First GABA oolong and I’m glad to try this type of tea. Apparently, the tea is fully oxidized like black teas, but made via an intensive oolong like process.
I don’t get all of the apricot, dark fruit, or papaya flavors that others get according to reviews on the Eco-Cha website, although I do get undertones of banana. To me, the predominant flavor is gingerbread and graham crackers.
Very sweet (though not as much as yesterday’s moonlight white), with ever so mild bitterness and no astringency. Mouthfeel is unimpressive, but hui gan is nice. Longevity is 6-8 infusions. Overall, the tea is very nice, but the flavor lacks depth and structure. I also wish that, as with some other teas I’ve tried from Eco-Cha, this one had information about its location and cultivar.
Harvest: Fall 2022
Location: ??? (400 m elevation).
Dry Leaf: Ginger, gingerbread, graham crackers.
Wet Leaf: Ginger snaps.
Flavor: Ginger, gingerbread, graham crackers, banana bread, sweet, cream.
Flavors: Banana, Bread, Cookie, Cream, Ginger, Graham Cracker, Sweet