Tea Ave

This sample from Tea Ave came with a lovely little surprise that certainly altered the way I was going to try the sample: an aroma set! I had to youtube how to use it though. It’s certainly an interesting way to taste tea.

I brewed in a 24oz teapot. The packet recommends 15G to the 750ml (there are several sets of steeping parameters, depending on your vessel), but when I weighed it out, 1: there wasn’t enough tea in the sample (only 9g), and 2: that seemed like wayy too much leaf to me. I decreased the amount to what I would normally add of a rolled oolong to that teapot (because I expect a lot of unfurling), which ended up being about 4g or a rounded tablespoon of dry leaf. If I were using my big teapot (45oz), I would be out of luck. So I made a decision, as I brewed it as I would normally brew it. Excepting the temperature. Normally I brew oolongs at 185F, this called for boiling water. OK, I’ll make that change. I might try it at a normal temperature next time though. After the first steep the infuser was pretty full, although I can tell the leaves are not yet fully unfurled. They are a medium-ish leaf size, not as big as the Lupicia fruity oolongs.

Using the aroma set: So the aroma is where you get the Ginger. It’s a more matured ginger taste, not quite deep enough to be savory, but not so sweet to be called candy either. That only appeared in the first aroma cup though, when I did it again the sense of ginger lessened. The smell of the hot brew however was kind of vegetal, and dare I say it?: malty. The taste of the steep was quite the same as the smell, but soo smooth. The steep had not the slightest bit of astringency or drying. It was like velvet.
If you drink it hot hot! The overall sensation was like drinking really really good (although hot, and flat) beer. THIS is what I would imagine a perfect beer to taste like. Hmm. (My cousin is convinced that malty beers like stouts are horrible and really hoppy craftbeers, mostly IPAs, are the top of the line – I say the opposite. I dislike hops, but malt is the bomb.) When it cools down you get the sense of ginger, which gets more spicy and yet more sweet the more it cools.

With a normal teacup: After it cools down some more the malt taste goes away and you’re left with a green oolong with cream and ginger notes, with mild floral notes. Still good, but I think I’ll try to drink this one pretty hot. (How different is this from the experience above… man, that aroma set really changes things up, doesn’t it?) I probably would have gotten a more pronounced taste if I followed the recommended amount of leaf, but the intensity was just fine for me.

The oolong itself is pretty green, but well rounded. The scenting process that they claim is new to me. The results however they did it, is quite spectacular. I would buy this. (Probably lots, I hope my wallet can afford it). They are set to open shop this month. Maybe there will be a grand opening sale? (A girl can hope.)

Thank you Tea Ave! Good luck on your opening!

After months of anticipation, samples from Teaave are here! Woo! And they came with extra special goodies too! Lots of thanks to Teaave! :)

So, this is the first oolong I tried and OMG, it is so good! It’s like a milky oolong sweetened with candied ginger. I’m not even a big fan of ginger, but this was yummy! There’s a little spicy heat from the ginger, but it’s subtle. It’s also milky, buttery, and sweet. The flavor lasts through several infusions. I could definitely see myself drinking this as an afternoon or evening treat. So good. After this one, I’m really excited to try the other samples. Also, I think their website launches unofficially next week and officially in March. Starting my wishlist off with this one!

My favorite so far out of the samples I tried from Tea Ave. The oolong looks great with nice delicately large leaf. The flavor is rich, roasty nutty with a strong peach apricot aftertaste. Later infusions got kinda dry, but the after taste was still going.

I really want to get my hands on more of this tea to get a full gong fu experience – it was originally bagged (and whole leaf!) and I gong fu steeped it with the 3 grams I had.

Full review and preview of Tea Ave teas on Oolong Owl http://oolongowl.com/tea-ave-oolong-preview/

Mmmm, I love the ginger level in this tea! It has the perfect amount of ginger, that popped the best after a 3.5 minute infusion.
Ginger Lily is sweet, buttery ginger that warms you up as well as refreshes you.

Full review and preview of Tea Ave teas on Oolong Owl http://oolongowl.com/tea-ave-oolong-preview/