This is one of the better Jin Xuans I’ve had, or one of the fruitier ones in the least. The dry leaf smell is also fruity, kinda like fruit loops cereal. I’m having a hard time picking out the fruit-so far I’ve got honeydew, maybe kiwi though not that tart, or peach. Honeydew is probably more precise. I’ll come back to it. The fruit loop general tropical fruitiness is the most accurate.
Since the tea is as light as the other review described, going a little heavier in the leafs was better-at about 5 grams. I started off with 45 sec, and first steep was creamy, slightly floral, and fruity. Every steep is lightly sweet. The second steep was closer to 50 sec, and it was a little drier that I expected-making me think of dry oats-then it immediately goes to being a little green and then again fruity. This tea does not have a strong grassy presence that a lot of Jin Xuans have, but when there is grass, it is more floral and definitely fresher. I’m digging this aspect. It can be difficult to find a light oolong that is not too grassy and not too delicate. This tea leans towards the delicate side, but the present fruitiness makes me like it.
More to come…and much of the same thing. This tea has some decent strength for three more steeps, but the profile was generally there. Steep five had a high point of fruity strength that I did not expect. There is strength for a seventh brew, but it would have to sit for a while.
I am fairly impressed with this tea. I was not a huge fan of the first Indonesian tea I tried, but the Baozhong and this tea have changed my mind. I actually liked this one a little more than a few Chinese and Taiwan Jin Xuan’s I’ve had in the past because of its fruitiness and its light sweetness. The only downside is that it needs longer steeping times or more leaves to shine. I am so glad to have a sample before it sold out, though.
I do recommend this tea generally, but I do not know who exactly would be drawn to it. It is very easy to drink, so it is approachable for a newbie, but it has enough nuance for a more experienced drinker to try. I’m not sure if it would leave an impression, except for the fact that it is a good Jin Xuan from Indonesia. I’d hope it expand someone’s sense of geography in the very least.
