Mandala Tea

an ok tea

when I smell the leaves dry, I smell pepper and spices.

when I smell the leaves wet, the smell is intensified.

when I smell the brewed tea, I smell pepper and spices.

when I taste the brewed tea, I taste pepper and spices.

i rate this a 75 because I am not really into black teas.

many thanks to Scribbles for this ok tea sample :)

I like the autumn and winter harvests of this way more than the spring. Just sayin’.

This one remains a one of my favorites. And when I thought I had no more income to spare, I found some I forgot about, and totally decided to get this tea. I said in the original review that I wouldn’t get this any time soon, but since I had the freedom to, this was one of the teas I had to have.

I actually tasted different notes this time, and different notes from day to day. Lately, I’ve been getting mango, caramel, peach, and coconut, but all of them so subtly there. I still do this gongfu, but I’ve experimented more and been steeping this a little more western style on occasion being equally good for different reasons. The flavor profile is still the same western having notes of cream, flowers, grass, butter, milk, sweetness, toffee, and vegetal. The floral aspect is now closer to a lilac. I still rinse it 10-15 seconds every time. I had some today with hotter water at about 200 F and it tasted like cotton candy in the rinse. Apparently, I prefer this one with hotter water. Who knew?

Oh, and for you people trying to decide whether or not to get this tea, look at my previous review. It’s something that you should try, but some may be turned off by the buttery aspect to it, or if you’re newer, follow the recommendations exactly on the website. It also may take some time for you to figure out the steeping parameters that you prefer to get the flavor notes you want for this tea.

This is a tea I was saving up for, and I am really glad that I went ahead and got it. All the flavors and tasting notes are definitely present; the first thing I smelled opening the bag was toffee. The first brew, which I steeped for about 24 seconds, was the best having the full, floral, buttery, creamy, vegetal, sweetness that is constantly described. The following tastes accented the vegetal tastes more making it taste more and more like a lighter green tea. This is only the second time that I’ve used the Gonfu style after applying to a Wu Yi Rock Oolong, and I was pleasantly surprised with how much flavor this tea had. I typically like fuller bodied teas, or teas that have a more complete flavor profile. Though Mandala’s Milk Oolong is lighter with a Gongfu style, it’s flavor profile has that completeness making it a truly unique experience. Thank you Garret so much! And thank you so much for your nice note with the Tie Guan Yin and Jin Xuan samples.

With all that said, this tea is primarily for some one who has really sensitive taste buds, or in other words, an amateur to a more experienced connoisseur. Also, not for some one who purely likes western black teas or more British styles with lost of cream and sugar. The sweet creamy notes may or may not off set that preference, but to the majority of the population, I don’t think it would.

I will definitely get this tea again, but I’m not sure I would in the near future because this is a more expensive tea. I realize that I am paying for something that is of a high, rare quality to be enjoyed for hours and steeps on end-it’s paying for the unique experience. And that is an experience to be savored.

A unique oolong. For whatever reason I thought oolongs were supposed to have creamy flavors but I’ve been learning that oolongs are extremely diverse. This is a very smooth oolong. Great grassy flavors. Slight floral but I find that more in the smell then the taste.

I really wanted to like this tea, but the more I drink black/red teas the more I like my cocoa-y…

Unfortunately, this is just a black tea with no real notes to pick out. Smooth, for sure, but doesn’t stand out. I do like how it is pure and not dry nor bitter.

Also: After this person near me has asked 4x to come drink tea with me and then cancelling they told me they are not interested anymore… I really dislike how I put a lot of time and set aside teas for them, but they just don’t take it serious after stringing me around.

First steep is grassy and mineral. Second steep is more grass please let me floral still mineral. Third step is sweeter a little less mineral and nice and grassy.

Second try tonight. No rinse this time. Surprisingly less mineral and more sweet. Still grass. Notes like a sencha. Second steep. Floral notes and something I can’t quite pinpoint.

Hm. Could have sworn I tried this one previously but I don’t see it. This was a generous sample included by Garret in my recent order. Delicious, smooth, darkly sweet and fruity with a significant amount of malt. This one was sipped over the course of the entire day and it was equally tasty once it cooled off.

I drank some 2011 white buds from Norbu yesterday so I pulled these out to compare with today.
I find this to have a stronger taste, but not in the good way. There is a wild element to this tea that showcases the way that it was created, but tat is not a taste I like. Some people may like that really earthy notes within the tea that make it taste alive… but I want a smooth hot liquid that has a complex taste that doesn’t make me think about the process the tea went through rather what is happening in my mouth.

This might nice, but it isn’t my favorite white/silver bud tea that I have had

Tried this one out a few days ago but didn’t find anything particularly pleasing about it. Trying again and on this beautiful morning where that gorgeous MN blue sky is finally showing itself, I am finally tasting what I had hoped. Even so it’s still not quite as strong of an after taste as I like. Just a lot more faint then I am used to. Good base. Some creamy flavors and textures. Hay. Grass. After the ginseng oolong I had in China I haven’t really found one that compares. But unlike that one I think this one has a better leaf. And yea…. The resteepablility is amazing.

I’m multitasking while reviewing this tea. Sometimes need to get in what I can while the babe is asleep. Lots of good vegetal notes in this one.

From everything I’m reading this should be a green oolong but all I’m gettin is woodsy and hay notes of a black tea. Garret I’ll contact you and see what you think. Its a good black, just not what’s on the package I think.

Garret you are running a wonderful company. The and written note is a wonderful touch that you just don’t see much of anymore. I was excited to see the tea but seeing the note gave me warm fuzzies.

Does anyone else have trouble with their Gaiwan being too hot? The water isn’t overly hot but I will like the liquid that come from it is hotter then it should be…

Anyway… this tea is amazing. I smell compared David Tea to this one and wow… David’s Tea almost smells fake.. It’s not as pleasing to the nose as this one is. And the flavor. OH THE FLAVOR! So much in there! The resteepablitly is amazing. I did a 10 second rinse. Used a gaiwan for the first few steepings until my fingers got tired of holding on to a hot cup. Now I’m sipping every 30 seconds from a teapot (pouring it in a small tea cup first… I wouldn’t drink it straight from the spout =p]. It’s holding up very well at 3 minutes in and still going…

GCTTB

These look so nice. Long spindles of leaf, mostly a nice golden yellow, and dwindling to black. The brewed scent is all smooth chocolate with fruit and a bit of a malty edge. Taste wise, the malt is actually strongest for me. That strong chocolate scent doesn’t quite follow through in the flavour. It’s definitely there, just not as much as that great smell would have you believe. Quality, enjoyable, but didn’t stand out to me.

This one has been in my collection for a long time now and I’m slowly moving through everything I have. I’m typically not a puerh drinker, but seeing that it has received great reviews, I must give it a try.

First Steep: I’m surprised to see how dark this cup is given the short steep time. No wonder it’s called Special Dark! Sipping… hm, this is nicer than I thought it would be. I first taste bits of dry bark, wood and cocoa. There is a shadow of dirt that I pick up in most puerhs, but it sits in the background and doesn’t grow too strong. The cup also has a vague creamy element which I’m enjoying. Really looking forward to future cups!

Second Steep: This one is a bit more.. earthy. There is something a little tangy about this cup, too. I’m not sure if it has to do with the earthy note combined with the dry bark flavor, but it’s definitely a little strange. That being said, it is drinkable and there is still that nice chocolate note – a bit weaker than the first cup.

Third Steep: Reminds me a bit more of the first cup. I still taste bark mixed with a bit of dark chocolate and dirt. This cup also has really nice sweetness that wasn’t as prominent in previous cups.

This is definitely one of the better puerh teas I’ve had and I love that there isn’t that fishy scent or flavor. Yum!

Wow, I can’t believe that I am the first to review this. This is far too amazing to not be popular.

This beeng consists of long twisted tendrils tightly and thickly bound together. These knots are an array of autumn browns and gold. The dry cake carries a raisin and hot hay scent. I broke off a chunk and placed it inside my warmed yixing. I could hint at a very heavy aroma of thick damp wood and rich soil. I washed the dry leaf once and prepared for brewing. The tea session was very mild. I was given the impression that the brew would be thicker and carry some power. I discovered I had used too little leaf. I highly recommend more leaf (9-10g=100ml) and longer steep times(25-45 sec). Once I added another few grams this became an amazing brew. The corrected sip tasted of sweet caramel and plum. This brew had no bitterness and a slight astringency. The mouthfeel is something commendable. I experienced a thick tongue feel with a thizzling sensation. The qi from this session was intense and powerful. It starts as a long focused relaxation, and it builds into a rocket fuel sensation. I was giddy and giggly by the eighth steep #TeaDrunk. I am so glad I went with my gut on this purchase, and that I discovered the correct brewing parameters. This brew lasts a very long time, and it grows sweeter with each steep. This tea session also included a succulent tobacco undertone that lasts long in the aftertaste. I really really like this tea.

https://instagram.com/p/4m7gSgzGcI/?taken-by=haveteawilltravel

This was a nice calm brew for a rainy day. The dry leaf is very light colored. I can see an array of amber, tarnished silver, cream brown, and slight platinum. This mixture of colors carries the scent of dried apricots and an autumn leaf pile. I placed a chunk in my warmed yixing and shook it up. The scent deepened to a sweet syrupy apricot glaze with a misty forest background. I brewed this treat up right away. This brew was very light and sweet. I detected no bitterness or astringency. The initial sip was of sweet grapes and a warm honey suckle undertone. The flavor continued to stay fruity and uplifting. This autumn grape tone lessened and was replaced with a delectable sweetness. This brew has a thick buttery mouthfeel and is very appetizing. The qi was a relaxed and focused aura that surrounds the body and dives deep to the core. This is a great tea, but it wasn’t what I was in search of tonight. I needed something with a little more power and a more expansive body. However, I enjoyed this tea a lot.

https://instagram.com/p/4kYgBxTGfp/?taken-by=haveteawilltravel

Thanks for the sample with my recent order Garret!

This is the 2015 version and it is super sweet and vegetal. Very nice green! :D

4g, 200 degrees, gongfu, two short rinses, ten second steeps. I smell the tobacco aroma like I do with most shengs, but there’s something else there too. Definitely a fruity sweetness. OMG… this is the first sheng I’ve tried that I actually like. It’s mild, sweet, fruity… I get no grass, no seaweed, no tobacco. It’s bright and crisp.

Soo umm I think I got this from TheLastDodo? Correct me if I’m wrong! But I’m pretty sure you sent it to me…but our swap was a while ago and I have a horrible memory :S
Anyway.
Been wanting to try this one for a while, it’s always perked my interest.
When it was steeping the aroma was kinda creamy, and reminded me of a milk oolong, or just a really creamy oolong that makes me sick…
So wasn’t sure what to think.
But when it cooled off enough to let me drink it, I was surprised by it so much!
There’s a little vegetable flavor going on, along with some floral flavor, and while there is some creaminess, it’s not the normal creaminess I usually taste in oolongs that make me sick. It actually kinda tasted like vanilla. I thought that the flavors for this tea seemed odd when I looked it up to see the steeping time. Didn’t think I’d taste most of those. But I totally tasted vanilla. Never tasted an oolong quite like this before!
But I’m definitely impressed!
The best tea from Mandala Tea I’ve ever tried. So glad I got to try it!
I mean, I’m not sure I’d buy it since the vanilla/creamy flavor balances out the others, and I’m kinda nervous that it would make me sick. Stupid creamy/milky oolongs make me nervous anymore!
But wouldn’t mind getting more through a swap or something one day in the future. It’s definitely an odd tea, but I kinda like it. Definitely unique! And a good unique too! :D
Thank you sooo much for letting me try this, TheLastDodo!! Or if it was someone else thank you for letting me try it! So excited!:D :D :D

Drowning myself 6-26-15 #4

Drank a good 13 steeps of this between my friend and I tonight :)
Someone sent me a sample that says “Misty Peak 2013 Raw Pu’er” so I am just guessing that it is this since this is what came up.
Very very smooth for a sheng and considering it is a 2013… AWESOME!!!
This is the kind of raw pu’erh teas I am looking for so thank you to whoever sent me this wonderful leaf.