Liking this a lot iced today. I used 1 tsp tea in the little 4oz oolong pot from Samovar, and poured the first two steeps over ice to make about 12oz iced tea. It’s very sweet, tasting of jasmine, vanilla, and a little bit caramel to me. I know flavored oolongs are a bit overkill, but this one really works for me!
I use slightly cooled water for this, since there’s some green tea in the blend.
Some notes on ratings:
I’d have separate rating scales for tea types if that were possible (probably Black, Flavored Black, Darjeeling/Dark Oolong, White/Green/Light Oolong, and Herbal) because the flavors and quality markers are just too different. A flavored black rated 100 isn’t better than every oolong I’ve ever drunk, just delicious for a flavored black.
Ratings are a combination of my enjoyment and the perceived quality – I do often demote teas a few points for artificial flavorings, small quantity of steeps supported, or weakness of flavor (requiring extra leaf).
I pay less attention to the number than the order of my ratings; I don’t necessarily keep a stock of everything rated 80+, but if two breakfast blends are rated 82 and 84 I consistently enjoy the 84 more.
And in case it’s not obvious? I am not an expert. I don’t even know what I like until I taste it sometimes, but I’m ok with that :) I like learning to like new teas, as well as enjoying the comfort of familiar ones.
Boston, MA
