I am supposed to be asleep right now. :// I must drink too much tea late in the evening, although it doesn’t usually keep me up at night.
I tasted this tea many, many blue moons ago, and I was positive I had posted a public review on Upton’s website. At the very least, I was sure I typed a personal rating (private) of this tea years ago. I’ve purchased so much tea from them, that maybe that had to limit some of my ratings; or, because it is out of stock, perhaps any public review is gone. At any rate, I can’t find it so I’ll do my best. :))
To aid in my review, I have pasted my comments for what is this tea, from Amy Oh’s review of #TT51-a slightly differnt Formosa Keemun.
2 days ago: WOW…….This one takes me back at least 8 yrs, and it was $2 cheaper, so not really a huge price increase. Anywho, without giving a full review (and I really do remember this one), I thought it was really good. I must have used more leaf, because I remember a fuller falavor.(<==sp. flavor) It is definitely different than a Chinese Keemun, I distinctly remember it being woody (oaky perhaps), but definitely woody. I don’t remember the Oolong note, and there is no smokiness like some Chinese Keemuns.
Hey wait…….this is turning into a full review…….me done. :))
Well, I’m not quite done yet. It turns out I purchased this tea nearly 9 years, 7 months ago. The more I think about it, the Oolong quality probably was present, but more like that of a darker oolong, and even at that, the oolong characteristic was light in comparison to the woody aspect of the tea. I wasn’t getting any smokey notes either.
Based on the other reviews of the newer Formosa Oolong (#TT51), I believe this tea did have a fuller flavor. Also, if you look at the leaves of this tea, they don’t appear to be as long & uniform. Another way of putting it is #TT51 Superior Formosa Oolong is more a whole leaf tea. Whole leaf teas tend to be smoother in character to smaller, less uniform, or cut teas.
This tea was a very good, full flavored tea, and even though the brewing info below is as correct as I remember, the tea wasn’t astringent or bitter. Thanks Amy for jump starting my memory! I’m glad I remembered enough to post this review, because this tea really was unique and delicious. :))
Cupped: October & November, 2002.
Reviewed: Sunday, May 13, 2012. HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!
