SafaHimalaya

Very light black tea, almost green. Spicy, floral, fresh.

Some flavor and aroma, but could be more rounded in other aspects. Score of 81. Review #271 on Walker Tea Review.

This wonderful teas’ leaves don’t look anything like any oolong I’ve ever had. They’re not balled. Instead they’re twisted. They’re not uniformly colored or monochrome either. Instead, they’re a mixture of brown, gold, green and white leaves. The aroma is more hay and straw than anything else.

Once brewed, the leaves produce a wonderful orange liquor that, while clear, reminds me of sherbet. The brewed aroma smells more of a light Chinese green. Not so much grassy as artichoke-like but not heavily so.

The flavor is light, easy on the palate and smooth. While there is some astringency and a light drying of the palate it’s subtle. Flavors of straw and hay combine with notes of a floral undertone which seems to add some sweetness to the brew.

The loose tea leaves are curled and twisted. Their color a mix from white to dark green and black with some brown intermingled in. The dry aroma is of dry grass, hay and fresh spring tree leaves.

Once brewed the leaves aroma turns sweeter and loses the hay and the dry grass takes a back seat to the spring leaves. It’s rather interesting and refreshing for a green tea.

Quixotically, the aroma from the liquor retains the hay scent. A beautiful golden caramel colored liquor pairs well with this relaxing brew.

The flavor is more astringent than I anticipated. There’s a sweetness in the initial profile but there’s a vegetal twinge which reminds me of steamed spinach or turnip greens, especially with the way it sticks to the tip of the tongue.

This tea is good for about three steeps and should be sipped to savor. Fans of gunpowder green teas, deep shade grown (Fukamushi style) Japanese greens and Darjeeling teas will appreciate this brew.

I’ve been busy with stuff lately and haven’t really had time to sit down and write a nice review after having a cup of tea.

I got this tea through a contest I won from SafaHimalaya (thanks!). There were two small packets of oolong (jade and night) along with my 55g of Himalayan Spring First Flush Black Tea. I was in the mood for an oolong and decided this one would do.

The smell of the loose leaf is just amazing. Has a slight floral smell to it, with a nice sweetness to it.

The liquor is a nice pale yellow color. First infusion in my oolong pot http://www.flickr.com/photos/gpudlowski/4608939561/ … The taste is very light. Almost reminds me of a green tea in a way. It has a very faint floral taste to it and seems quite naturally sweet. With each additional steeping, it seems to just keep getting sweeter and sweeter. I used my Samovar Oolong teapot, so it made many many nice small infusions. Dry leaf in my oolong pot http://www.flickr.com/photos/gpudlowski/4609546672/ … Macro of dry leaf in pot http://www.flickr.com/photos/gpudlowski/4608938915/ …. Size comparison of the pot to my hand http://www.flickr.com/photos/gpudlowski/4609547206/

Overall, this is a nice light oolong. I would definitely consider buying it when I run out of what I have currently.

Richer than the pale color would suggest. Cooling backnote, refreshing.

A subtle, somewhat austere oolong. Nice transition for someone who is looking to branch out beyond black tea.

Snappy, robust black tea. Wood, roast, and a bit of fruit at backnote. Intriguing and a good choice for a “wake-up” tea.

Extremely light green oolong. Light as a Bao Zhong, but without the sweetness. Green/floral notes. Refined.