Golden Turtle

I’m multitasking while reviewing this tea. Sometimes need to get in what I can while the babe is asleep. Lots of good vegetal notes in this one.

Soo umm I think I got this from TheLastDodo? Correct me if I’m wrong! But I’m pretty sure you sent it to me…but our swap was a while ago and I have a horrible memory :S
Anyway.
Been wanting to try this one for a while, it’s always perked my interest.
When it was steeping the aroma was kinda creamy, and reminded me of a milk oolong, or just a really creamy oolong that makes me sick…
So wasn’t sure what to think.
But when it cooled off enough to let me drink it, I was surprised by it so much!
There’s a little vegetable flavor going on, along with some floral flavor, and while there is some creaminess, it’s not the normal creaminess I usually taste in oolongs that make me sick. It actually kinda tasted like vanilla. I thought that the flavors for this tea seemed odd when I looked it up to see the steeping time. Didn’t think I’d taste most of those. But I totally tasted vanilla. Never tasted an oolong quite like this before!
But I’m definitely impressed!
The best tea from Mandala Tea I’ve ever tried. So glad I got to try it!
I mean, I’m not sure I’d buy it since the vanilla/creamy flavor balances out the others, and I’m kinda nervous that it would make me sick. Stupid creamy/milky oolongs make me nervous anymore!
But wouldn’t mind getting more through a swap or something one day in the future. It’s definitely an odd tea, but I kinda like it. Definitely unique! And a good unique too! :D
Thank you sooo much for letting me try this, TheLastDodo!! Or if it was someone else thank you for letting me try it! So excited!:D :D :D

Gongfu cha 15, 20, 40…
This is a pretty tea. It has very intense, exotic aromas of butter rum, vanilla and marshamallow; almost like a pina colada. It is a clean cup with some grassy flavors + white chocolate and finishes with slight apricot. it has a very slight bitterness on the end. This tea is less impressive on the mouth than it is on the nose.

Gongfu. 190 degrees. 1 tsp (about 3g) 30 sec. rinse. First steep 1 minute. The aroma is so floral, but also buttery. Wow. It’s like drinking… uhm… buttered flowers. Does not taste like any oolong I’ve ever had! No astringency at all. Very pleasant aftertaste too. It’s more like a green tea than an oolong imo. Second steep 1:30, flavor a bit stronger, but still no astringency. Third 2 mins; floral aroma is gone, more vegetal now, the flavor as well, but still has a lingering butteryness to it. A very pleasant drink.

A most satisfying oolong from Mandala. After two short hot water rinses this tea blossoms into a full frontal cup of sweet, earthy, fruity and smooth oolong…

Thank you for this sample, Beorhthraefn! I must admit I sipped this one a few days ago but I also had a terrible headache after I started the steep sessions, so I didn’t write a tasting note at the time. I had to write one though, since the sample is gone now. I used a teaspoon and a half for my eleven or so ounce mug. As a dry leaf, I’m surprised there isn’t much of a scent to these green bundles. Both steeps are light in flavor – fruity like pineapple, buttery but not getting to the point of savory. Sadly, looking at the total steep time for both sessions – a min and 45 seconds, these leaves probably had a lot more time to steep, but my headache was telling me to cool it on the caffeine and just go to bed. I should have tried this one another day!
Steep #1 // 10 min after boiling // rinse // 45 second steep
Steep #2 // 7 min a.b. // 1 min steep

Got this from a while back but only had it a few times. Lovely, buttery texture. Lightly floral and slightly vegetal with a hint of savouriness.

To be honest, since I got this I discovered that I’m not a huge fan of floral notes in my teas (which is why I’m choosing to not rate it). Otherwise, this is an excellent tea for lovers of Anxi tieguanyin. Personally, I find it a bit too green for my taste, but I’m glad to have tried it. I do like the texture.