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Tea Swap Sample Sipdown of the Day! (4)

I was inspired by Roswell Strange‘s goal to drink more straight teas at home, so today’s swap sample is an unflavored oolong from Arby!

I find the name of this one quite charming. Apparently it’s called hairy crab because of the little hairs that come off of the leaves and float on the surface during steeping. Cute! The rolled pellets here are small and uneven with a variegated medium-to-dark olive green color.

This is lovely! I don’t always enjoy green oolongs, as often they can be a bit too floral for me. But happily, that is not the case here. There is a smooth grassy and somewhat vegetal flavor reminiscent of green peas or edamame. It has that trademark thick and silky oolong mouthfeel, and a clear sweetness that makes me feel as though I’m drinking from a cool mountain stream.

I do taste some floral notes, possibly peony? I really should familiarize myself more with different flowers. The aftertaste is pure peaches and cream, like a smoothie or milkshake.

Very tasty! Straight oolongs will never be my favorites, but this is certainly a delicious example. Thanks, Arby!

Flavors: Cream, Floral, Grass, Peach, Peas, Smooth, Soybean, Stonefruit, Sweet, Thick, Vegetal

Preparation
185 °F / 85 °C 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 12 OZ / 354 ML

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Profile

Bio

Hi, I’m Cameron!

I’m a 30-something software engineer currently living in Austin, Texas with my husband and our two pugs, Gobo and Ume. I tend to cycle between my different hobbies, and they include piano, knitting, video games, board games, miniature painting, planners, bento, Korean skincare, and – of course – TEA! But really, what I’m best at is “collecting” hobby-related things… ;)

~ 2024 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- November sipdowns: 8
- Total 2024 sipdowns: 151

I prefer my tea lukewarm or at room temperature and without milk or sugar. I steep Western style, and fluctuate between using big mugs or small teapots depending on the season.

I am always up for a swap! Just let me know if you’d like to try something in my cupboard.

Tea Preferences:
I enjoy both flavored and unflavored teas in many forms. These days, I drink mostly flavored teas, and I tend to gravitate most toward black, green, oolong, and herbal varieties. I do have a special fondness for straight Japanese green teas, however.

I do not sweeten my teas, and pre-sweetened teas are usually too sweet for me. I also do not enjoy stevia.

I tend to reach for fruitier flavors rather than desserty ones these days, but I do have favorites from both categories. Willing to try anything once! There are a few ingredients/flavors that aren’t generally my jam, such as coconut, rose, lavender, and chocolate flavoring. But I also have teas that I love with some of those things, too! :)

Favorite Companies:
3 Leaf
Bird & Blend
Dammann Frères
Harney & Sons
Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
Lupicia
Old Barrel Tea Co
Simpson & Vail
Taiwan Tea Crafts
TeaVivre

Tea Rating Scale:
90-100: Outstanding! Permanent cupboard resident
80-89: Great – a possible staple
70-79: Good, but I wouldn’t buy it
60-69: It’s decent
50-59: Meh… I may or may not have finished the cup
40-49: Ick. Couldn’t finish it.
00-39: Repulsive, I spat it out

I will sometimes refrain from rating a tea if I feel I’m too biased due to my personal dislikes, or if I suspect the sample has been compromised by age or scent contamination.

Cupboard Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZEuKf1-ppR-VXajO4vV39zU1N3zjFJteEPAynqD2yl0/edit?usp=sharing

Location

Austin, Texas

Website

https://www.instagram.com/tea...

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