Creamy Toasted Coconut Oolong

Happy Mardi Gras! It’s snowing where I am, which is decidedly not Mardi Gras weather, but I’m recognizing the holiday with some low-key at-home activities. My partner made vegan jambalaya, I’ve got a king cake-scented candle, got my fleur-de-lis earrings on, etc. Of course I had to find a tea that’s on theme. I finally landed on a coconut oolong in a nod to Zulu coconuts (decorated coconuts are a prized giveaway at the Zulu Social Aide and Pleasure Club float parade on Mardi Gras day). My partner thinks it’s a stretch but I’m sticking by it. Also because the creaminess of this coconut oolong complemented the spiciness of the jambalaya nicely. So thank you to whoever put this in the Strange VariaTea TTB!

The TTB has arrived! So big, so many teas… no chance to try them all!
Tea #40

When I was choosing from oolong bag yesterday, I chose the Melon oolong as you can see in my last note. I was returning pouches, baggies and other packages back to the bag and this was left behind on my desk. Decided to brew it today, probably as very last tea “to try” and 10 others I will take to try some other day. And I will move the TTB. Afterall, I have it almost for a month.

This one is indeed creamy and indeed toasted coconut. I could not notice anything from cocoa which should be in as well, but I don’t mind it at all. The vanilla is there though.
Overall quite enjoyable cup, but maybe I have been expecting a bit more from the coconut, more like baked coconut goodies or something.

Strange VariaTEA TTB #10

I love a good coconut oolong, so I couldn’t resist giving this one a go! There’s actually a lot more than coconut going on here, though: it has cocoa nibs and vanilla bean and possibly some other vanilla/cream flavoring? The overall affect is a sweet, smooth, buttery blend with a slightly generic “dessert” flavor. It’s pleasant, but not nearly as coconutty as I was hoping, based on the name!

Thanks so much for this one, Tamarindel! I HAD to try this one! A green oolong with fresh looking flakes of coconut, cocoa nibs and big pieces of vanilla I can see in the blend. Coconut, chocolate, vanilla on an oolong base is unique enough to me! I used two teaspoons because there are a ton of goodies here mixed with the oolong leaves. The oolong is smooth and really hides behind so much coconut flavor! I really like the coconut flavor. However, the chocolate and vanilla is also hiding behind all that coconut. With the second steep, the coconut is a bit tamer and the oolong makes more of a presence, though still a smooth delicious green oolong — it seems like a buttery oolong more than any other flavor type. Love the buttery oolongs. The third steep still has a ton of coconut and is still very smooth, even while steeping at just boiled. This is excellent if you’re looking for a coconut oolong. Though the chocolate and vanilla are still missing (unless they just blend in so well it is tough to notice), so I will lower the rating without the balance of the chocolate and vanilla. A better balance between the ingredients and this would be a perfect blend.
Steep #1 // 2 teaspoons for a full mug// 8 minutes after boiling // 1 1/2 minute steep
Steep #2 // 14 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #3 // just boiled // 70 seconds

Dry, the leaves smelled a bit like cinnamon. Steeped, they smelled like perfume, which gave me a bit of panic, since I really can’t take those perfumey teas. Happily, it doesn’t actually taste like perfume, but it definitely has some floral aspects. And I do taste a light spice note, though not cinnamon necessarily. I think it’s a reach to call this coconut, though. I get a tiny hint of coconut way in the background, but it is faint compared to all the other flavors.