I’ve been playing around with this one, and got a cool tin. I had a hard time deciding on making my last big buy from Wang Family Tea between this tea and the Competition Gui Fei when it was discounted. I was determined to get more of the Jasmine Shanlinxi in larger amounts, but for nearly a year, I really wanted to try this one. My main issue was that it was an expensive competition grade tea that was only sold in amounts of 70 grams.
I made my bet, and I partly regret it on the opportunity cost of some of the other competition teas. However, this tea is definitely up my alley. It’s weirdly green for a roasted tea, and the taste is more on the green side, but the taste has more charcoal and nuttiness than vegetal tones. The roasted chestnut and orchid flavor are the most prominent through every session, whether I followed instruction or used shorter steeps and slightly more leaves. It does evolve in terms of sweetness. The flux from charcoal, to nuts, to florals with a bit of balsam finish reminded me of the Zealong New Zealand’s Aromatic Oolong, which was one of my favorite lighter roast oolongs. This one is more nutty and floral overall, and does have more complexity. The only little thing it lacks is my gaoshan preference for fruitiness.
So overall, this is a very unique tea that has more roast qualities in taste than it does appearance. I think I would have been really happy with 25 or 50 grams instead of the 70, but I got a great tin and a bunch of great bagged tea samples of ginger Sun Moon Lake Black Teas and Cui Feng Heavy Roasts. I would recommend it if you are really into Dong Dings and lighter roast oolongs though.
Flavors: Charcoal, Chestnut, Floral, Lilac, Malt, Orchid, Roasted, Sweet
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Sounds like I made the right decision not to purchase this tea, even though it seems solid. I bought the 2022 competition Bai Hao and Shan Cha. I almost went for the Shanlin Xi Tan Bei, but was concerned about the roast. I also bought 25 g of the Jasmine SLX you keep talking about. :)
yeah, I’m excited to see what you think about the Jasmine and the Shan Cha+Tan Bei
I actually didn’t get the Tan Bei because it was $65 for 75 g, which seemed like too much of a risk to me. I’d pick it up if they offered smaller sizes. Looking forward to trying the Jasmine SLX!
Sounds like I made the right decision not to purchase this tea, even though it seems solid. I bought the 2022 competition Bai Hao and Shan Cha. I almost went for the Shanlin Xi Tan Bei, but was concerned about the roast. I also bought 25 g of the Jasmine SLX you keep talking about. :)
yeah, I’m excited to see what you think about the Jasmine and the Shan Cha+Tan Bei
I actually didn’t get the Tan Bei because it was $65 for 75 g, which seemed like too much of a risk to me. I’d pick it up if they offered smaller sizes. Looking forward to trying the Jasmine SLX!