90

So I got my Mandala package and am a happy camper. They gave me this free sample of their Alishan Light Roast oolong. It has been sold out for a while, and I was glad to see it come back as I have never been able to try it.

Oh no, no pro reviews. I’m on my own lol. :D

The tightly rolled balls were a nice dark green, no tea dust at all (throughout the entire process, screen was clean), a few stems. The wet leaves are highly aromatic. Vegetal, spinach-y, sweet, milky, and floral aromas, specifically lilac aroma (which btw I would probably never have guessed the flower had they not mentioned it lol. Maybe?), not much roast nor smoke.

The amber goldish liquor has a super super suuuper soft mouth-feel. It was as if I used different water to make it. I’m thinking this is what sets it apart from many others. It leaves a nice coating in my mouth. After a few steeps, and the leaves opened up more, the roast and other flavors came out to play and mingled with the creaminess. Up until that point, it wasn’t so much flavor but the mouthfeel. Some spice, sugar cane sweetness, light vanilla notes, floral, butter, popcorn… I’d definitely like to try it again.

Yixing teapot, 195˚F, 110ml, 10 steeps: 5s rinse, 20s, 25s, 25s, 30s, 35s, 40s, 45s, 50s, 55s, 65s

Flavors: Butter, Cream, Creamy, Floral, Milk, Popcorn, Roasted, Smooth, Spinach, Sugarcane, Vanilla, Vegetables, Vegetal

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 0 min, 30 sec 5 g 4 OZ / 110 ML

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Bio

Longtime casual tea drinker. In the past, mainly Matcha, Gyokuro, Sencha, Genmaicha… Etc. I like all teas: Green, oolong, black & pu’erh (prefer ripe over raw).

Chanoyu (for matcha prep) and Gongfu cha (for other types of tea) are the main ways I prepare my tea (Gaiwan, Yixing teapot, Kyusu). I drink all tea… Usually unflavored. This past year, I’ve tried many flavored now because of all of you lol. As long as there aren’t artificial sweeteners, it’s all good.

Favorite stores: TeaVivre, What-Cha, Mandala Tea, 52Teas, Whispering Pines, Bird & Blend, Yunnan sourcing, White2Tea, Lupicia.

The flavors I dislike: Artificial sweetener, lavender, violet, any strong floral-perfumey tea; cantaloupe, papaya, honeydew, rose, licorice, anise, jasmine, any mints, leather.

Favorite flavors: Citrus fruits (especially grapefruit & tangerines), granny smith apple, bananas, guava, mango, tamarind, watermelon, stonefruits, chocolate, caramel, vanilla, milk, cinnamon, creme, bread/pastry, nuts, toasted, roasted.

I generally don’t add anything to my teas unless they are flavored, then I may add a splash of milk.

As I explore, my ratings may shift. 90+ generally means I’ll keep it on my shelf.

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USA

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