26

Ugh, this tea was blander than bland. Hot steeped, it tasted like hot water. When cold brewed, it tasted like cold water. Completely and utterly devoid of any flavor…like an empty canvas where flavor should be.

I’ve had a lot of bad teas in my lifetime but at least they had some discernible taste, be it sour, bitter, ashy, musty, whatever. But this is the first tea ever that had zero flavor or aroma of any kind, good or bad. The very epitome of bland tea.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 0 min, 45 sec 7 g 5 OZ / 160 ML
Leafhopper

It doesn’t seem like you’re having much luck with this company. Are all these oolongs old?

LuckyMe

@Leafhopper, yeah I’m 0 for 3 so far and already thinking about where to order from next. I suspect these teas are old and/or low quality. A couple of them were definitely stale. It’s weird because they were all vacuum sealed with oxygen absorbers so in theory, should remain fresh for years.

Definitely disappointing as this company has generally positive reviews.

Leafhopper

I looked at their website and their prices seem unusually low ($16 for 50 g of Li Shan?). This would have been great if the teas had been any good.

Since you’re in the States and the shipping isn’t outrageous, I’d recommend Floating Leaves for some good high mountain oolongs. (Sorry if you’ve already bought and reviewed teas from them.) Their shipping to Canada is US$20 with no breaks for large orders, so sadly, I don’t order from them often, but in my opinion they provide some of the best high mountain teas out there.

LuckyMe

I was actually going to order from Floating Leaves last time but they were mostly sold out.

I ordered from them a couple of years ago and agree, Floating Leaves is quality stuff!

Leafhopper

Yes, Floating Leaves does tend to sell out of things quickly—for good reason!

I enjoy reading your reviews of less well-known Taiwanese tea vendors. I’d love to find an international company selling quality high mountain oolongs for bargain prices, though I doubt such a thing exists. TTC does come close!

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Comments

Leafhopper

It doesn’t seem like you’re having much luck with this company. Are all these oolongs old?

LuckyMe

@Leafhopper, yeah I’m 0 for 3 so far and already thinking about where to order from next. I suspect these teas are old and/or low quality. A couple of them were definitely stale. It’s weird because they were all vacuum sealed with oxygen absorbers so in theory, should remain fresh for years.

Definitely disappointing as this company has generally positive reviews.

Leafhopper

I looked at their website and their prices seem unusually low ($16 for 50 g of Li Shan?). This would have been great if the teas had been any good.

Since you’re in the States and the shipping isn’t outrageous, I’d recommend Floating Leaves for some good high mountain oolongs. (Sorry if you’ve already bought and reviewed teas from them.) Their shipping to Canada is US$20 with no breaks for large orders, so sadly, I don’t order from them often, but in my opinion they provide some of the best high mountain teas out there.

LuckyMe

I was actually going to order from Floating Leaves last time but they were mostly sold out.

I ordered from them a couple of years ago and agree, Floating Leaves is quality stuff!

Leafhopper

Yes, Floating Leaves does tend to sell out of things quickly—for good reason!

I enjoy reading your reviews of less well-known Taiwanese tea vendors. I’d love to find an international company selling quality high mountain oolongs for bargain prices, though I doubt such a thing exists. TTC does come close!

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Profile

Bio

My Rating Criteria:

95 to 100: Top shelf stuff. Loved this tea and highly recommend it

90 to 94: Excellent. Enjoyed this tea and would likely repurchase

80 to 89: Good but not great. I liked it though it may be lacking in some aspects. I’ll finish it but probably won’t buy again

70 to 79: Average at best. Not terrible but wouldn’t willingly drink again

60 to 69: Sub-par. Low quality tea, barely palatable

59 and below: Bleh

Fell into tea many years ago and for a long time my experience was limited to Japanese greens and flavored Teavana teas. My tea epiphany happened when I discovered jade oolongs. That was my gateway drug to the world of high quality tea and teaware.

For the most part, I drink straight tea but do appreciate a good flavored tea on occasion. I love fresh green and floral flavors and as such, green tea and Taiwanese oolongs will always have a place in my cupboard. After avoiding black tea forever, Chinese blacks have started to grow on me. I’m less enthusiastic about puerh though. I also enjoy white tea and tisanes but reach for them less frequently.

Other non-tea interests include: cooking, reading, nature, philosophy, MMA, traveling when I can, and of course putzing around on the interwebs.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/melucky

Location

around Chicago

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