Wuyi Mountain Big Red Robe

I thought I would like this one a lot more than I did. It smelled and tasted heavily roasted. But there was also a very strong floral oolong flavour, very greenish tasting. I much prefer a darker oolong vs a green one.

It did brew up very light and clear. There was a slight natural sweetness to the tea. I just wish there was more roast to the flavour profile. I will have to try further steeps.

Very strong – not to be over-steeped or enjoyed on an empty stomach, and certainly not both. Good quality, unfolding brew after brew. Overall, a solid Wuyi.

This is a really lovely oolong from Verdant. I found the flavor profile unusual, at least in my tea experience so far… Most of the oolongs I’ve tried are either green/orchid/floral or roasted/peach/orchid in terms of flavor. But this oolong is very smooth and creamy, and tastes strongly of oak. I can taste a subtle note of vanilla, almost more of a texture than a taste. There’s a bit of a nutty quality too, but the oak is the most dominant.

Incidentally, I steeped this tea according to the “Western” parameters on Verdant’s website. I have to say, I really like how their teas taste with the extra-short steeping times. (Just 30 seconds for the first steep, then adding 15 seconds for each cup afterward.) I have to use a lot of leaf, about a tablespoon or so, but it’s worth it. The tea turns out so flavorful and smooth, and it seems like it’s easier for me to pick out the interesting notes.

Anyway, this is a delicious and sophisticated oolong! I’m glad I had the chance to try it as part of their 5 for 5 sampler, and to expand my experience with tea. I’d never tried a Big Red Robe oolong before, and I have to say, I’m intrigued. Too bad I’ve already finished off my sample! Perhaps I’ll order more soon?

Got a sample of this one with my last Verdant order!
I hear a lot about this tea it feels like, so I’m happy to have gotten a sample of it.
The steeping aroma was pretty light and roasty.
The taste was more than just roasty-ness though. There were hints of floral that made it a lot smoother and lighter.
Wasn’t sure I’d like this one since I’m not really drinking a lot of roasty teas lately, but the floral notes really do balance this one out. Not bad at all!
Happy To have tried this one! Thanks for the sample, Verdant! :D

Marco Polo TTB

It’s yummy. What else to say? Smooth, slightly floral and of a medium-ish intensity. Probably preferable as an everyday drinker.

Sipdown 16 of 2016. 1oz. Purchased 2/2014 – Finished 1/2016.

This is just what I need this afternoon. I am really enjoying this one today. It is slightly roasty with a lot of the fruitiness shining through.

4g: 15, 15, 30, 30, 60, 60……

Lewis and Clark TTB #18

Oolong and puerh aren’t very well suited for travelling tea boxes, at least those with a deadline. You need to do half a dozen steeps to get the full picture of the tea, which means you can only do a couple of teas per day.

This tea is a good example. I wasn’t terribly impressed by the first steep: it seemed very dense and dark, like a black tea without a whole lot of character. however, on each subsequent steep, a richer, green flavor started to build, making for a fuller, richer tea. The darkness is still there, but now its more of a cello in the orchestra, providing depth underneath the violins, which dominate.

Just brewed it for 1.5 minutes and I am nervous that it will taste too light. But here goes… The scent of the leaves, pre-brewing, was like chocolate. But now the scent from my steaming cup is an earthy one.

Not being used to oolong, this is an interesting taste for me. It’s mild and earthy, like a green tea with roasted rice.

I let it brew longer (4 mins) and tried again… This time the smell is deeper and even more earthy. The taste is much stronger, but again – so earthy. It reminds me of brown rice tea, which I don’t really like- so maybe I’m not an oolong person.

A lovely cup – roasted notes overlay minerals, cream, spinach and tangy vegetal flavours.

Sadly, I don’t think I can finish my cup. It’s gotten cold and one of my teeth has suddenly started hurting pretty badly. Cold is extremely unpleasant right now.

L & C TTB

I’m not so impressed. I don’t even have the energy to describe this tea, but it’s not doing anything for me right now.

Maybe it’s the time of day, or my mood, or my stress level. Sorry I couldn’t give it a fair shake.