This is it, folks, the very last untried (straight) oolong in my cupboard. This very generously sized sample came from miss Starfevre. I’m not sure where she’s gone lately, but hopefully she’ll come back soon. So apparently “Traditional” means partially oxidized and lightly roasted according to Verdant’s website. Honestly, looking at the pellets, I would guess more than a light roast, as they are quite dark in color. I guess this must be due to the oxidation beforehand. The color is a medium to dark brown with some greenish hues. Dry scent is a nice combination of roasted, grassy, and sweet.
The steeped liquid has that lovely, sweet apple/pear aroma that I’ve noticed in other roasted tie guan yins, along with roasted nuts and autumn leaves. Hm, this one has a bit less depth than I expected it to. There are definitely strong roasted and grassy flavors here, but there’s a lack of sweetness that surprises me. There’s a bit of a coffee-esque aftertaste. I think I prefer TeaVivre’s roasted oolongs to this one. It’s not that it’s a bad tea, I just really like that sweet note that I have found in other roasted oolongs.
Flavors: Autumn Leaf Pile, Coffee, Grass, Nuts, Roasted
