Opening up my sample I am greeted by leaves that are dark green in color with several lighter green tips. The leaves are all tightly curled and in good condition with no broken pieces. The aroma is grassy. It reminds me of fresh cut alfalfa, very sharp and fresh.
I set up my tea-maker to brew using a rounded tablespoon, 190 degree water and a steep time of four minutes. The resulting liquor is golden in coloring similar to what I expect from an oolong. The aroma now is hard to describe, almost buttery.
This tea is sharp to the tongue with a dryness that adds a real kick. The mouthfeel is creamy with that slight oiliness that one usually only finds with a good oolong. The taste itself is slightly vegetal with a buttery overtone.
I can’t say that this is a tea what I would purchase for myself as the astringency is rather distracting for me. It was hard to put it aside to be able to concentrate the taste.
