Shui Jin Gui Wuyi Oolong

Back on the Island! I wanted to stop in at a DT today but I think I’ll leave that for tomorrow. Most of my teas are packed away at the back of the closet so I’ll need to fish those out. I feel so disoriented here! The last of this was tucked away in the lazy susan so that made things easier, at least.

Blah blah blah. Reading the description, either my taste buds have completely lost focus or… I don’t know, but this doesn’t come off as honey-ish or even floral. I get burnt toast. Verrrrry toasty. Maybe a little bit of brown sugar but mostly dry toast.

I’m also experiencing a mineral note in subsequent steeps. I’m going to call it quits at steep number three.

Edit: Yeah, didn’t care for the ride but I am sure others would appreciate it.

This lovely tea comes from Shelley_Lorraine! Thanks again, Shelley!

Because of time restrictions, I couldn’t do my first tasting of this one the way I really wanted to: gongfu. So I put a few teaspoons in my pot and brewed it up western style. I will update this once I’m able to brew this gongfu, but for now here are my findings:

Smell: This one smells really nice. I’m getting a roast-y oolong smell, as well as really nice mineral notes. The mineral notes are both “earthy” and sweet. I’m also picking up a fruity note – I’m thinking cherry. There is a cream-like (not exactly cream, but that’s all I can call it) aspect, too. Finally, there is a nice underlying cinnamon note.

Taste: This one is very mineral-y, or “rocky” as I say. There is a nice sweetness accompanying this aspect. Toward the middle of the sip is a surprise caramel taste – not overly sweet, but definitely caramel in flavor. The roast-y flavor is present throughout the sip, but really pops in at the end, along with a citrus element. There is a subtle spicy/sweet note also- most like cinnamon. Finally is the slight fruity sweetness; while I said cherry was in the smell, in the taste I can’t exactly pinpoint it in the taste.

I’m really digging this oolong! I can’t wait to see how it holds up brewed gongfu style. Glad I tried this one! Reminds me of a really good hike – all the rocks, streams, trees and fresh air. AWESOME.

I’ve noticed that with all the oolongs I have tried Verdant has the most fragrant ones. I just brewed a cup of this and I’m waiting for it to cool and the smell is lovely. Nutty and a little sweet. I’m the worst at describing flavours. I’m only on the first steep and I love it.

1.5 tablspoons for 375 ml

Slight clove and cherry flavour contamination from being close to other teas in transit (my own fault). I am detecting the mineral flavours that comes off as a sort of sweetness. Savoury tones. Warm nutty flavours. Caramel tone. Slight fruity sweetness. Slight vegetal tone in the mix.

Second infusion at 5 minutes. Hojicha-like straw aroma/taste. At the end of my cup I could taste the grape-fruity flavour that I’ve found to associate with oolongs.

Rating: 96

The generous JustJames sent me a sample package of Verdant…THANK YOU!!!

I was a little intimidated by the Verdant tea…I didn’t want to mess it up, so I had delayed a little bit before opening any of the packets. I thought to myself ‘stay on top of the water temp and steep time’. Forgot to stay on top of steep times, but I didn’t have any issues with the taste of this tea.

My first steeping, I got a strong floral note on my first few sips, and as the tea cooled, I found it to be deliciously nutty.

My second steeping I found the rocky/mineral taste.

Third steeping was so deliciously creamy and sweet. This was my favourite steeping of the three.

I can probably get another steeping out of the leaves, which I will attempt a little later.

This is really delicious tea.

This is seriously delicious. Brewed gongfu style the first three steeps were very savory and even smokey with signature wuyi mineral sweetness. Spice, nuts and even chocolate notes slowly emerged and now the tea is dessert like. As others have noted honey roasted nuts, orchid and yes banana notes. It’s another winner from Verdant, glad I ordered the 2oz. Going to spend the rest of the evening with it and maybe try the aged oolong or dong ding tomorrow. Husband is home early today which I am especially grateful for since he spent last night laying nauseous in the hallway. He’s better today, they just ran out of mail trucks.

Somehow Verdant always manages to surprise me. The flavor of this particular tea changes so much with each steeping that it is like drinking a different tea each time. With my cravings for variety this tea really struck a cord with me, even if it isn’t my favorite oolong.

My first steep (10s) hit me with a sweet honey note that surprised me, I’ve never tasted a tea so naturally sweet on its own.

The second steep (12s) was even more sweet than the first. There was also a heavy floral flavor and scent that wasn’t present at all in the first steep.

The third steep (15s) had a very deep, slightly bitter flavor. The bitterness hit almost immediately distracting me from the other flavors.

Ultimately I steeped this five times and could have continued on past that, but it was late when I started drinking this last night.

I’m trying to work my way through the rest of the samples I received with the 5 for $5 promotion, and after this I only have one more to go! I ended up dumping the cup and leaves. It was bitter and gamey and just not enjoyable for me.

Dang. This is some good tea. Joined the tea of the month club for a free month, and of course cancelled when my order came in. IMA BOUT DAT COLLEGE LYFE.
Anyways, I’ll definitely be ordering from Verdant again soon. Actually, I did a few days ago. Their website is killer. So much detail on each tea, and they have high Steepster ratings.
I found that this is very hard to describe. That being the case, I’ve came to one word that I think does the job: smooth. That’s just it, this is a really smooth tea. I don’t know what else to say.

Really solid oolong. Can’t wait for my other order to come in!

This is pretty delicious. The last of my sample from the $5 promotion. On the milder side for a Wuyi oolong, with a strong mineral flavor as well as fruit (reminds me of lychee) and slight floral and spice notes.