Zealong Black (New Zealand)

SkySamurai’s mystery advent tea #4 backlog from 12/17
Hmm, I wonder if SkySamurai will try to trick me with some of these teas.  This LOOKS like a black tea, but slightly dusty or purplish.  But then the instructions say to steep at 185 degrees so now I’m really doubting if this is a black tea.  The brew looks very light brown but upon tasting it, it seems to me like a Ruby varietal.  That plumy, marzipan, but with a hint of menthol type flavor.  I really like Ruby teas.  If I had to have a second guess, I would think it was a very flavorful purple tea, but I don’t think purple teas are usually this flavorful.  The second steep is very faded in flavor, mostly tasting of minerals, so this is another clue that makes me think it is a Ruby varietal.  They always fade on me with the second steep. haha. Was I correct? NO.   Also never heard of zealong!!  This is apparently a black tea from New Zealand that has something to do with oolong!
Steep #1 // 1 1/3 teaspoons // 24 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // 10 minutes after boiling // 3 min
2020 Sipdowns: 102 (one of Mandala’s puerhs – forgetting the name now…)

Tea advent – this is very nice, smooth, and yeasty. The first steep was a bit more balanced, with cocoa notes and no bitterness. Smells more cocoa than it tastes. The second steep is mostly yeasty and malty, like the grain mixture before its fermented into beer. There’s a striking difference between the first and second steep, I actually forgot it was steeping so it went a bit long, but that didn’t help the second steep retain much of the depth of the first. In all it was a yummy tea, glad I got to try it.

I couldn’t find my Malty Black this morning … then I realized I forgot to buy more last time I visited Ronnefeldt. Since I didn’t feel like falling back on Assam or Yunnan today, Zealong Black it is.
… I still need to get a new tea-timer(5 minutes this time, was supposed to be 3), but then again, 2 teaspoons may have been a bit little and I guess it evened out, since the colour was a golden orange, and the taste was sweet as promised – honey, not caramel, but still definitely sweet. (A less sweet tea might be better suited as a breakfast tea, but I was already awake and my breakfast was a bit odd anyway …)

A very surprising tea, possibly a bit pricy, but worth a try for sure. The dry leaves are rich in notes of dark cocoa and hints of raspberries. Steeped, the tea opens up to aromas of cooked sweet potatoes, mild grain malt, tobacco and hints of blackberries. A very light color, more reminiscent of an Oolong than a black tea, crystal clear and a shade slightly darker than a harvest gold fills the cup.
The flavor is boldly sweet with a clear hit of honey, moving into light malty notes and absolutely no astringency at all. Almost frighteningly smooth on the finish after getting all of its bold flavors in the mid-palate.
A great tea that could easily be served with dessert at a formal tea dinner, or would be fine at any gathering of tea aficionados or just a nice treat alone for reflection. As stated earlier, the price is a little high for what it offers in terms of my own subjective enjoyments, but well worth trying and sharing with friends.