup of watery coffee. The aftertaste is that burnt bitter flavor you get after you drink coffee, that coffee bad breath.
The best steep was to do a long one and add a vanilla bean, which smoothed out and added some creamy. Milk and sugar would work well for this tea, but on its own it’s pretty harsh.
I’m sure if you like coffee this’ll be your tea. If you love Lupicia’s Chocolate Strawberry Pu’er stick to that one, that one is miles better. I’m disappointed in this one, I figured since Chocolate Strawberry is excellent, this one was too.
Preparation
Really cool wrapper on this cake! This sheng is on the light and sweet side, with notes of moss, linen, straw, hay, and floral. I found it quite gentle with a thick mouth feel. A nice light bit of dryness and bitterness that many pu newbies would like.
2015 Pin is quite different compared to 2015 2Late or Poundcake as it’s lighter. I got this tea with November 2015 White2tea club, and it says to try this cake again in a few months once the excess water in it goes away. That said, these tasting notes may change.
Full review on Oolong Owl http://oolongowl.com/november-white2tea-club-2015-pin-tea-review/
Preparation
I found that this tea was a bit bitter using my usual steeping parameters. I’m going to try sometime later with 85C water.
Checking, you leafed less and did a lower temp (194f). I’m thinking your steeps were much longer than mine. Or very well could be I’m getting used to bitter sheng.
Maybe it has slight bitterness but I almost haven’t noticed.
A spicy chocolate tea! I love hot food and this tea has firey bite at the end. The flavor is chocolate with cinnamon over a light malty roasty base. The spice peaks at the end for a nice chili finish. It’s a medium hot tea, a good one for heat lovers or people who want more kick to their chai. If I had more I would of made it as a latte, I think this tea would of been even better!
Full review on Oolong Owl http://oolongowl.com/spumoni-green-tea-and-mexican-hot-chocolate-from-a-quarter-to-tea-tea-review/
Finally a Spumoni tea! I’ve been waiting for one and suggesting it for years and finally we have one!
This green is was very heavy on the pistachio flavor, then cherry, followed by a hint of chocolate. The blend was nice and creamy and the cherry tasted pretty natural. Very good, especially if you love pistachio!
Full review on Oolong Owl http://oolongowl.com/spumoni-green-tea-and-mexican-hot-chocolate-from-a-quarter-to-tea-tea-review/
NOOOO I wish I hated this tea as the price tag on it is high! Unfortunately, I love it. No wait, I hate it. I hate it so much that I need to consume it like a lust for revenge and blood like I’m a 90’s kung fu movie hero.
First off, cha qi off the charts. Maybe I should of made 3g instead of 7.5? I ran to the gym already and deadlifted 200lbs laughing like a maniac as I worked the railroad. Thankfully, it’s my birthday today so no one is questioning my sanity as I get a pass today, others think I hit the bottle early and needed a muscle pump before birthday dinner. But its TEEEEEEEa!
The flavor is freaking smooth, new born smooth with an aftertaste of pretty orchid floral and fruity green grapes. It’s thick and lubey (HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA) of a tea. That fragrance is the best though
I’m on steeping 10 and it’s not showing signs of quitting. No quitters here, just tea. RAWHHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Dammit, my eye makeup is crooked.
