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derk drank Taiwan #18 'Red Jade' GABA Oolong Tea by What-Cha

1647 tasting notes

I wasn’t going to rate this one again, either, but brewed grandpa in a thermos it’s a bit better. It can be funky and tart in the first few sips before the flavors meld, but otherwise it’s got a mellow winter squash going on. The liquor smells like spiced winter squash with brown sugar. The faint mint taste I experienced brewed western has turned into a more noticeable menthol which combines with a new nutmeg? allspice? flavor, making the aftertaste reminiscent of camphor. It can get a little astringent at the bottom but it’s tolerable for me. This tea packs a serious punch of caffeine and is helping me power through the day after a sleepless night and a public medical emergency this morning. I’m still on the fence about it but I might try another season’s harvest if one is ever available again and make up my mind after that. I think it’s worth a try if you want something high in caffeine and different. Bumping from 64 to 71.

Preparation

1 tsp 20 OZ / 591 ML

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This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. Yet I persist.

Eventual tea farmer. If you are a tea grower, want to grow your own plants or are simply curious, please follow me so we can chat.

I most enjoy loose-leaf, unflavored teas and tisanes. Teabags have their place. Some of my favorite teas have a profound effect on mind and body rather than having a specific flavor profile.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Georgia, Japan, and Nepal. While I’m not actively on the hunt, a goal of mine is to try tea from every country that makes it available to the North American market. This is to gain a vague understanding of how Camellia sinensis performs in different climates. I realize that borders are arbitrary and some countries are huge with many climates and tea-growing regions.

I’m convinced European countries make the best herbal teas.

Personal Rating Scale:

100-90: A tea I can lose myself into. Something about it makes me slow down and appreciate not only the tea but all of life or a moment in time. If it’s a bagged or herbal tea, it’s of standout quality in comparison to similar items.

89-80: Fits my profile well enough to buy again.

79-70: Not a preferred tea. I might buy more or try a different harvest. Would gladly have a cup if offered.

69-60: Not necessarily a bad tea but one that I won’t buy again. Would have a cup if offered.

59-1: Lacking several elements, strangely clunky, possesses off flavor/aroma/texture or something about it makes me not want to finish.

Unrated: Haven’t made up my mind or some other reason. If it’s puerh, I likely think it needs more age.

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Location

Sonoma County, California, USA

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