3 Tasting Notes
The tea is quite uniquely processed as it’s snap frozen to retain the freshness rather than being roasted into oolong balls (see the other notes for details). Coming from Vietnam where fresh tea leaves are consumed, I was fascinated with this fresh tea.
My image: the first pour is like a flower meadow under the sun after a light rain, the second pour was fresh, the third and fourth pours were sweet vegetable fields.
Package: about 5 to 7 grams of tea per package, which you have to keep frozen at all time.
Serving: as per instruction by the seller, I used half a package per steeping – which was indeed more than sufficient.
Water: while it is still a Teiguanyin, I think it’s closer to Green than Oolong. So I often brew it around 85-90 degree instead of 90-95. The lower temperature makes it smoother liquid for me.
Visual: The crunched-up frozen leaves immediately expand as you pour hot-water over them, which was a fascinating sight.
Fresh leaves: Amazing floral/green leaf aroma. the seller claims that this is the original smell of the tea tree, because it is a floral plant after all. This original smell (indeed) easily trumps over any other floral scented tea you may have had. It truly was a symphony for your nose.
Tasting: For me it was sweet floral note, with a fruity hint, mostly green without smoke. thanks to the floral profile that every sip brings satisfaction.
However, the floral after taste is not very long, same with the sweetness. The taste body is light so they disappear too fast for me to fully enjoy it.
Definitely a tea to try. But if you like the smokiness of Oolong then you may not enjoy it.
Flavors: Floral, Fruit Tree Flowers, Jasmine, Lemon Zest
Preparation
Leaves: the leave does look like typical Da Hong Pao, dark, long and twisted. However, once brew, the leaves open up relatively faster than other high quality rock oolong.
Smell: faint smell, rather medicinal
Taste: the first sip was strong, however, the flavour was strong medicinal and pungent rather than a smooth flavour profile. Aftertaste had a mild sweet note but didn’t last very long.
Flavors: Medicinal, Smoke
