First review! I haven’t been the first review in a while! Then again, I haven’t written a review in a while haha :) well no time like the present! A huge thank you to Angel at Teavivre for so kindly sending me a bunch of new tea samples!! This is the first of the bunch that I am trying out, and it is a perfect day for a roasty oolong, lightly snowing, miserably cold wind, and very grey out. Time for hot tea!
The dry smell of this tea is lovely, man I haven’t had an oolong in a while, and this one is definitely orchid-like and toasty. I steeped it for roughly 3 mins Western style with boiling water. The steeped aroma is SO LOVELY! It reminds me of my favorite roasted oolong from Verdant that I haven’t had in ages..what was it even called..Mi Lan Xiang Phoenix oolong. This one is a bit different though, the toasted smell is a bit stronger, and the rocky mineral notes are also there. It smells so yummy, like I should be in a tranquil waterfall cave drinking this tea :). Oh, the color is a light orange color too, very pleasing.
As for the flavor, mmmm is this ever good. It’s so very light, the mineral notes are there but quite faint, it is floral and delicious, with a sweetness that lingers almost like a mild ginseng. It’s juicy and a bit toasty. It’s really good! Wow it’s been a while since I’ve had a toasted oolong, I missed it. I was reading that this is kind of like a Tie Guan Yin like rock oolong, and I can definitely see that, it is lighter and creamier than previous ones I’ve had, and the orchid floral notes much more pronounced as in a Tie guan yin. I bet I could even convince my boyfriend to try this toasted oolong, and he really only drinks tie guan yin haha.
Overall, a very relaxing, lightly creamy, and deliciously floral tea. Smooth and serene, I am transported to a waterfall cascading down rocks with spring flowers blooming amongst the moss above. I am feeling poetic today :D
