High Grade Ben Shan Oolong

Wow, this tastes amazing. I remembered the last time I had this that I liked it as well but I am on my fifth infusion using my new Crane Gaiwan pictured here… http://instagr.am/p/KSgR3RyqQ2/ and all I can say is that I truly believe that this Gaiwan has improved upon perfection. I can’t believe how well it is holding up. I love the sweet liquor I get and just how silky each sip tastes and feels. Truly a gorgeous oolong.

Another sample to finish and use for my post dinner tea with my husband. He doesn’t mind Oolong so hopefully this will be a hit with him, I notice other Steepsterites have rated it highly.

I love the little hand rolled balls that Oolong come in with each one unique in shape and colours. This Oolong is a mixture of dark green, brown and dark brown but I also want to note that I can also see what looks like stem in a few places. The scent is buttery and floral and there is also a delicacy to it.

Once steeped my tea is golden yellow in colour with a sweet floral toasted aroma. Very refreshing and warming at the same time. In taste the toasted flavour is the first element before it changes to a floral rather buttery affair that vanishes very quickly. There is also a little buttery hint at the end whilst it’s mellowed and the flavours truly are spot on. It does pick up in strength but remains smooth.

Delicious. It’s a hit for my husband too and is a very nice introduction to our pudding (home made orange sponge cake with vanilla custard..hubbies favourite).

I’ll reiterate what I said about this being a very nice roasted oolong. However I’ve noticed that it doesn’t have as much staying power as its counterpart from Life In Teacup as I only got two good steeps out of it before the flavour really fell off.

Steep Information:
Amount: 1 tsp
Water: boiling
Tool: Bee House teapot
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: vegetal, nutty
Steeped Tea Smell: buttery, sweet
Flavor: vegetal, nutty
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringent
Liquor: translucent honey yellow

Re-Steep Information:
Water: boiling
Tool: Bee House teapot
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, roasty, nutty
Flavor: roasty, nutty
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: nutty, astringent
Liquor: translucent honey yellow

Came as a gift with an order from Chicago tea garden.

I could have steeped this more, but after 4 cups of tea it was time for bed.

I really love this oolong, not as much as the new zealand oolong but it’s this nice nutty roasty, but not too dark, tea.

If you enjoy a little roast to your tea I highly recommend you try this!

Pictures: http://amazonv.blogspot.com/2011/03/chicago-tea-garden-loose-leaf-oolong.html

A wonderfully roasted green oolong. The roasted flavor is light enough so that it never tastes ashy but instead slowly creeps up on you. You can taste both the light sweetness of the oolong mixing with the roasted flavor and they balance each other nicely. I really like CTG and I’m very sad that they are closing up shop. I am especially sad because I’m from chicago and I wanted to go to one of their tastings or classes on tea. Oh well maybe he will still do some in the future.

I tried this at a recent tea tasting at Chicago Tea Garden. Everyone there seemed to like it, and I was no exception. If you like your oolongs roast-y, with almost a charcoal flavor, this tea is for you. This tea holds up well for several steepings — I’m on my fourth, and it still tastes good. The charcoal flavor dissipates a bit with each steeping, but it still tastes like a roasted green oolong. Not sweet, but doesn’t need sweetener. A little bit grassy and lightly floral, not buttery. Just a great, full-flavored green oolong.

Thank you, Ben Shan. You have saved me from quite possibly the single worst tea tasting day I’ve ever had. This is one of the teas I bought as a sampler from Rachanac on teatra.de.

Dry, it smells vegetal and somewhat nutty. Nice, like a roasted oolong. 195/2 min. It’s a medium gold color. The aroma is still vegetal, worrying me a bit. The taste… wonderful roasted oolong. Thank goodness! I think I may have fallen over if yet another awful tea were to find its way to my teacup. This is a very nice, strong, full-flavored oolong.