This is one of the first milk oolongs that was not overly vegetal in my tumbler. Butter? Yes. Coconut like? Yes. Milky? Yes. Green like spirulina and a grassy protein shake for a cow? Yes, but smooth and well rounded by the other flavor profiles being close to a greener dessert.
I’m contemplating on making this a staple…but it’s $42 for 4 oz….eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee we’ll see. I do really like it. 93 rating minimum that will likely go up-price is the main thing holding this one back because I’ve very rarely had Alishan Jin Xuans that actually have a fruity note, and this one has a very prominent lychee flavor as it cools down in third steeps.
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Is it flavored? Have you tried Premium Silky Green from Bird Pick? It has that buttery silky vibe. They sell it as a green but it is deffo milk oolong and cheaper than that. Not sure about a fruity note as it has been ages since I have had any.
Paru Tea Bar appears to have some cool teas but their prices make me hesitate.
Need to try Bird Pick.
I thought Mandala was the be all and end all of milk oolongs? Or the mango one from what cha?
That said, if you’ve found what you like, sometimes it is best to just suck it up and get exactly what you want.
I also ADORE J E Milky from The O Dor but it is rather expensive.
I’m pretty sure it’s flavored-though they don’t say. I personally was not as big of a fan of the J E Milky. I still think Mandala’s one is, What-Cha is the best quality for the best price. The thing that’s unusual about this one is the lychee note, and it’s actually not too far off from the same price as Mandala’s-only slightly more expensive. And I still haven’t tried the one from bird pick yet! I remember when you recommended it so long ago!
One benefit is that there is a $40 free shipping cap for U.S. The problem is that you’d have to get a tea flight to sample their teas, and they mostly come in 3’s. I do think there are a few teas that are worth it from Paru, but it is steep in comparison.
Bird pick has also put the oolong in the oolong category
Daylon: I am glad to hear they moved it. It was in the green section for years. I called them once to ask about it and the young woman who answered the phone said it was deffo green tea because oolongs are smoky…I explained that there is a whole range of oolong and she was really surprised and said she needed to find out more about it. She didn’t get defensive or cross, just really was surprised and very nice. I checked a few more times and it still was listed as a green, so I am glad they have now moved it to where it belongs!
I vaguely remember the oolong debacle! Also glad to see they changed it. Now, if only they shipped to Canada.
Hahaha, the Canada shipping thing. Yeah. And then there’s the paying gazillions of dollars, not on tea, on shipping (and customs/duties if they ding you.
Sorry, having a bitter moment.
Also bitter. It used to be sort of affordable. On the flipside, I hear that by the end of the month Canada is dropping the testing for trips across the border less than 72hrs in length. This may give us more tea buying options lol
Good news! Not helpful to me, yay anyway.
In the past week or so, I’ve lost my mind completely, so I may not need any more tea. Ever.
Lol teaching been nuts up there too?
Interesting times, interesting times.
But I meant more in terms of impulsive tea purchases (and it’s not even Black Friday).
How’ve you been managing, Daylon?
Oh cool, Bird Pick still exists!
I’m almost there with you Evol. I’m telling myself I can’t buy more tea until I sipdown all the August Uncommon and old 52teas (and start the advents). But then I wish for things I don’t have (oolong. always oolong).
I KNOW! And then there’s the oh, things have been hard and I deserve a treat (or five) thing.
It’s been tough, and interesting. By no means the worst year I’ve taught (first year still takes the cake),but I’ve made some progress despite some hurtles. Being sick and being a leader in a nonprofit has been draining. Ergo, like you, more tea. Luckily, the weekly subbing on my prep has helped supplement income a little.
I’ve got a good stash, but too much black, not enough oolong. Barely have touched my white teas.
I laughed at your description of some oolongs as “protein shakes for a cow.” So true!
I, too, have gone overboard on impulsive tea purchases and may not be participating in Black Friday. Unlike you, my stash is oolong heavy and “needs” more black tea. (My only BF temptation would be the oolongs from White2Tea, One River Tea, etc., etc.) Do you have any decent unsmoked Lapsang Souchong? In my impulsive buy from Wuyi Origin, I managed to pick up only 50 g of Old Bush Lapsang and 75 g of Jin Jun Mei (plus 50 g of their lower-priced Benefit Tea, ugh), plus three Dan Congs. I’m starting to feel a bit of buyer’s remorse…
Nothing beats the first year!
I expanded my horizons by splurging on matcha, as well, of course, as the usual suspects.
Leafhopper, no remorse allowed. Some we like, some we drink, some we give away, some we age and get to eventually, hopefully while they are still tasty.
I am also interested in a good unsmoked lapsang. Please let me know if you come across something lovely.
I sent a list of some in a message, Leafhopper. Most of them are less than 1 oz from Trident Cafe in Colorado.
Hello? Not for public consumption?
Evol Ving Ness, you’re right, the tea will be drunk, swapped, or stored for years in my tea museum, so I don’t need to feel any remorse. The best unsmoked Lapsang I’ve had is the one from TheTea.pl., which is full of tropical fruit. Wuyi Origin’s Old Bush Lapsang Souchong is a close second, though it leans more toward sweet potato and brown sugar.
Daylon, I’m not sure your message went through. I can’t see it in my inbox.
Thank you, Leafhopper. Making a note of your suggestions.
Is it flavored? Have you tried Premium Silky Green from Bird Pick? It has that buttery silky vibe. They sell it as a green but it is deffo milk oolong and cheaper than that. Not sure about a fruity note as it has been ages since I have had any.
Paru Tea Bar appears to have some cool teas but their prices make me hesitate.
Need to try Bird Pick.
I thought Mandala was the be all and end all of milk oolongs? Or the mango one from what cha?
That said, if you’ve found what you like, sometimes it is best to just suck it up and get exactly what you want.
I also ADORE J E Milky from The O Dor but it is rather expensive.
I’m pretty sure it’s flavored-though they don’t say. I personally was not as big of a fan of the J E Milky. I still think Mandala’s one is, What-Cha is the best quality for the best price. The thing that’s unusual about this one is the lychee note, and it’s actually not too far off from the same price as Mandala’s-only slightly more expensive. And I still haven’t tried the one from bird pick yet! I remember when you recommended it so long ago!
One benefit is that there is a $40 free shipping cap for U.S. The problem is that you’d have to get a tea flight to sample their teas, and they mostly come in 3’s. I do think there are a few teas that are worth it from Paru, but it is steep in comparison.
Bird pick has also put the oolong in the oolong category
Daylon: I am glad to hear they moved it. It was in the green section for years. I called them once to ask about it and the young woman who answered the phone said it was deffo green tea because oolongs are smoky…I explained that there is a whole range of oolong and she was really surprised and said she needed to find out more about it. She didn’t get defensive or cross, just really was surprised and very nice. I checked a few more times and it still was listed as a green, so I am glad they have now moved it to where it belongs!
I vaguely remember the oolong debacle! Also glad to see they changed it. Now, if only they shipped to Canada.
Hahaha, the Canada shipping thing. Yeah. And then there’s the paying gazillions of dollars, not on tea, on shipping (and customs/duties if they ding you.
Sorry, having a bitter moment.
Also bitter. It used to be sort of affordable. On the flipside, I hear that by the end of the month Canada is dropping the testing for trips across the border less than 72hrs in length. This may give us more tea buying options lol
Good news! Not helpful to me, yay anyway.
In the past week or so, I’ve lost my mind completely, so I may not need any more tea. Ever.
Lol teaching been nuts up there too?
Interesting times, interesting times.
But I meant more in terms of impulsive tea purchases (and it’s not even Black Friday).
How’ve you been managing, Daylon?
Oh cool, Bird Pick still exists!
I’m almost there with you Evol. I’m telling myself I can’t buy more tea until I sipdown all the August Uncommon and old 52teas (and start the advents). But then I wish for things I don’t have (oolong. always oolong).
I KNOW! And then there’s the oh, things have been hard and I deserve a treat (or five) thing.
It’s been tough, and interesting. By no means the worst year I’ve taught (first year still takes the cake),but I’ve made some progress despite some hurtles. Being sick and being a leader in a nonprofit has been draining. Ergo, like you, more tea. Luckily, the weekly subbing on my prep has helped supplement income a little.
I’ve got a good stash, but too much black, not enough oolong. Barely have touched my white teas.
I laughed at your description of some oolongs as “protein shakes for a cow.” So true!
I, too, have gone overboard on impulsive tea purchases and may not be participating in Black Friday. Unlike you, my stash is oolong heavy and “needs” more black tea. (My only BF temptation would be the oolongs from White2Tea, One River Tea, etc., etc.) Do you have any decent unsmoked Lapsang Souchong? In my impulsive buy from Wuyi Origin, I managed to pick up only 50 g of Old Bush Lapsang and 75 g of Jin Jun Mei (plus 50 g of their lower-priced Benefit Tea, ugh), plus three Dan Congs. I’m starting to feel a bit of buyer’s remorse…
Nothing beats the first year!
I expanded my horizons by splurging on matcha, as well, of course, as the usual suspects.
Leafhopper, no remorse allowed. Some we like, some we drink, some we give away, some we age and get to eventually, hopefully while they are still tasty.
I am also interested in a good unsmoked lapsang. Please let me know if you come across something lovely.
I sent a list of some in a message, Leafhopper. Most of them are less than 1 oz from Trident Cafe in Colorado.
Hello? Not for public consumption?
Evol Ving Ness, you’re right, the tea will be drunk, swapped, or stored for years in my tea museum, so I don’t need to feel any remorse. The best unsmoked Lapsang I’ve had is the one from TheTea.pl., which is full of tropical fruit. Wuyi Origin’s Old Bush Lapsang Souchong is a close second, though it leans more toward sweet potato and brown sugar.
Daylon, I’m not sure your message went through. I can’t see it in my inbox.
Thank you, Leafhopper. Making a note of your suggestions.