I really love oolongs, especially strong and highly oxidised ones, so I was excited to try a few of Teavivre’s.
The Tie Guan Yin has very green leaves, a strong grassy scent (very much like a pure green), and a very solid aroma unsteeped.
Brewed the aromas become very light and airy with lots of floral notes. The brew becomes pale yellow in color. I only steeped for 4 minutes, as I did not want to risk too much astringency.
I was very impressed and surprised by the flavor. I expected the tea to taste much more like the dried leaves smelled, but it was quite herbaceous and fruity – and just lovely all around. It would have still been delicious had it been stronger, but this was perfect for what was craving at the time.
I will be steeping this a couple more minutes next time to see if I get the stronger flavors without too much more astringency. I might also add a tiny bit of honey to go with some of the fruity notes of the tea.
All around, this was an exemplary tea that I will certainly be drinking again. As someone with a higher oxidation preference, I was delighted at how much I enjoyed this very green oolong.
Flavors: Apricot, Cream, Floral, Flowers, Fruity, Jasmine, Sweet, Sweet, Warm Grass
