Thank you for the samples, Aprtea.com! The leaves interestingly enough are very tightly bound and very dark green in color. As the name of this includes charcoal, I expected one of those deep roasted charcoal oolongs but this is actually a less scary, very mildy charcoal flavor. I’m glad, as charcoal isn’t my favorite flavor of oolong. But the resulting flavor is very light and sweet and extremely delicious. The color of the brew is a pale yellow. The second steep really soaks into the special of this oolong, the texture could almost be syrupy it’s so oddly changing the feel of the oolong. How does the mouthfeel of a tea get so thick? The flavor is more full, buttery, silky, still sweet with just a touch more of that charcoal flavor that is included in the name. But otherwise, it still seems like one of those bright green oolongs and nothing roasted. The third steep is even deeper with these flavors — more buttery, it just blooms in the mouth. The fourth steep was a bit lighter in flavor, but that might be because I didn’t use hotter water. All of the flavor qualities in this oolong are perfect together and it’s fantastic. It’s a great reminder of why I love oolong. I expected much worse seeing it described as ‘charcoal’ — my least favorite tea type.
Steep #1 // 1 heaping teaspoon for a full mug// 10 minutes after boiling // rinse // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // 10 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep#3 // 12 minutes after boiling // 2 1/2 minute steep
Steep #4 // 10 minutes after boiling // 2-3 minute steep
Tieguanyin has a lot of flavors
Charcoal baking flower aroma: very mildy charcoal flavor
Charcoal baking caramel aroma: Deep charcoal flavor