Top-grade oolongs: Best sources, sellers, etc.?
What I’m most looking for = non-floral, perhaps aged Taiwan oolongs…
…but in general I’ve grown too dependent upon Verdant.
Where would those of you who know and love oolongs, esp. the more toasty, rich, deep, less floral/herbal oolongs… who do you buy from?
Thanks in advance!
Take a look at Taiwan Tea Crafts, they have a really great looking collection and decent prices, and i think they still have a big sale on at the moment.
http://www.taiwanteacrafts.com
second, i recently ordered off them and was really pleased. Fast shipping, despite coming from taiwan and really nice tea.
(there is a sale that I think is ending soon + free shipping promo, so order soon!)
I would also recommend Teavivre (http://www.teavivre.com) because they have a bunch of very nice oolongs and just added a number of Taiwan oolongs.
Shan Shui out of D.C. be da best bet for y’all’s down home hah qualitay Taiwanese wulong cha. Trah thurr Fo Sho and Alishan to get a good idea of qualitay. Ah also recommend Seven Cups outta Tucson (derr Huang Guan Yin and Jin Guan Yin maht be yerr best bet for a few good examples. Also, ah maght mention Verdant, Red Blossom Tea Company, Silk Roads Teas, ter name a few. All dees companies got wut it takes to provahd a good qualitay wulong cha.
Maybe not top grade, but http://www.mountaintea.com has very nice and reasonably priced teas :)
Thanks for all this!
What about AGED oolongs? Thoughts? More unusual teas? Specific recommendations?
I also have gotten some great oolongs from TaiwanTeaCrafts, Teavivre and Verdant. I would add Origin Tea to the list.
As for aged oolongs, Red Blossom has two aged Baozhongs that are excellent. TTC has sent some great aged samples of both oolongs and aged blacks. I’ve gotten about a dozen or so aged varieties from Floating Leaves, most have been quite good. And I’ve been enjoying an aged Muzha TGY from Hou De, a great 1994 vintage. Oh yeah, Daniel at Vancouver’s Chinese Tea Shop had some very reasonably priced aged TGY. Wasn’t the best I’ve had but darn good for the price.
Berylleb tea on Ebay has some nice ones as well as Mandala tea. I think they both offer aged oolongs.
Butiki has a 1991 aged Oolong that I really like.
So far my favorite sources for roasted oolongs have been Mantra Tea (I liked their traditional Iron Goddess, but it does still have lingering floral notes) and the Aroma Tea shop (love their charcoal roasted Dong Ding)
I was impressed with a newer company called Yezi. I’ve tried 5 different samples from them and liked them all!
Thanks to all of you! I’ve ordered a few of them – from TaiwanTeaCrafts & Butiki
And KEEP THEM COMING!
I plan to report on them here
Essence of Tea has some real top end Wuyi oolongs and aged puerhs, but they’re not cheap, bit out of my price range though I hear great things. http://www.essenceoftea.co.uk
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