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I had a blend this morning of this tea and Rooibos Peach Bloom, from Teavana. This oolong’s flavor is just strong enough to add a nice milky aftertaste to the more prevalent flavor of the rooibos (Rooibos Peach Bloom is one of the strongest rooiboses I’ve ever smelled or tasted). I enjoyed the blend very much, mostly because I was craving Rooibos Peach Bloom but prefer darker teas in the morning (more caffeine, woot!).

By itself, this oolong is one of the most floral I’ve ever had, so I suppose it is aptly named. :) I love pairing it with fruity teas, because it tends to balance them out and create some really interesting flavors. A great staple to have in your cupboard.

I like this tea so much, it’s the tea I chose to use in my Yixing pot. I prefer spicy teas, and this tea barely even tastes like a white tea, it’s so rich and flavorful. Good for about 4 or 5 short steeps.

I actually steeped a whole pot of this tea today. I used 1/3 cup of it as part of the wet ingredients in a chocolate bread recipe I have, and I drank the rest.
I’ve made this bread before, and it’s the best chocolate bread I’ve ever had. The oolong adds a depth of flavor that brings out the bitterness of the cocoa powder, and it’s just so rich and chocolaty, I have to resist the urge to eat several pieces right as it comes out of the oven.
Anyway, the oolong is a joy to drink as well. It’s smooth and nutty, doesn’t take much sugar, and can be steeped up to three times. I tend to steep it a little on the long side for oolong (3 or 4 minutes), but I find this only enhances the flavors, even though it decreases the number of re-steeps I can get out of it.

I am well acquainted with the owners of Red Stick Spice. When they told me I had to try this tea because it had won first place at a tea-tasting competition in California, I agreed that that sounded like a good idea. Let me tell you, I was very skeptical about the idea of rooibos and mint together. The tea spoke volumes for itself, however. It smells mostly of mint, with only a little of the musky-nutty rooibos scent, and the other flowers nonexistent. However, when you steep it, the flavor of each component somehow comes to life, like children standing in a line on the stage of a school play. You can see each one of them distinctly, each bringing their own drama and quirks. It totally amazed me that the mint, normally known for being a strong flavor, was so subtle and accommodating to the other flavors. This will be one of the permanent denizens of my tea shelf.

This was the first Teavana tea I ever tried. I was hooked at the first sip. I have since kept a constant supply (it’s been several years now). It’s not that great if you accidentally oversteep it, which happens to me more than I care to admit… but it’s a wonderful morning tea. It’s also great for a pick-me-up on those afternoons when you feel your energy sputtering out. It’s smooth, with the creamy bergamot mixing beautifully with the slightly fruity-ness of the blue cornflower petals.

I have owned this tea for several months now, and I have not been able to do anything to it to make it taste bad (even oversteeping!). The rooibos in it expertly balances out the black tea, and the spices, like cinnamon and cloves, are balanced out by the creamy smooth coconut. It has such a delightful finish, and hardly needs very much sweetening. I drink it both hot and cold, with and without milk, and with and without sweetener.