Man was I lucky to get 50 grams of this….of course I’m going to finish it in a week. I really can’t thank the company enough for offering this oolong. After the long quest for the perfect floral and creamy jade oolong..this ALMOST hit the marks I wanted.
I was surprised that this tea needed to be brewed western to open up. The texture was very milky and thick while the flavor was light and aromatic. Many of the reviews describe this tea as particularly sweet and creamy, but it did not have the sweet honey note that I associate with this variety. That was the mark I was hoping to hit, but it could have been a result of brewing. I also wonder when this tea was harvested, though it has a few qualities that remind me of a winter oolong.
I’ve used 5 grams and I’ve used three grams for 6 ounces of water-both steeping in 30 seconds for the heavier leafed sessions and three minutes for the lighter sessions. The texture was mostly the same for both with the heavier gong fu attempt being crowded by the milky sensation. The western brew was more balanced, but I was left wanting more from the flavor. The florals, however, hit the lilac-plumeria combo I love with a cream like body, albeit one like unsweetened thick whipping cream. This quality keeps me coming back to this tea because of how I deeply associate those florals with my childhood in Hawaii. Best of all, there was absolutely NO bitterness or astringency.
While I was pickier and more hopeful with this tea, I still thoroughly enjoyed it and was thoroughly impressed with how close to milk the texture and taste. The changing and ever comforting florals also impressed me. I think that it will keep me in good company for the short time I have it.
