1735 Tasting Notes
Upping the rating considering I got a pound of this. Probably one of the best milk oolongs I’ve had-it’s versatile cold brew, gong fu, and western. The unique lychee notes is what I liked the most about it in the third and fourth steeps. Of course it’s milky and I am not sure if it’s flavored, but the balance of the spinachy greenness of the tea, the sweet cream dessert quality, and the painted flecks of fruit from the tea is incredible. It’s a shame Paru doesn’t carry it all the time-hence the impulse by.
I had some western this past weekend, and it was extremely creamy. Definitely grassy and pineapple-y, but the jin xuan notes really came through. I only got two great cups, and one okay cup. Kinda jasmine like in the florals. I’m going to write again since this is opening up more than it previously did. Maybe it’s the spring weather, but I can finally get the pound cake they were talking about.
Thank you for the sample!
I impulsively bought a pound of their milk oolong with a discount, and put this sample in the order. It only lasted two steeps, but was immensely smooth and good. Smoke, toffee, chocolate, roast, charcoal, honey, wood, autumn, earth, ash, and a little bit of grassiness or moss in an incredible first steep after 45 seconds. 50 seconds for the second one, and it was faded. Delicious, but faded.
I would definitely consider picking some of this up in another order. Makes me mourn the opportunity for their rum one. Either way, I was deeply satisfied with this Hojicha. The only downside is that it didn’t last.
Flavors: Charcoal, Chocolate, Earth, Honey, Roasty, Smoke, Smooth, Sweet, Toasty, Wet Moss, Wet Wood, Wood
Oof! You won’t be running out of green oolong for a while! I hope that milk oolong is good.
Yeah, but that won’t prevent me from getting more lol. I’m really excited about the swap too! Granted, I always drink green oolong, so they last me a decent amount of time because I finish them so quickly. It’s one of the few milk oolongs that’s actually fruity. I think it’s flavored, but it’s very reliable.
I also keep hearing speculation about current events over Taiwan, and it has me panic buying a little bit this year.
Yes, events in Taiwan are worrying. I have your box all packed up and ready to go, though there’s space for a couple more teas that I’m trying to fill.
Just in case you need even more green oolong, Floating Leaves is having a one-day 35% off sale on their winter 2021 oolongs and baozhongs. I’m tempted, but will resist. :) I’m working my way through a 150 g bag of spring 2021 Li Shan from Bok and don’t need more tea!
Yay!
150 grams of Lishan=cool
Definitely! It’s good, though better in a clay pot with slightly longer steeps than I usually do. I have about 100 g left. :)
This one continues to be good. The blend borders on grassy from the other green tea bases, so I am following my two to three minute rule with it. I’m still not sure what to rate it. Flavoring and combo of flavors is in the 90s because it highlights what I like about Green teas. None of the flowers clash, and it remains heady and fruity without cloy. I’m going to have to pick it apart some time.
Backlog:
Here I thought I’d drink more oolongs during spring, but I’ve carefully plowed my remaining black tea stash lately. I still have a decent amount of this one, while blaspheming it as tumbler fuel for work. I know I should gong fu it more to really appreciate it; however, the balanced rosy bread and chocolate notes are perfect for easing me into the school morning. Cheers to enjoying luxury as a public servant!
Sipping this one down. I had it western yesterday, and gong fu today. Gong fu will always be the best way to enjoy the complexities of this tea. I’m so happy Leafhopper liked it so much. Sad goodbye, such a great tea. Fortunately, I have too much more to consume that I will drink all of timely.
Surprisingly pleasant note: the tea reeaally works tumbler style. The water was a little too hot to drink, so I actually poured what I had in another cup. Same notes, but balanced and evenly layered. Beginning lilac, pineapple, cream, and finishing the typical qin xin grass milk taste. I did it again, let it sit well over 5 minutes, cooled down and….not astringent. Or bland. OR BITTER. Just smooth pineapple, creamy milk in the roof of the mouth, grass and fuller texture. I am very happy with it so far. It’s not super complex or as dramatic as my other Qin Xins, but we’ll see how this tea does in other methods.
Flavors: Cream, Floral, Grass, Lemongrass, Milk, Pineapple
I only have 5 bags left. My mom, girlfriend and I have gone through this one fast. Ordered more impulsively, but it’s officially a top tea from Steven Smith.
Paired incredibly well with a peach bourbon garlic butter trout I broiled.
It has long been my opinion that Steven Smith Teamaker handles jasmine teas exceptionally well.
I almost bulk ordered their standard jasmine from a barista wholesaler.
The odd thing is that the jasmine is not the most forward of the flavors. It serves more as a body for the nectarine flavor.
Sounds like a great pairing! I can’t remember when I last had a jasmine tea and may have to rectify that.
I didn’t expect this one to be a hit. I expected good and unique. Instead, it’s a tea on the levels of good as Rose City Genmaicha. The smell is incredible, fruity and floral with some household freshening spice hints. Having cardamom and ginger with a jasmine tea would probably clash badly, but the flavoring, rose, and osmanthus smooth this out. I actually didn’t really taste the jasmine that much. First brew is primarily jasmine, nectarine, and rose. As it cools, the ginger is a little more prominent with the osmanthus. Second steep was more cardamom, but it’s not dominating. It enhances the rose and nectarine in a skittles like effect. Got it to the third cup, more ginger. Good hot or cooled way down.
So yeah, in short, it tastes like skittles. Taste the rainbow this spring. I will likely down this soon.
Flavors: Candy, Cardamom, Floral, Ginger, Green, Jasmine, Nectar, Nectarine, Osmanthus, Rose, Smooth, Sweet
