I’m new (today!) to oolongs. Mainly I’m getting a toasted rice [edit: as I tasted more oolongs, that flavor diminished on my palette). It’s got some sweetness to it, maybe even a little roasted nuts. Way at the end of the lingering flavor, I could see describing it as a rocky taste. It’s not vegetable flavored, it’s not woody or fruity or malty or flowery… so yeah, a tiny little spice and a tiny little rocky among the toasted rice.
Since the color was halfway between raw cashews and raw hazlenuts, I had a handful of nuts. This really opened up my tongue to tasting the mineral right away when sipping. And it’s not something I’m enjoying right off. But, I could see developing a palette for it. I think the flavors are just too new to me, and I’m spending too much time thinking about it.
Edit: Like most oolongs, once I doubled the tea quantity and shortened the initial steep, I started enjoying it A LOT more. I ordered a huge bag of this. For the price (about 8 cents per gram) I found it to be an affordable investment. I’ve bumped up the rating too, based on a few factors. (1) ease of dealing with company, fast shipments, rewards through website (2) aroma and flavors (not too smoky) last multiple steeps. Right now I prefer a greener tie-guan-yin, but I like this one too. Not transcendent, but I enjoy it. So I’m giving it a high rating for my own enjoyment and overall experience with the tea.
Edit #2: Oh man, there’s some figgy/raisin fruit notes at the end of this first steep today, hits me right in the spot in the back of the top of your mouth where sweet-tarts stimulate… I must have brewed it JUST right. Boiled water in electric kettle, wait 1 min, slowly pour over leaves in infuser mug (two heaping perfect scoops for 12 oz water mug). Wait 2 minutes. Since I don’t always get this flavor, I guess the tea is a bit temperamental to coax. But wow.
