Taiwan Longevity Oolong

Longevity Oolong – Description on label: “This baked Ti Kwan Yin style oolong has been preserved and rebaked for each of the last four years. This produces a leaf that is almost coal-black and the steeped cup is dark, toasty, very smooth, and slightly fruity and sweet.” My aunt disliked it—said it tasted “smoky.” I liked it somewhat better—to me it tasted almost caramely—but I wasn’t so enamored of this I’d order it again over such favorites as Big Red Robe or Sweet Silk Oolong.

I did not like this gong fu at all, it did not change over time to my taste buds at least. Grandpa style is better so I’m reviewing that.
leaf :???? its grandpa style, idgaf; temp 100C
The texture of this is like a light roast coffee with cream, but aroma is extremely roasty. Reminds me of hojicha both in taste and aroma, maybe a tiny bit chocolatier. I do not taste any fruitiness that others have tasted in this. Unfortunately I don’t like hojicha whatsoever so this is definitely a pass for me.

Next up from my exploration of the teabox is Longevity oolong by Teasource. This is a 4 year old retoasted oolong.

Starting with a quick rinse to open up the leaves, the aroma came out of the yixing like POW… I got hit with coffee, roast, chocolate, dark wood and cherry. The liquor color is dark honey color, with a touch of red. Not quite as red as red tea, more towards honey but darker.

The first infusion I got the same aroma, and now tasting it, yup it tastes like coffee, also dark bittersweet, cherry, chocolate…its actually more roasty than wuyi oolongs. This really surprised me, the roast on this is quite heavy.

Second infusion it was even stronger, the tea leaves are opening up a little now and really just pounding the aroma, the yixing also intensifies it because of the way it holds the heat, I was also brewing this a bit on the hot side, near 205.

I brewed this out about 12 infusions and it lost very little flavor through any of the infusions. Though later in the infusions I actually tasted a little more of the tea, and a little less of the roast. Though the slightly fruity cherry flavor kept with it throughout.

I do have a bit of a soft spot for aged oolongs.

HIGHLY recommended.

This was an enjoyable oolong that fit the description quite well. Sweet, toasty and fruity.

This is a lovely rich oolong. If you would like to try something a bit darker than a typical Ti Quan Yin, this one does not have the lighter, vegetal taste. Very smooth, nice aroma and a nutty barley flavor. Perhaps adding some honey it reminds me of a puffed cereal but can’t recall the name of it. There is a dry slightly tannic mouthfeel after.

The leaves look to have a couple more infusions in them. As a good oolong should.