Lao Cong Mi Lan Xiang (Honey Orchid) Phoenix Dan Cong

This was a free sample with one of my orders a while ago.  It’s very sad I’m not trying teas like this when they are fresher.  But as ever,  Teavivre’s packaging is great so I’m sure that helps.  This seems like a different tea on every level: the dry leaf, the wet leaf, the flavor of the tea couldn’t be more different.  Before steeping, the long dark leaves have a fragrance of dried hay.   After steeping, the scent was very strong, smoky with a hint of grapefruit which is very unique — I’ve never noticed that in any tea before.  The flavor is very citrusy, both grapefruit and lemon, maybe even some lemon myrtle with the smoke in the background.  I say smoke, but it’s really just that type of flavor that is this type of oolong — tough to describe!  Lingering flavors on the backsip of green grapes, minerals, sugarcane.  After the cup has cooled, the “smoke” moves to the front of the profile.  The color of the brew even looks like lemonade or water infused with lemon.  Then a lingering creaminess takes over.  The first steep was the best and I wished I had kept steeping with cooler water, shorter steep times because then the “smokiness” takes over more — less of those lighter flavors. Maybe this tea tasted more like “honey orchid” when it was fresher? Again I could kick myself for not drinking it sooner.   I certainly don’t usually prefer teas like this one, but this might be the best I’ve tried.   Very unique, at least to me in my tea journey so far.
Note to self, steep cooler with shorter steeps.
Steep #1 // 2 teaspoons for a full mug // 20 minutes after boiling // 1 minute steep
Steep #2 // 18 minutes after boiling  // 2 minute steep   
Steep #3 //  just boiled // 2 minute steep
Harvest: 2018

I hope everyone who celebrates is having a wonderful Christmas!

Gongfu Sipdown (714)!

Pulling the tasting description from Instagram…

“a little rough around the edges but beautiful floral lychee, white grape, and plum notes persist if you push past the first couple steeps along with a pleasant and mild roast – though a little bit of a sharp sour note in the finish. Still, an excellent way to start the morning overall…”

Six resteeps, I do believe.

Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/B1TxmtMghMN/

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONasjQ9RrvQ&list=LL1M1wDjmJD4SJr_CwzXAGuQ&index=121&t=0s

The tiny sample pouch I had of this was opened, and who knows for how long, so my expectations weren’t particularly high. But, as sometimes happens, I got a happy surprise when trying the tea – it was delicious! Full of honey, minerals, florals. Hands down the best darker oolong I’ve had in a long time (non-green? Oxidized? I’m not sure how to say that…) I juuuust ordered DavidsTea’s Phoenix Oolong as my Frequent Steeper freebie, and I’m hoping it’s even half as delicious as this one.

Unfortunately, that’s what I remember from last night – I’m drinking this after the sticky rice oolong today, and literally all I can taste is that flavour, so I’m going to leave the last sip or two of this until my tastebuds have been cleared a bit. That sticky rice flavour is so persistent…

Thanks to Teavivre for the lovely sample!

An interesting tea. The dry leaves are BIG and reminded me of the valiant attempts of Indian tea makers to present their huge-leafed Assams and Nilgiries as something artisanal instead of pulverizing them into CTC. So I subconsciously feared something assamishly rough and brash.

Well, no, this oolong produced a very pale liquid with interesting flavors. After a first gaiwan steep it was very delicate, honeyed and floral (reminded me of tulips). Each subsequent steep was different and demonstrated that this is a tea well-suited for a gong fu brewing. Malt, orchids, roast, grassiness, slight bitterness, vegetables all took their turns taking the central stage through the subsequent steepings – and you can get MANY of them out. It also had a nice lingering aftertaste.

All in all, this tea never knocks you down off your feet with the amazing taste or aroma but it certainly keeps your drinking session interesting with constant changes.

This tea is a medium oolong with a light amber color and a nice sweet aroma. It has a pronounced honey taste and is sweet but not overpowering. It has a velvety texture that makes it feel like I’m drinking a warm glass of honey. There is a hint of floral flavor that comes on a little stronger as the tea cools.

I’m surprised this is the first review of this tea. Thanks, TeaVivre, for sending it as part of a free sample promotion earlier this year. I put the entire 7 g sample in a 120 ml teapot, which it filled right to the brim. Steeps were at 200F for 7, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 120, and 240 seconds.

This lives up to its name, with honey, orchid, mild roast, and lychee-like sweetness. There’s a slight astringency in the aftertaste, which is not surprising given the amount of leaf. In later infusions, notes of wood, minerals, and veggies emerge.

Although this was by no means a complex tea, its honey and orchid character was pronounced and pleasant. I’ll have no problem finishing the two other samples I have on hand, and would consider buying more if I didn’t already own three other iterations of this type of tea.