2021 Spring Harvest Backlog from early January, when I was stuffed up
The milk flavouring in this is intense! Like a literal fresh glass of cow’s milk, as opposed to the tangy buttercream or mineral “milk-like” notes I sometimes get from a lot of Jin Xuan teas (both flavoured and unflavoured). Are my other favourite milk oolong teas this disconcertingly milky? I don’t think so. The cup is sweet to finish in a way that’s quintessential lactose sugar. It’s delicious but also so much milk. One of the downsides is that the milk sometimes lingers (if you’ve smelled the dairy section in the back of a grocery store you understand the physical presence of this faint sour sweet aftertaste; the same thing that makes this tea distinct also makes it finicky to my taste buds).
I still don’t have full smelling faculties, but my mom insisted on a cup after walking by mine – so the broth must be quite aromatic. Sticking my nose in, I do smell sweet, steamed milk, which is a delicious, rich aroma. While the leaves steep, it takes on a creme de leche-like hue and it’s luxurious.
After some time (around 4th steep), floral and fruit notes (strawberry, mango, pineapple) begin to emerge. I actually really love when my “jin xuan” and “high mountain” oolong carries these fruity sweet notes; that they’re initially buried under the milk scent is somewhat of a drawback for me here. The 4th steep is where a more buttery aspect emerges too. Hurrah for an excellent fourth (and fifth) steep.
PS – I appreciate Yunnan Sourcing clarifying that this particular tea is (edit- allegedly) steamed in milk, making it unfriendly to vegans and those sensitive or allergic to lactose. Many vendors I’ve seen carrying this tea style aren’t particularly transparent about flavouring or lack thereof (one must err on the side of caution if this is a factor). Luckily, there are vegan Jin Xuan styles, including unflavoured ones, too!
Steep Count: 5 @ 20-45 seconds.
Flavors: Asparagus, Butter, Butterscotch, Citrus Zest, Cream, Custard, Floral, Grass, Mango, Milk, Mineral, Mint, Oily, Orchid, Pineapple, Smooth, Spinach, Strawberry, Sugar, Sweet, Tropical Fruit, Vegetal
