Rose Pouchong

Tea type
Black Tea
Ingredients
Chinese Keemun Black Tea, Rose Petals
Flavors
Rose, Bark, Floral, Caramel, Dark Chocolate, Chocolate, Malt, Smoke, Bittersweet, Powdered Sugar
Sold in
Loose Leaf
Caffeine
Not available
Certification
Not available
Edit tea info Last updated by Cameron B.
Average preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 30 sec 7 oz / 210 ml

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20 Tasting Notes View all

From Fortnum & Mason

Roses and tea go beautifully together, whether as a setting or a fragrance. In this specialty of China, rose petals are interleaved with the tea as it dries and a few are left in for decoration, ensuring that the visual appearance matches the aromatic.

Tea caddy description:

Fine grade, large-leaf Maofeng Keemun is naturally scented with freshly picked rose petals. The scenting process is repeated many times to ensure a high intensity of rose flavor that blanances the dark chocolate, caramel sweetness of the tea. Inevitable comparison is with the classical flavours of Turkish Delight.

Taste & strength
Fragrant and delicate.

When to drink
Best in the afternoon.

Origin
China

Brewing information
Best drunk without milk to fully appreciate the delicate flavour.

About Fortnum & Mason View company

Company description not available.

20 Tasting Notes

6 tasting notes

Fabulously fragrant while you wait for it to steep, and equally wonderful on the palate when sipped. Not to be missed, light and refreshing and totally uplifting.

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec

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92
48 tasting notes

Delicate, but with a lovely scent and taste. Probably the nicest rose-flavoured tea I’ve tasted.

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75
4 tasting notes

A formerly London-based friend served this up to me. She prepared it loose cup-by-cup. First the smell is lovely and aromatic, The taste is quite full with a strong but pleasant aftertaste. I’ve heard that it can be served with a splash of milk, which I will have to try. I’ve never had a light pouchong before, which I will have to try and compare this to!

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75
39 tasting notes

Smell is rich and muscatal with a hint of rose. Fortnum & Mason has this as a black tea on their website, and while the brew is a deep red-orange, it just doesn’t have the same bite or body of any black teas I’ve tried. Very smooth. I’m used to very light pouchongs which fall under the oolong category, so this was a nice change.

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 3 min, 0 sec

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15575 tasting notes

Adventageddon Day 3 – Tea 3/4

This was my favourite tea today, though the name infuriates me a little bit. I mean, why on earth would you call this a pouchong? It just sets up this weird expectation for the blend to be an oolong when it’s actually a very lovely black tea. Rose Keemun sounds just as lovely as pouchong. Like… just make it make sense.

But aside from that the rose in this tea is really, really good. Very fragrant and fresh with an inherent sweetness that plays nicely with the more woody, cocoa-like, and ever so slightly smokey black tea. Mind you I’m a sucker for a good rose blend, but this was really well executed. Not perfumey and gross at all.

Today’s Advent Photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/C0aC3COOTwI/?img_index=1

Song Pairing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2modzA5VxE

ashmanra

I have asked A Southern Season, Fortnum and Mason, and the Rare Tea Company if they have any idea why rose scented Chinese black tea gets the moniker Pouchong and no one could come up with an answer. Fortnum even contacted their source warehouse who also didn’t know why.

Leafhopper

I’m not sure why it gets this name either. Pouchong is another name for baozhong, which supposedly means “wrapped kind,” as the tea was traditionally wrapped in paper before being roasted (or alternatively, before being sold, depending on your source, as modern Taiwanese BZ oolong isn’t usually a roasted tea). I’ve seen baozhong used to refer to any strip-style tea, whether oolong or not. I guess any strip-style tea could technically be called pouchong. Still, it’s confusing for customers, and I’d also wrongly assume this tea was an oolong.

ashmanra

I did ask them if possibly this tea is wrapped for the scenting process and they didn’t know. Maybe the mystery will be solved one day!

Leafhopper

I obviously have too much time on my hands, so I did a bit more research. Pouchong originated in Fujian, China (or according to one old tea book I found online, in Canton, wherever that is now). It was categorized among several kinds of scented tea. The book describes it as “a bold, rough-looking leaf, dull black in color and peculiar in scent, the latter being imparted to it by the admixture of the seeds of the Chulan flower” (also don’t know what this is). A quick Google search also reveals scented pouchongs/baozhongs made with green tea. Taiwan adopted this wrapped style of tea in the 1880s and it must have gradually become the oolong we know as baozhong without completely negating the original meaning of the term.

As that old tea book suggests, it’s also possible that souchong (a grade of large leaf) got muddled in with all this and created even more confusion.

Has anyone seen an unscented BZ that’s not an oolong?

ashmanra

The only BZ I have that is unscented is Wen Shan and it is an oolong. Maybe there are some out there, though!

Great research! Thank you for sharing that!

Dustin

I had the shortest layover at Heathrow airport earlier this year and I’m so bummed that in my frantic stop at the F&M shop I didn’t think to grab a tin of this.

istara

I absolutely adored this one – everything about it was perfect. I typically drink Bird & Blend’s rose-scented Belle’s Breakfast but I may buy the Fortnum’s in future as well. I only had the one bag to try so want to do a side-by-side comparison some day!

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3224 tasting notes

I guess everyone has seen the post, either here or on Facebook, that Adagio is going to be running Steepster henceforth. I hope it doesn’t change too much! This is my 90% of my social life! Ha ha!

I can’t believe this was not already in my cupboard, as Superanna gave it to me a while back and I have drunk it many times.

This is a Keemun tea with rose flavor, slightly less rose-y than Rose Scented by Harney and Sons, and with deeper, darker tea notes due to the base being Keemun instead of Ceylon. Both are great, and this one is better for my husband who doesn’t like his tea too terribly floral.

It does not need milk and sugar to smooth or sweeten, but it is strong enough that I feel it would be really great that way if that is how you prefer your tea.

Any idea why they call it pouchong? Pouchong is Bao Zhong. This is Keemun and to all taste and appearance is black tea. I hope someone knows and will enlighten me!

It was a great pot of tea to start my day!

gmathis

Seriously? No, I had not seen anything about management change. (I am not completely weaned, but trying to spend progressively less time on FB—tends to drag my attitude in directions it doesn’t belong!)

ashmanra

There is an announcement here on the discussion page, too. and I agree. Spending less time on Facebook and feel like I have to look at it with one eye closed and the other peeping.

Shae

I saw it a little while ago and honestly I’m scared they are going to change everything to the point that it’s unrecognizable. I’m waiting until my emotions about the whole thing subside and I can comment with a level head. All of the other Adagio sites that Jason mentioned look exactly the same and I don’t want that to happen to Steepster. I love the community here (my social life is mostly here too!) and I don’t want to see everything replaced by something more aligned with Adagio’s corporate brand. I do appreciate Jason and Mike keeping up the costs of the site, but I also wish they would have considered asking us our thoughts as we are the ones using the site daily. That’s probably just me being selfish, but maybe someone here would have been interested in taking over. I know I would have been glad to help with cost and admin duties, personally. Anyway, I’ll leave some suggestions in the discussion post later, but this is me venting a bit. So sorry to take over your comments with my mood, lol.

Mastress Alita

I hadn’t heard the news either… I don’t use social media, and given all the spam/bugs, I haven’t even been on Steepster’s discussion boards in ages, as well. I hated that the site had been left to rot with bugs/no improvement, but I do not like a tea company being in charge, which feels fueled with bias and creates an environment that just feels… not as welcoming to other companies/etc. Too many moods right now…

Sil

hadn’t heard. I don’t bother with the boards here most days and adagio isn’t really a company i follow for the limited time i’m on FB.

ashmanra

I saw the post by Steepster on Facebook first and then came here and saw it on the discussion board. I almost never look at the discussion boards, but I was specifically checking for it. It is the same as the FB announcement, no difference. Here’s hoping we see improvements and not destruction of the community we have here.

ashmanra

Shae: I think a lot of us would have been willing to contribute to keeping Steepster up and running. I hope it all turns out okay. I hope adagio is paying attention to what the Steepsterites want.

ashmanra

The latest statement on the board from Michael at Adagio:

My Adagio Teas colleagues and I are honored by the opportunity to restore Steepster as the preeminent destination for tea discussion and knowledge, especially at a time when online communities are so important to our social wellbeing. In days to come, we will listen and note your ideas for the improvements that you’d like us to prioritize as we work to make Steepster a welcome place for all.

derk

Color me cynical :/

Martin Bednář

Haven’t heard; but noticed (and read) it after reading few tasting notes.
I am cynical as derk and many others. I don’t like the idea it is going to be owned by some tea company. It won’t be really independent. I don’t like the ownership of tea comapny, but on the other hand, I am happy to see that something will happen! That it won’t shut down just one day and nobody will know what have happened! What about collecting e-mail adresses of our group here (are we only one active, or there are more groups like us?); and if something goes “wrong”, we can be in contact somehow and for example start some new discussion board or something we can work out (for example Discord).

I know, it won’t have this nice feeling of Steepster, but I would love to stay in touch with all you!

Martin Bednář

By the way, as I can’t write to discussion board by myself, consider me, I want to save “as is” as long as possible and fix all the mishaps and after that just start adding new features, new design etc.

mrmopar

I like the connectivity as well. This site is a big part of my social media and the friends from here are priceless.

gmathis

I like you people. Don’t go anywhere.

tea-sipper

Hopefully adagio keeps it mostly the same Steepster, just taking care of the bugs, but I’m not sure how that might benefit adagio?

ashmanra

Maybe Adagio can just advertise here and keep it the same. I know money drives things, but surely supporting a site that encourages the love of and exploration of tea would be beneficial. Please be good to us, Adagio! This is our happy place!

Sil

Just sad as it seems that there wasn’t any thought given to asking the community first to see if someone here would like to take it over

Crowkettle

I’m cynical too but something traumatic would have to happen to this site for me to permanently abandon it. You all mean too much!

I see that Adiago asked for suggestions on the forums and I back everyone else who says the bugs need to be fixed first and foremost. Countless users, including myself, can’t even make posts on the forums!

teepland

I hadn’t heard this news either! Maybe that explains why I had such a hard time logging in today (admittedly, after two years of being away, but still).

White Antlers

Ashmanra, to answer the question in your review of this tea, the word ‘pouchong’ is a romanization of Bao Zhong.

Crowkettle

@White Antlers, but what does Maofeng Keemun have to do with Bao Zhong? This tea tin labels itself as both in different places.

White Antlers

@CrowKettle I just saw your query. Frankly I have no clue. I am not familiar with the tea tin and I am more of a wordsmith than a teasmith.

ashmanra

White Antlers – I had somehow missed your comment from ten days ago! Yes, that was what was perplexing to me. I love my Wenshan Baozhong and have had a jasmine pouchong that was just okay, but they call this Rose Pouchong and the ingredient list says it is keemun. If I remember correctly, pouchong means “the wrapped kind”, so I am wondering if this wrapping treatment can be performed,on Keemun tea also, and that is what this refers to? It is definitely black tea, definitely Keemun taste and that is how they say to prepare it, and the tin doesn’t elaborate on why the name is pouchong. I should contact the company and see if they can answer our query! There is always something new and exciting to learn.

Crowkettle

@White Antlers, That’s ok! Like ashmanra, I’m also perplexed about this tea label and wondered if there was a simple explanation rooted in etymology of tea names and labels, which is something I’m not super knowledgeable about.

@ashmanra, let me know if you do contact the company about this. Every now and then I fixate on this “mystery” and that probably won’t stop until my tin is gone. haha

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90
65 tasting notes

Picked this one at the airport on my layover.

It is exceptional. It had pieces of roses in the tea.
The tea was smooth and a little smokey and there was a prominent floral note from the roses. It was one of my favorites.
Great tea.

Flavors: Bark, Floral, Rose

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63
6105 tasting notes

Another floral share from Crowkettle via Sil! Thanks, you two! :D

However, rose is not a favourite of mine. But, I figured I’d try it anyhow. It’s actually not too crazy on the florals, given that it’s a rose tea. Or maybe age has tamed it somewhat. Either way, it was drinkable, with a nice balance of black base and rose. Planning on pawning off the final cup on my mom, though.

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1711 tasting notes

Advent Day 13

Advent Day 12 was a repeat of Royal Blend, which I wasn’t particularly fond of so I didn’t have it again. Today is a repeat of day 1, which I’m less annoyed by. I’m glad to get to drink more of this tea, but am disappointed that F&M is repeating teas in their calendar. It seems like such a good chance to market and sample a variety of teas, why would you waste the chance to introduce a new tea to someone? There are only 24 spaces in an advent calendar, do they really not have a variety of 24 teas to showcase? The calendar isn’t cheap either (it breaks down to just over $2.50 per tea bag), so it’s extra disappointing when they are just half assing or phoning it in in the effort department. If I get a repeat of the hibiscus tea F&M is going to be dead to me. In the mean time I’ll enjoy this cup with some cream. The rose isn’t sharp or too intense and the slightly malty base evens it out well. This has so far been my favorite of the calendar.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec
Mastress Alita

I would be very upset if I got repeat teas in an advent calendar. I feel like the whole point is to get 24 individual samplers?

tea-sipper

Doubling up on teas in an advent?!?! Hmm… are they trying to disappoint people?

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85
100 tasting notes

Beautiful scent and light, delicate flavor. Lovely tea.

Flavors: Rose

Preparation
Boiling 4 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 10 OZ / 295 ML

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