93

The first thing that I noticed when I brewed this tea was the aroma. I don’t know how I didn’t notice it last time, but this tea smells almost exactly like my Da Hong Pao. I also was rather generous with the amount of leaves I used, so the plum flavors were overshadowed by darker flavors, for lack of a better word. It actually did taste like an Oolong (not that I’m complaining), but I suspect that the plum and caramel flavors will develop during the next infusion.

The second infusion is noted by the development of the plum flavors, as well as a general sweetening of the tea. That being said, the still is still remarkably similar to a Oolong, just fruitier.

The third (and final) infusion was very sweet, with the plum flavors really starting to assert themselves. It’s a shame that I started brewing this tea so late in the day, as I probably could have gotten two more infusions out of it. The tea had just finally started to develop complex flavors, and it’s really a shame to waste it…

Regardless, I’ seriously considering getting more of this tea after I work through some more of my current stash. The intense flavor is very attractive, and the natural sweetness of the tea makes it very appealing for a weekend tea, where I can dedicate hours of time to drinking it.

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec
Geoffrey Norman

Oh, man, you lucky. I never had the opportunity to try the 2nd Flush this year, only the 1st.

Joshua Smith

Given how good the second flush was (in my inexperienced opinion), I really wish that I had gotten a sample of the 1st flush as well. As for getting a sample, Rare Tea Republic’s website says that they still have some in stock.

Jim Marks

I actually tend to prefer second flush, myself.

Joshua Smith

I really wish I had gotten some first flush teas to use as a comparison, but the descriptions of the second flush teas just sounded so good, and they certainly lived up to my expectations.

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Comments

Geoffrey Norman

Oh, man, you lucky. I never had the opportunity to try the 2nd Flush this year, only the 1st.

Joshua Smith

Given how good the second flush was (in my inexperienced opinion), I really wish that I had gotten a sample of the 1st flush as well. As for getting a sample, Rare Tea Republic’s website says that they still have some in stock.

Jim Marks

I actually tend to prefer second flush, myself.

Joshua Smith

I really wish I had gotten some first flush teas to use as a comparison, but the descriptions of the second flush teas just sounded so good, and they certainly lived up to my expectations.

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Bio

I am a university student, studying Computer Science, who found that I really enjoy a nice cup of tea. I finally got into loose-leaf tea in August of 2011. I am currently in the process of expanding my horizons, and have found that I have a particular fondness for Oolongs in general, and Wuyi Yanchas in particular. The unique mineral taste is very appealing to me, as well as a nice Sencha. More recently, I’ve developed a taste for Sheng puerh, white tea, and black teas. The only things I’ve tried that I didn’t like was Shu puerh, but that might have been because it was quite young. Regardless, I’ve been slowly expanding my horizons, so if you have any recommendations, please feel free to send me a PM.

Just for the heck of it, my other interests include classical musics (Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Verdi, Debussy, Shostakovitch, Rachmaninoff, Liszt, and Wagner, to name a few composers). I also have a fondness for a bit more modern music, like The Beatles, all Jazz (by all, I really do mean all), Gorillaz (I love Demon Days), and a couple of Indie artists you will never run across unless you play a lot of semi obscure Indie games. Also, I love cats.

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Fairfax, VA

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