I’m going to sound like a jerk in this review. Here it goes.
I’ve tried 14 different jade oolongs in the past month and I have only been satisfied with a few of them. I’ve been hoping for a good daily drinker, but I’ve actually preferred some flavored ones over the pure ones. I actually feel silly in spending so much money on daily drinkers instead of slightly more expensive ones that I might be more satisfied with. I personally don’t think that more expensive teas taste better by default; I’ve had a slightly more generic jasmine oolong that I enjoyed much more than a Long Feng Xia and a Li Shan that I enjoyed more than its prestigious Da Yu Ling cousin. I’ve also enjoyed a vanilla black chai more than a Wild Dianhong of a better leaf grade quality. Lord am I persnickety.
So from all of the frickin’ oolongs I’ve guzzled, this one probably had the best mouth feel, texture, and durability of the teas. Much of what I said in the earlier note is true: it has a pronounced spinach creaminess that borders on vanilla and a very pronounced clover floral taste overall. It is on the low to medium sweeter end of oolongs and definitely makes a good daily drinker that rivals some Ali Shan’s in terms of textural complexity, but it lacked the fruitiness or the honey notes that I hope for in the steeps I’ve had so far.
This is a great tea for a great price, but it is something I should have sampled instead of bulked. I think that the tea deserves a 85-90 for it’s strength, balance, texture, and quality, but a 75 for flavor. Because of my lack of general satisfaction with the sheer quantities I have, I am going to sell most of my tea soon so I can minimize my collection and buy different teas. I still recommend Taiwan Sourcing as a great company. I’ve just not been happy with the seasons for my favorite tea types and particular against the general ones.
People who liked this
Comments
Oh boy, I’m in the same mess. Would love to find just the one but there are too many to choose from and then by the time I get to a find, it’s a new year. Have to agree that Taiwan Sourcing and Taiwan Tea Crafts are the in the high quality list but as it goes the only teas I buy for daily drinkers are the Laoshan Black and Imperial Mojiang.
You are an accomplished chief with the palette to match, unfortunately lol. Yunnan Sourcing?
Oh boy, I’m in the same mess. Would love to find just the one but there are too many to choose from and then by the time I get to a find, it’s a new year. Have to agree that Taiwan Sourcing and Taiwan Tea Crafts are the in the high quality list but as it goes the only teas I buy for daily drinkers are the Laoshan Black and Imperial Mojiang.
You are an accomplished chief with the palette to match, unfortunately lol. Yunnan Sourcing?