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“Outstanding tea and certainly a keeper! The first impression on my palate was strongly of nutmeg and basil, however such sensation did not mask the original tea taste, rather lifting it to a higher...” Read full tasting note
One of our Artisan Reserve organic oolong teas, a line of small batch handmade teas from a craft handed down over generations. Hand selected for having all the hallmark qualities of the highest grades with noteable personality accents.
This is a superb tea from April, 2011, stored in a vacuum seal. We have procured this Tung Ting Oolong rare varietal from a small artisan farm in Nantou, Taiwan.
Nicely roasted and perfectly sweet, this oolong reveals itself over several steepings. Hand crafted and grown organically in Taiwan.
Light fragrance Qing-xin cultiver.
Company description not available.
Outstanding tea and certainly a keeper! The first impression on my palate was strongly of nutmeg and basil, however such sensation did not mask the original tea taste, rather lifting it to a higher level. It is exotic tea no doubt, yet it is excellent for every occasion. I was offered a sample and this was truly most welcome surprise. The depth and complexity are just unbelievable. The tea taste changes little even after 3-4 steeps, only mellows revealing additional earthly notes, but these are not ordinary, rather like a forest after the rain presenting a whole new aromatic spectrum.
I am going to give it 5 stars!
Nutmeg and basil! Very interesting. I really need to try more Taiwanese oolongs.
How many steepings did you end up getting out of this one (and was this in a pot/gaiwan)?
Also- how was your experience buying from Zhi? I’ve looked at their site a few times, but my parents actually live in Austin TX, so I’ve been thinking about visiting Zhi’s location the next time I go down.
I was able to get 4 good steepings. I would probably get more, but I do not like to get to the point where I have to taste the base notes. This tea was so surprising! I did not expect it to be so strange and at the same time so quickly addictive.
Often exotic tasting teas do not hold too well when it comes to a second or third steeping. But this was was an exception. There was no nutty notes which are usually a signature of cheaper teas ( the nutty taste is due to the oil residue left from mechanical processing ). This tea instantly became my favorite. And the price is right too.
Regarding my experience with Zhi teas: very good. The tea arrived very fast and I had no problem with communication. I will certainly return to buy more tea.
But I am also looking to find good suppliers in China. It is not easy, but not impossible.
About gaiwan: I do not use gaiwan, but brew tea directly in my zhisha teapot using infuser which I remove after few seconds or when the right potency is achieved. I have individual teapots for each tea.
Interesting! I’ve never heard of someone using an infuser in an yixing pot. Is the pot very big? I’m also not sure what you mean when you say, “I do not like to get to the point where I have to taste the base notes.” I want to hear more about what you mean by that. Personally, I feel like good teas are just getting started on their long journey around steeping four! But my favorite part of drinking tea is seeing it change as I drink it gong-fu-style over an hour or two.
Thanks for the Zhi Tea recommendation. I will have to visit their shop to see if they are as nice to me in person as they were to you online.
Hi, I use a tiny or a very small teapot without infuser when brewing tea only for myself. When for the guests or family, I use iron tetsubin teapot with infuser. Otherwise, what is also my standard, I use larger zisha teapot with the infuser and drink my tea from to a cup after I remove infuser with the leaves to reuse it later again. I have a collection of small zishi teapots to drink from them directly