92

From the Butiki TTB2.

Prepared with the gong-fu method. One rinse. First infusion was ten seconds. I unintentionally let the water get too hot in the saucepan so I timed the second infusion for ten seconds as well. I then added five seconds to the subsequent infusions.

This is my first GABA oolong, and my first-ever oolong from Taiwan. The dry leaf consists of rolled brown leaves, which have a floral and toasty aroma. They look a little like raisins after the second steep. When I rinsed the leaves only once, already there was a strong aroma of cooked plantains and apricot jam. I’m taking pleasure in the aroma the most – I just can’t stopping smelling the leaves, they’re so sweet and fruity! The liquor is clear and light-bodied and the color of pale yellow, like white grape juice. As the leaves continue to unfurl with each steeping, the flavor strengthens. At first it’s light-bodied and somewhat sweet, and tastes of starfruit. Then the sweetness deepens and the flavor becomes full-bodied. I can now taste the apricot, which is a little tart.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 0 min, 15 sec 2 g 4 OZ / 118 ML

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Bio

I began drinking tea because its complexity fascinated me. I love learning about its history, its manufacturing processes, and its place in various cultures.

Japanese greens were my first love and gateway into the world.

My favorite teas are leafhopper oolongs, pu’erh (shou and sheng), and masala chai. My favorite herbal tisanes are spear/peppermint, lavender and chrysanthemum.

I’m currently exploring pu’erh, and any Chinese and Taiwanese teas in general. I’m not much into flavored teas, unlike when I first started. The only teas I truly dislike are fruity tisanes and the ones that have too much fruit. I do like hisbiscus, especially iced.

I like to write nature essays. I’m a birdwatcher as well as a tea enthusiast. The kiwi is one of my favorite birds. I also like Tolkien, Ancient Egypt, and exercising.

IMPORTANT NOTE, PLEASE READ: After two and a half years of having an account here, I will no longer will provide numerical ratings as an addition to the review because the American school system has skewed my thoughts on numbers out of a hundred and the colors throw me off. Curses! My words are more than sufficient. If I really like what I have, I will “recommend”, and if I don’t, “not recommended”.

Key for past ratings:

96-100 I adore absolutely everything about it. A permanent addition to my stash.

90-95 Superb quality and extremely enjoyable, but not something I’d necessarily like to have in my stash (might have to do with personal tastes, depending on what I say in the tasting note).

80-89 Delicious! Pleased with the overall quality.

70-79 Simply, I like it. There are qualities that I find good, but there also are things that aren’t, hence a lower rating that I would have otherwise like to put.

60-69 Overall “meh”. Not necessarily bad, but not necessarily good.

0-59 No.

If there is no rating: I don’t feel experienced enough to rate the tea, or said tea just goes beyond rating (in a positive way).

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Westchester, NY

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