This offering from Stash had me at three words: Smoked. Assam. Oolong. Two of the most manly descriptors in my tea lexicon….plus the most habit-forming. I did this up both with a gongfu prep and Western-style. Both yield the peaty presence this oak-wood-fired oolong possesses, but the gongfu approach also brings out some of its nuances. Yes, this thing actually has nuances beyond the lip-smack first sip. I liked it quite a bit, but it doesn’t surpass other smoked varieties like good ol’ Lapsang. Peat doesn’t quite outweigh hickory. That said, it’s the perfect cup for cavendish pipe tobacco smokers, whiskey drinkers, and any others who want a burn for their buck.
Full Review: http://beastsofbrewdom.teatra.de/2011/10/19/smoked-assam-ness/
Preparation
190 °F / 87 °C
0 min, 30 sec
