In Pursuit of Tea

Green Oolongs have become my favorite teas recently. I remember the very first time I had one (an Iron Goddess, I think) I didn’t like it at all!. Strange how preference changes. My perfect oolong is a balanced blend of creamy and floral. This Nantou Four seasons is perfectly creamy, but I wish it was more floral. It hints at wanting to be more, but didn’t quite make it. Still a lovely cup of tea and one that I would drink often if I had more.

This tea is gorgeously flowery, with a lilac, almost orchid taste and smell to it.

Got this in my first Steepstar box. Really, really lovely, with a delicious aroma and smooth finish. After drinking it during an afternoon slump I felt rejuvenated.

I had this one yesterday. It’s from my first month of steepster select:)
The color of the buds are so pretty! And the color of the liquor steeped is so beautiful! It’s this rich caramel color! But wow they weren’t kidding with the notes of tobacco! That’s a majority of the flavor the first 2 steeps. The later steeps definitely calm with the tabaco and take over with a creamy honey flavor:) I like it but it’s not my favorite golden yunnan. Definitely a quality tea! I’m just not a fan of the tabaco essence.

This one keeps getting relegated to the back, back, back of the cabinet. My previous note wasn’t very complimentary, but either it has mellowed or I have over the past few months. Just a short steep came up with a sweet raisiny flavor this morning that isn’t half bad.

Bought this about a year ago and because I wasn’t enchanted with it, it got pushed to the back of a shelf. In Pursuit of Tea has evidently replaced this with a red lychee variety. But there’s still four ounces of it looking me in the face that needs to be consumed. It’s a black tea with a fruit scent and flavor that reminds me of peaches and pears when they get a little gamey in the summer. Not rotten fruit, just…uh…mature.

The barista at Atlas Cafe wasn’t sure where they got their tea from, but looking at some of the containers on the shelf, I have a hunch it was this one. Was in the mood for something light and it did the trick.

The leaves on this one are light green to burnt auburn. Lots of aroma and nice uniform shape.

First Steep:

LOTS OF WINTERGREEN. wow. almost like a Life Saver. The liquor is a pale orange and the actual taste is light although the aroma/aftertaste is quite strong. A minty and floral punch. A drying astringency pervades after the aroma has faded. As with many first flushes, its not a very deep tea but a nice fresh cup of tea.

Second Steep:
Still pronounced mint, but with a bit more body. The floral notes are also more forward as well. A cedar-y note has appeared and a bit of leather. still very dry. Darjeeling first flush is as light a black tea as you can find. Always interesting…

Third Steep:

The sweetest of the 3 steeps. A bit of berry and a “bubble gummy” aroma. Body is much lighter but the aromas are still strong.

A great cup of tea! I have to admit, darjeeling is not my favorite tea but they are so artfully made and complex they are still so fun to drink.

recommended!

Puttabong/Tukvar is one of the biggest tea estates in the Darjeeling area. They treat their workers well, and their teas are excellent. To rate their second flush tea however one needs to approach it on a yearly basis, as it will differ from year to year. I can say from personal experience however that their 1st flush, 2nd flush, 2nd flush tippy, and autumnal teas from 2012 were all exceptional. I found their green tea and hand rolled oolong to be lacking this year however.

This tea was incredibly aromatic and floral. It was smooth and buttery with no noticeable astringency. There were notes of orchid, lavender and vanilla with a fresh greenness in the background.

You can find the rest of the review here: http://www.teaformeplease.com/2011/06/in-pursuit-of-tea-nantou-si-ji-chun.html

Very unique flavor, even for a Pheonix oolong. There is a eucalyptus cooling and other more floral flavors.

Simply divine tea ! Lives up to its reputation ! Too bad I have just a little bit of it ! Must get more :-)

Very mellow, and light-tasting with a slight smoky note.

You can smell this tea from about 2-3 feet away. The scent isn’t as dark and spicy as other Keemun Mao Fengs I’ve had in the past. There’s instead a mild or medium smokey smell, and a fruit quality that I can’t quite name.

The flavor is pleasing. Not as smokey/spicy as I’d hope and like, but otherwise really good. It is nicely smokey, though, with a very faint, almost-not-there sweetness or fruit tone -again that I can’t place.

Over-all, I’m glad I picked up a 4oz bag of this. I’d run out of my Keemun Mao Feng from The Steeping Room and needed more, this is a nice replacement.

Sweet, vegetal and refreshing.

For the price, I’m not sure that this oolong is really worth it. Most oolong smooth out over time, and this one got bitter when I let it steep a bit longer than usual. Tasted a bit like Darjeeling with a touch of spices.

really good black te. I’m not a black tea fan typically but this one had almost an oolong quality to it. “second flush” is a pretty funny name choice : 0