Green Jin Xuan

The size of some of the Oolong balls are amazing! They vary from roughly 2mm to 4.5mm in length and some resemble thick, knobbly sticks rather than balls. In colour they are a blend of medium and dark green with a little brown tinge in places, they shine and glimmer beautifully under light. They have a sweet and gentle floral scent with a creamy undertone.

I can taste sweet flowers and fresh grass in the first few sips. As it starts to cool slightly the creamy element is becoming stronger and the grass is a little thicker than before. I say creamy but it could also be described as buttery, either way it’s delicate.

Another cup reveals a slight toasted quality with enhanced floral highlights, very much like sweet peony but keeping it’s grassy thickness.

This Oolong is simply divine in terms of quality and flavour. Mountain Tea Co are among my favourite Oolong sellers and with a tea like this it’s no wonder why.

Tea #21 from the traveling tea box.

Dr Jim put a fair amount of this tea in the box and I could have sat here and drank it all, it was just that good. Don’t worry, I left quite a bit for everyone else to enjoy.

When I saw this in the box I knew I had to save it for last and make sure I had enough uninterrupted time to myself to sit here and enjoy it. I’ve always been in love with oolong tea, although I haven’t had a chance to try many milk oolongs, so this was a real treat and a great way to end a really rotten week. The flavor of this tea is wonderful, the flavors run from sweet and floral to buttery and milky depending on how many times you steep it. This is one tea that resteeps very well, so don’t stop with just one steep.

This is the final tea that I’ll be trying so the box should be moving on tomorrow or Friday at the latest

Tea #31 from Traveling Tea Box C

I love an excuse to get out my gaiwan and spend an hour or so getting tea drunk. The only problem is I don’t typically have a couple hours just laying around to do that.

So, I saved this one until I had some time. And seeing as I don’t have to be anywhere for another two or three hours, here we go!

1st Steeping — 0:30
Mostly a veggie flavor, with slight floral notes and hints of butter.

2nd Steeping — 0:50
Getting creamier. The floral notes are starting to open and becoming almost sweet.

3rd Steeping — 1:30
Oooh. There’s the creamy, sweet milkiness this promised. Becoming very floral, with a quality that tastes green, but not vegetal. There’s a very slight nuttiness, as well.

4th Steeping — 2:30
Remains creamy, but the floral begins to fade. Nutty flavors begin to dominate.

5th Steeping — 5:00
The creaminess is hardly present at all on this one. It’s nutty and vegetal again. Still ever so slightly floral.

I could probably get another steep off of these leaves, but I think it started losing it’s luster after the third steep, so I’ll probably refrain.

Final verdict: I enjoyed this milk oolong, and I’m very glad I had the chance to try it, but there are just others out there I like more.

This is the last tea I’m trying from the box, so that should be moving again tomorrow!

Loose
Appearance: med size, knobby oolong, bicolor
Aroma when Dry: milky, sweet (eastern)
After water is first poured: vanilla and milk
At end of first steep: deeper milky notes, almost hinting at spice
Tea liquor:
At end of steep: clear
Staple? YES
Preferred time of day: afternoon, evening
Taste:
At first: creamy, buttery, deserty
As it cools ? Starts to get nutty, little less creamy, less sweet
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? Yes, buttery, thick, creamy vanilla-ish notes, slight citrus quality

Second steep 4min
at first: nutty, deep, woody, no milkiness
As it cools? tea sweetens again, milky, nutty layers

third steep (6min)
Milky, sweet still but getting lighter, floral notes surface

A pleasant, typical, no-nonsense jin xuan oolong – floral, creamy, and sweet. The dry leaves promise a creamier tea than the liquor delivers. But an enjoyable tea nevertheless at a nice price.

First infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz water, 90 deg., 2:30 min.

Second infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 5:00 min.

Third infusion – 3 g. per 6 oz. water, 90 deg., 10+ min.

Rediscovering just how much I like Taiwanese oolong! For a while now I’ve been drinking mostly pu’er and Yunnan black, neglecting the first tea I fell in love with.

This is a very good one, still delicious despite not being very fresh. Mellow and juicy. Green-ness that reminds me of the amaryllis bulbs my grandma used to grow, balanced with notes of vanilla, cinnamon, and coconut with the bright tang of tamarind.