Coconut Oolong

This tea is much better this time around! I may have steeped 30 s less or something, but this is not nearly as overpowering as the first time I had it. It still packs a wallop of coconut and has that weird, oily, sunscreen smell, but the taste I can handle much better tonight and I am enjoying this cup. Maybe I was just in the mood for coconut! :) anyways, this has improved for me, so I will up the rating a bit. Definitely prefer this as it cools off, has an enjoyable flavor! I might even try a re-steep tonight, I’m not coconutted out yet :D

ETA – the second steep was very good, much nicer, more oolong and not as much coconut :) so if I can get by the first steep, it’s a fairly delicious tea! Lol

I had one serving left, so I just made it up as a latte. 50/50 unsweetened almond milk and water. A little brown sugar. Steeped slowly on the stove while I organized my tea cupboard and pulled out some teas to give away, and some teas to sip down.

Mmm. I’ll have to get another coconut oolong. This is still really good, although I think the coconut is about to go off. Too bad all the other available coconut oolongs are mail order. If DavidsTea still had this one, I’d definitely head out in the next couple days to refill my 50g tin. As it is, a coconut oolong gets to sit on my shopping list until I happen to order from a place that carries it.

This one smells lovely and brews up a nice pale yellow, typically oolong colour. I can smell both the coconut and oolong evenly.

This one is balanced perfectly. I imagine people who aren’t too fond of coconut may actually enjoy this one as well. It’s not in-your-face. It’s smooth. Very smooth. It’s a keeper.

Also this is my 150 tasting note :)

At last, DT’s rendition of a coconut oolong. I appreciate how the dry leaf smells like actual coconut. Not artificial at all, and I can tell already that it’s going to be creamy. Coconut milk oolong, anyone?

The first steep was slightly floral with milky undertones. When I first tried this yesterday, I was a little unsure about it. The coconut seemed out of place for some reason. The second steep was better, creamier, and the coconut, warmer.

The second round this afternoon is much better. Again, the first steep is a little floral, a little milky, and the coconut is like true coconut shavings, slightly sweetened. The second steep is super heavenly. Coconut milky and buttery.

I’m loving that paradoxically dainty and rich oolong aroma paired with coconut.

I sorta ended up at a DavidsTea today to look at the new teas/stuff, even though I hadn’t planned on it. :| #whoops

I walked out with 20g of Coconut Oolong, CopaBanana and Pom Tango, and a to-go cup of Daydreamer and only spent $7. Not bad!!!

I was really excited about the tea because I ADORE Zen Tea’s version (http://steepster.com/teas/zen-tea/30457-coconut-oolong) and wanted to try this version.

So, I think that means that it’s time for a SIPOFF!
DRY
Zen Tea:
-dark black/green leaves. no sign of coconut
-very slight coconut smell

DavidsTea:
-light green/black leaves with lots of bright coconut flakes.
-stronger coconut smell. slightly musty
-smaller leaves

STEEPED
Zen’s Tea:
-very smooth, buttery with lots of spinach notes
-pale yellow colour
-fresh “oolong” taste

DavidsTea:
-far less butter. not nearly as smooth/light
-rich. more spinach?
-almost nutty?
CONCLUSIONS:
So this was a tricky decision but I think I still prefer Zen Tea’s blend over this one. They are both VERY good, but DT’s is a little darker/mustier than what I’m accustomed to. Perhaps if I steep it for less next time, my rating will change. Also, DT’s blend is a bit cheaper so I honestly don’t know which one I’d restock once I run out.

If you are at all interested in the tea, give it a shot though!

Watching the Thai horror “Shutter” in class today made me feel the need to buy small sample sizes of most of the Spring Collection (yeah, that’s totally related and not the lamest excuse, ever). Willpower of a seagull at an outdoor fries kiosk.

Nutty, sweet, and trademark green oolong vegetal notes make this a rather flavorful cup. The creaminess level is moderate. It gives me a unique impression of drinking something that is both light and frothy, yet also rich and heavy. I don’t know how it does that. The finish is a little floral in a sour-sweet plant-like way. The coconut flavour is a good portion juice and flakes, respectively.

I may have had too much coconut tea today, and I think the sweetness in this one is finally getting to me. Am I backwards for saying I would be happy if this had just a tad less coconut flavour?

I’m off to see how this re-steeps and to take a nap. Or maybe I should just go to bed. It’s 8:30.. that’s not too early…

Comparison to other brands of coconut oolong: It’s more along the lines of the Coconut Pouchong from Golden Moon then it is like coconut oolong from Zen Tea.

Man, is it hot outside! Our run this morning was not fun. And hot tea in this weather is a little hard to take. So, I made iced tea! I’ve been meaning to cold brew this one because hot, it’s too coconutty for me. I didn’t have time for cold brew, so I just brewed it hot and then poured it over ice. I didn’t brew it double strength and this turned out to be a good thing. Of course the ice diluted it, but for this tea, that made it more drinkable for me. Yay! I might still try a cold brew, but right now I’m happily sipping my third glass of this tea (third steep iced). The coconut is much more muted, but definitely present. It’s pretty creamy too. Nice! Glad I found a way to enjoy this tea, and cool off too!!

YUP I still love this.

I have almost a full tin of it too, I was hoarding it all like “MY PRECIOUSSSSSESSSS” because it had been gone after the season was over, however they brought it back this Spring! Huzzah!

Apparently the addition of the lemongrass to the new blend makes nary a difference, I certainly couldn’t smell it but I will report back someday when I taste it.

For now I have to work on this tin and hoard no more, because as I’ve learned with coconut teas – “if you don’t use it, you lose it” – like it literally becomes inedible undrinkable, bitter, rancid and vomit like.

It would be more than a travesty for me to allow that to happen to this light and creamy tea of my coconutty dreams. So if you need me all summer long, I will be sipping down this bad boy :)

I was eagerly anticipating this tea, especially since Courtney enjoyed it so much. She sent me enough for a couple cups, and I wanted to make sure to have it on an afternoon at home, so I could fully enjoy multiple steepings.

The second was my favorite. So creamy and sweet and nutty, with a lovely floral-y oolong flavor. The oolong and coconut complement each other very well. Yum!

So I got an ounce of this hoping it would taste like Golden Moon’s version. It kinda does! I do think GM’s was better, but I don’t know if this is because I had it near the beginning of my true tea obsession and everything tasted amazing or because it’s actually better. But in any case, it’s close enough if not exactly the same. Creamy sweet coconut and lightly vegetal green oolong. Very nice. It tasted like those coconut dusted mochi balls made with coconut milk that you can buy in Chinese bakeries. Hmm…I haven’t had one of those in a while….Must seek this out…

So yeah! Good tea! I need to start keeping a stock of cold brewed teas in my fridge! Lovely warm weather today! I can also feel the beginning of a very humid summer. ugh, NYC summers are gross.