Here is another tea that I meant to get around to quite some time ago, but just made time for recently. I think I was probably just trying to focus on some of the unflavored teas I had larger amounts of and ended up forgetting about this one, but man, do I wish I had gotten to it a little sooner! This was a very nice milk oolong.
I prepared this tea gongfu style. After a brief rinse, I steeped 6 grams of loose tea leaves in a 4 ounce gaiwan filled with 185 F water for 7 seconds. This infusion was chased by 14 subsequent infusions. Steep times for these infusions were as follows: 10 seconds, 15 seconds, 20 seconds, 25 seconds, 30 seconds, 40 seconds, 50 seconds, 1 minute, 1 minute 15 seconds, 1 minute 30 seconds, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, and 7 minutes.
Prior to the rinse, the dry tea leaves emitted pronounced aromas of cream, butter, popcorn, and grass underscored by a faint floral scent. After the rinse, I detected a subtle lilac aroma coupled with more powerful aromas of custard and coconut milk. The first infusion introduced hints of ripe melon, spinach, and honeysuckle to the bouquet. In the mouth, I easily detected gentle notes of cream, butter, custard, popcorn, damp grass, spinach, and coconut milk balanced by subtle traces of fresh flowers. Subsequent infusions introduced a slightly more pronounced lilac presence, as well as emerging impressions of honeysuckle, butterscotch, cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple, broccoli, daylily shoots, minerals, and bok choy. The later infusions were smooth and silky, offering a subtle mineral presence and lingering hints of cream, butter, coconut milk, popcorn, spinach, broccoli, and daylily shoots.
This was a nice milk oolong. I normally do not enjoy enhanced/flavored Jin Xuans like this, but this one was excellent. It had a wonderful texture, a satisfyingly full body, and a unique, yet approachable mix of aromas and flavors that displayed unexpected longevity. I would have no issue recommending this tea to seasoned oolong drinkers and neophytes alike.
Flavors: Broccoli, Butter, Butterscotch, Cantaloupe, Coconut, Cream, Custard, Floral, Grass, Honeydew, Honeysuckle, Milk, Mineral, Pineapple, Popcorn, Spinach, Vegetal
