Buying this tea is pretty much a given whenever I order from TTC. Shibi was the first Taiwanese oolong that really floored me and it’s remained a sentimental favorite ever since. I love its sublime florals, the luscious tropical fruit notes, and the cha qi. During a good harvest, few gao shans can beat it.
This particular harvest once again exhibited some excellent qualities but was a bit more finicky to brew. The beautiful florals were still there. It opened with notes of daffodils, magnolia, and white peony. The mouthfeel was silky and soft though fairly light. A couple of times I used water that was too hot early on and I got some vegetal-artichoke flavor and a little bitterness. Later infusions had some mineral and balsalm notes, honeycomb, and a hint of melon. Although there were some tropical aromas in the wet leaf, the brewed tea had more of a generic fruity flavor.
My main problem with this tea is it faded too early. After the 3rd steep, it flattened and tasted like any other high mountain tea. This harvest wasn’t as mind-blowing as Shibi oolongs of past, but that’s the nature of the beast when it comes to single origin teas. Thankful that TTC has samples to allow me to continue purchasing this tea without committing to a huge amount.
Flavors: Artichoke, Flowers, Melon, Narcissus
