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“Oh wow! This is SO GOOD. This is honestly one of the very best Oolongs I’ve ever tasted. Better than Milk Oolong, maybe better than Ali Shan! And I LOVE Ali Shan! I really love this one. The...” Read full tasting note
“I gave the small dry tea nuggets a quick hot water rinse, then sniffed at the pot — floral bliss! Dr Oolong, co-owner of Zhi Tea, describes aroma of wildflowers, but that fails to capture the...” Read full tasting note
“I will start off by saying what this is not: not vegetative, not floral, not milky, not roasted or not toasty. Call me strange- but this tastes like clover, yes a clover- the flower associated...” Read full tasting note
“Steep Information: Amount: 3 tsp Water: 750ml at 175°F Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL Steep Time: 3 minutes Served: Hot Tasting Notes: Dry Leaf Smell: Strong toasty scent Steeped Tea...” Read full tasting note
One of our Artisan Reserve organic oolong teas, a line of small-batch handmade teas from a craft handed down over generations. Hand selected for having all the hallmark qualities of the highest grades with noteable personality accents. This tea has a long round clover honey sweetness, surrounded by wildflower notes and a nice tilled soil kind of depth. What makes this honey oolong stand out from the others we cupped when selecting this type of tea is the intense aromatics, overall body of the liquor, and complexity of flavor. It has a fullness and depth of character that continues even at room tempurature or even cold. Multiple steepings reveal rich nutty earthiness and a more refined sweetness. Gui Fei Oolong was created by a group of young tea farmers from Luku township in 2000. After the big earthquake 9/21/2009, the tea farmers in Luku township were engaged in rebuilding their hometown and neglected to manage their tea gardens which led to the tea leaves being chomped by the "tea leafhopper". After these tea leaves were picked and produced according to traditional Dong Ding Oolong tea method with a long fermentation, it turned out the tea liquor was crystal clear orange color and full of honey or litchi aroma. The green leaves were surrounded by red edges and looked very elegant and poised just like an ancient Gui Fei (The highest-ranking imperial concubine). Its flavor and aroma are different from traditional Dong Ding Oolong tea, which is why it is named Dong Ding Gui Fei tea or Gui Fei Oolong tea. We call it Royal Courtesan to honor its exemplary characteristics. Good for several incredible steepings. Source: China. TOPA Organic Certified. AKA Gui Fei Oolong, Gui Fei Mei Ren, Noble Concubine, Honey Oolong
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Oh wow! This is SO GOOD. This is honestly one of the very best Oolongs I’ve ever tasted. Better than Milk Oolong, maybe better than Ali Shan! And I LOVE Ali Shan!
I really love this one. The flavor is rich with buttery notes and honeysuckle! Honey tones! Beautiful!
LOVE it!
I gave the small dry tea nuggets a quick hot water rinse, then sniffed at the pot — floral bliss! Dr Oolong, co-owner of Zhi Tea, describes aroma of wildflowers, but that fails to capture the richness of my olfactory experience. For me, the light gold oolong broth wafted forth orchid and lilac, with light honey notes. The sweet scent clung so strongly to the empty cup that I couldn’t take my nose out of it. That’s how I want to die — with my nose in a honeyed cup! (any innuendo found in that exclamation, ahem, surely originates in the mind of the reader) Yes, I’m an old bird whose sensuality often, these days, finds itself swimming in a cup of tea. My family, I think, considers my tea obsession a blessing, a diversion which keeps me too busy to venture far onto the wild side. My old bones second that emotion. “Teadrunk nights are quite enough,” they agree. So my hat’s off to those tiny bugs which chewed these leaves and made this tea so special! I got four good infusions, too.
Howdy, are you still sniffing at the pot or have you moved on to Hukka or Kukicha brewing? Punning, happy holidays from this Methuen, MA residing resident-er.
Aaah, lots of good sniffing going on, but I do love kukicha, as well. This San Antonio TX resident wishes you a fine new year!
Steep Information:
Amount: 3 tsp
Water: 750ml at 175°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL
Steep Time: 3 minutes
Served: Hot
Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: Strong toasty scent
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet (floral), toasty
Flavor: sweet, silky, toasty
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: toasted, gritty
Liquor: translucent medium orange brown
Not the best oolong I’ve had, but a very nice one.
Resteep:
750ml at 175°F for 3 minutes and 30 seconds
Resteep:
750ml at 175°F for 4 minutes
It could have steeped more but I was headed home.
Rating: 3/4 leaves
Blog: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2013/03/zhi-tea-loose-leaf-oolong-tea-royal.html
This may be the best tea I’ve had ever. I first tasted it at Zhi during Eat Local week. A nice, extremely knowledgeable guy was steeping various teas. On the first steeping the aroma was sweet and floral. Tasting this tea after the first smell was a little surprising, it was more substantial and earthier than I thought it would be. Multiple steepings didn’t disappoint. I took home two ounces that day and this continues to be my “go-to” tea when I’m looking for “the cup that cheers” – that phrase was invented for this tea.
Wow, I don’t usually favor oolongs, but this is nice! I read a review that someone posted about it the other day and went into Zhi for a sample today during the East Austin Studio Tour which is this really cool event where artist open up their homes and studios to show and sell their crafts. Zhi is right in the middle of a lot of the action, so it made for an easy detour. The gal that works there said the tea was like honey without the sweetness, but I’m not quite picking up on that. I do get a faint floral taste in a very rich and smooth feeling sip. On the aftertaste I get a hint of spice… maybe cinnamon? It is strong, but subtle enough that I can’t put my finger on it clearly. The tea smells slightly roasted with a hint of a grassy bite that never really ends up biting. This is pretty good for an oolong! Could this be my gateway oolong?
I love this one. And LOL I discovered it at an Eat Local week at Zhi years ago where they had a guy doing gong fu sessions with it.
This sounds absolutely lovely! Adding it to my wish list…
MzPriss, did you go out for EAST at all this year? I first discovered Zhi several years ago wandering around during EAST, right after they had opened. Never thought they would make it in that location, but I’m really glad they have! I kind of felt like a creeper for EAST this year because there were several places I went to because I have been fascinated with the house or building for years and really wanted to see the inside. Architecture first, art second!
I over steeped my 2nd cup and drank the rest of it this morning… still delicious and the cinnamon like flavor came on earlier!
I didn’t go this year, but I’ve gone in years past. I also found Zhi right after they opened and like you, I never thought they’d make it. I’m kind of a creeper that way too – I go to lots of things just cause I want to see inside the buildings – I love the garden tour they used to do all over town. Don’t know if they still do that.
You’re so well-tasted, this one must be superlative!
Ooo.. i need to find this one then!
I’ve never had this one! Sounds great!
it is good, isn’t it!