Thank you for the free sample!
This tea was interesting and better than I expected, but I was not in love. I’ve had Qilans and I prefer them to most yanchas, so having this from Anxi was welcomed new experience. I’m also picky with rolled oolongs that are also roasted.
It was pleasant, floral, and softer than what comes to my mind with “dark roast”. In was more toasty and woodsy, which was the way I like it with pronounced florals like honeysuckle and orchid with something that vaguely like jasmine. It also had the berry notes at the end of some steeps, kind of like raspberry, but they were also very faint. It resembled a Qilan for sure in terms of roast and some florals, but if I were to drink it blind, I would have guessed it was a roasted Tie Guan Yin because of its texture and its buttery orchid florals.
I liked it, but I would not purchase it just out of preference. I only recommend it for those who are a fans of this terroir because it is a good example of what they can do in Anxi. I’m with a lot of the other reviewers in that I’d prefer an actual Qilan, but this roast was better than others I’ve had.
