I got this in the new arrivals sampler free w/ $19 purchase. It came w/ 2 oolong teas and a jasmine oolong. The raw tea leaves have a very faint non descript green tea aroma.
I steeped 2.25g of tea leaves in 6oz of purified water heated to 175 degrees F. This tea is a very light tea not only in aroma, but in weight. 2.25g is approx. 3.25 teaspoons so unlike a lot of loose leaf green teas I’m expecting this to be a darker green.
Well… I was wrong. 3 min later and this is by far the lightest tea I’ve ever seen. If I didn’t know it was tea, I would probably mistake it for funky water. Surprisingly though, it does have an, albeit very light, aroma. Absolutely no scent of pu erh like some greens, just a light grassy smell w/ a sweet finish.
Surprisingly this does have a taste, although I have to strain to taste it. The flavor is very weak, but the flavor that is there is a very basic but good, smooth green tea. Nothing special.
Infusion 2, 4 min: Ok… Interesting… This infusion is actually darker than the 1st. I’m thinking that’s because there was not enough leaf to require the full min of extra steeping time that additional infusions usually require. Both the aroma and liquor are stronger versions of the 1st, nothing different. The taste is also stronger… I’m wondering if the caffeine is stronger in this infusion even though everything I’ve read says most of the caffeine is released in the 1st infusion.
3rd infusion, 5 min: When I originally steeped this I would have never imagined that I’d get 3 infusions out of this. The 3rd infusion is a weaker version of the 2nd in sight, liquor, and taste, yet stronger than the 1st.
Conclusions: While the 3rd infusion is still of a VERY good quality, I think my favorite is the 2nd. The 1st is pretty much a waste for me. This tea requires quite a bit of leaf for a solid 2nd infusion and good 3rd, but even that much results in a useless 1st infusion. I’m glad I tried this, but I’m also glad that I got it free. I would have been very disappointed I even wasted $2 for a sample of this. This tea requires a lot of leaf and a wasted infusion to get only 2 good infusions (I didn’t try a fourth, maybe that would be drinkable as well) so it’s more expensive per cup than you would think. Just not worth it for me when there are so many other wonderful green teas out there.
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hummm…I’m afraid now…this was one I just got…will be drinking soon tho…so I will be doing a write up too! sigh…not sure about this one now…
Don’t get me wrong. It’s good (at least the 2nd infusion) and I’m glad I tried it, but IMO 3.25 teaspoons for 2, maybe 3 infusions when the 1st one is too weak to drink is a waste. To each his or her own though. I can’t wait to see what you think of it:)
hummm…I’m afraid now…this was one I just got…will be drinking soon tho…so I will be doing a write up too! sigh…not sure about this one now…
Don’t get me wrong. It’s good (at least the 2nd infusion) and I’m glad I tried it, but IMO 3.25 teaspoons for 2, maybe 3 infusions when the 1st one is too weak to drink is a waste. To each his or her own though. I can’t wait to see what you think of it:)