Shan Lin Xi High Mountain Concubine Oolong

Backlog:

Correction – I had written a tasting note for the Shan Lin Xi High Mountain Oolong … and put it under this listing: the Shan Lin Xi High Mountain Concubine Oolong. Oops! Since I don’t see a place where I can delete this tasting note, I’ll just submit this correction and write my thoughts on the Concubine now that I’ve tried it: http://sororiteasisters.com/2014/04/08/shan-lin-xi-high-mountain-concubine-oolong-tea-eco-cha/

And even though the teas sound as though they are probably pretty similar in “name” they do taste different. This tea smells more vegetal, and the flavor is delicate, sweet, and tastes of vanilla, orchid and offers hints of vegetative taste. I taste notes of pine and delicious nutty flavors.

The concubine seems less astringent than the “non-concubine.”

Both are good, both are worthy a try, and I think that Oolong enthusiasts would love either of them.

For 2014, this is a different tea, and I’m placing it here because the “High Mountain Concubine Oolong” description notes "This farm is located just across the valley and to the south of our Shan Lin Xi source, at about the same elevation. " It seems to be this year’s substitute offering. I was absolutely nutty over last year’s Shan Lin Xi version, and despite knowing full well that concubine tea is inherently a craps shoot year to year, I jumped in an ordered 150 grams (it worked out to about $60USD after discounts and shipping). I just have to say that was a mistake this year. I’ll certainly drink it, and not unhappily – it does have that character – but…the price is simply too much for something that doesn’t knock my socks off. It’s a pretty pale version of last year’s and not particularly special. I suppose it just adds to the suspense over next year’s batch, which I will absolutely still buy. No disrespect to Eco-Cha – I’d rather have a tea that really reflects the conditions on the ground than any sort of technologically standardized version. Not every year can be a winner.

My first Eco Cha tea, this from the “Intro to Oolong 3-Pack Flight” that just came in the mail today (yay, new tea!)

190, gongfu, 1 tsp, first steep a minute, then 30 seconds thereafter. What a lovely aroma. Nutty. Honey sweet pale yellow liquor. There are a TON of stems in this tea. Like, branches! I don’t know if that’s normal for this kind of oolong, but wow, I’ve never seen so many. Still, it’s a very sweet and mellow brew. I’m feeling very calm, very zen. How calm? Full day of court hearings, long commute home, and not even a teenager can get on my nerves right now. Didn’t walk the dog? Clean your room? Empty the dishwasher? Do your summer reading? Ah, no problem. I’m just going to sit here and enjoy this lovely tea. That’s how calm.

Side note: My box did not come with tasting notes. It did, oddly enough, come with some weird plastic thing that I am considering posting to reddit’s “What is this thing?” sub, because seriously… I have no idea what this thing is.

Later steeps are still lovely by the way.

The thing: http://imgur.com/a/lVeT7
EDIT: the thing is a bag sealer!

This is not the first time I’ve had this tea, but it’s the first time I’ve written a tasting note.

It’s really good. Sweet. A little floral. A touch almost nutty, but not really. Delicious.

I love oolong at work when things are awful here, because a good cup can keep me company all day. It provides comfort. Multiple infusions.

I’m doing this one western style today because I just don’t have time to deal with even my pseudo gongfu. It works. It works well.

But I think I will take this tea home so I can try it with my cute oolong clay pot. (My tea kitty also wants to drink some of this delicious tea.)

This is my second bug-bitten oolong, and since Shan Lin Xi High Mountain Oolong form Eco-Cha is one of my favorite teas, I’m excited to try this. After the rinse I get aromas of toast, apples, and cannabis. The main difference here from the other concubine oolong I had is that this one has been roasted more so I’m getting more toasted notes.

The taste is sweet and mellow, a wonderful honey and apple flavor with notes of toast. This tea is so sweet and tastes like candied apples with a bit of spice. It’s a real treat so far. The second steeping seems to release more spice-like notes of cinnamon to combine with the sweet apple tones. There are subtle woodsy tones in the background, but this tea is much less foresty all-around than the original Shan Lin Xi Oolong from Eco-Cha. The third and fourth steepings are similar and build on the richness of this tea.

Overall this is a very lovely tea. It doesn’t have the bright floral notes of a lot of similar oolongs, so it stays very mellow, rich and sweet. I really love this tea! I think it would make a really wonderful tea to drink in Autumn.

Steeped in a gaiwan: 15 seconds + 15 for repeat infusions, 194F/90C, 4.5g tea per 100ml water

No time for a long log today so real quick review

Eco cha is my new favorite company enough said, this oolong was produced with incredible care every single leaf in my gaiwan was whole after brewing and some leaf sets had 4 leaves!! Literally never seen an entire unbroken leaf set come out of my gaiwan, ever. With all that being said it was on the lighter side taste wise I had purchased the summer harvest though but this being my first concubine i am not sure what to expect. Definite Gao Shan tea drunk in effect, threw the leaves in a cup of water in the fridge because didnt have time to finish the session so maybe I can get a grasp on the main flavor note after tasted it cold brewed. I look forward to experimenting with this one.

Tasting the light sweetness of carrots and roastiness of almonds with a hint of creaminess not as buttery or full bodied as their jin xuan but I was not in the mood for a “milk” oolong today anyways.

I have grown weary of floral Oolongs so this is one of my last few that I have left to review. I’ll be back to you flowery ones someday, just exploring others for now lol.
That being said,,,,,this is a very good one!!!!!!!
The rolled green dry leaf is very toasty-smelling and it really entices you.
The liquor is golden colored and has a lovely floral scent.
The flavor has a lot going on!! There are flowers, cream, astringent notes, parsnip, a touch of roasted nut maybe a brazil nut? The floral and astringent notes are prominent though making this a nice, cleansing tea.
Very nice floral Oolong.

A lovely, I can’t wait for spring tea! So much floral going on here, actually a whole yellow bouquet of orchid, osmanthus and tulip. Along with that, bit of a nutty earthy flavor and an interesting light astringency sweet creamy peachy taste. Totally a tea for a floral oolong lover!

Huge leaf too, very high quality tea! In fact, I had a HOLY HOOTS that’s a big leaf moment!

Full review and photos on my blog, The Oolong Owl http://oolongowl.com/shan-lin-xi-high-mountain-concubine-oolong-eco-cha-oolong-owl-tea-review/

Very nice. Smooth roasted pine nut notes on the first few steeps. Lots of subtle honey sweet flower flavors as the steeping continues. Hints of summer forest and manzanita flowers. Lovely yellow green liquor.