February 01, 2005
Pouchong Bao Lao
Name: Pouchong Bao Lao
Kathy's Rating: 6.5/10.0
Company: Tealuxe
Origin of tea: China
Price: $10/50g (~1.8oz)
Tea form: Loose pouchong oolong tea.
What they say: Pouchong tea is slightly oxidized, producing a taste that is slightly "oolong." Our BAO LAO is exceptional with a strong vegetal flavor. Brew traditionally or Gung Fu style.
Preparation method: Pour slightly below boiling water onto tea and steep for 4 minutes.
Review: The term "pouchong" is used to describe the least oxidized variety of oolong teas. So, this tea is an oolong tea, which undergoes an oxidation process somewhere between black and green teas. Keep in mind that black teas are fully fermented before drying, while green tea is not allowed to ferment before drying.
This is a difficult tea to rate. I liked the light, clean taste of this tea, but there's not a lot of character to it. It's good, but not remarkable. So, I gave this tea a 6.5/10.0 because while I thought it was good, I didn't think it merited a higher rating. Pouchongs are probably a good place to start if you're a beginning oolong tea drinker.
Posted by Kathy at 08:43 PM | Permalink
January 10, 2005
China Oolong Restaurant Style
Name: China Oolong Restaurant Style
Kathy's Rating: 5.0/10.0
Company: Tealuxe
Origin of tea: China
Price: $5/50g (1.76oz)
Tea form: Loose oolong tea
What they say: This organic oolong will remind you of the dark and smooth teas you're served at Chinese restaurants.
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over tea. Steep for 4 minutes.
Review: True to its claim, this tea really does taste like Chinese restaurant tea. Unfortunately, that's not a good thing. This tea was highly fermented - it almost tasted like a black tea. Overall, it lacked the bold characteristic flavor of oolong teas. I thought it was more of a tea to wash dim sum down with rather than to enjoy drinking alone.
Posted by Kathy at 09:11 PM | Permalink
January 09, 2005
Royal Coconut
Name: Royal Coconut
Kathy's Rating: 7.5/10.0
Company: Tealuxe
Origin of tea: China
Price: $10/50g (1.76oz)
Tea form: Loose pouchong oolong tea with coconut flavoring
What they say: Like a sojourn in the South Pacific. Bold pouchong tea flavored with fresh coconut.
Preparation method: Pour slightly below boiling water over tea. Steep for 3 minutes.
Review: The term 'pouchong' pertains to the class of oolong teas that is the least fermented. This is one of the first (if not the first) flavored pouchong oolong teas that I have tried. The smell of this tea is very potent (mostly coconut) and tastes like a cross between oolong tea and coconut milk. The taste of the coconut is much subtler than I expected, which is a good thing. I rated this tea a 7.5/10.0 because while I liked it, I didn't exactly feel like drinking a second cup either. Overall, I recommend this tea, especially if you're a coconut fan, or if you're a pouchong fan looking for something with a bit more flair.
Posted by Kathy at 03:44 PM | Permalink
December 08, 2004
Iron Buddha Oolong
Name: Iron Buddha Oolong
Kathy's Rating: 5.5/10.0
Company: Teavana
Origin of tea: China
Price: $10/2 oz.
Tea form: Rolled loose oolong leaves
What they say: Entirely hand picked and processed, this oolong originates from the Fujian Province of China. Very complex flavor with a hint of orchid fragrance.
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over leaves and infuse for 3-5 minutes.
Review: Holy cow, this is one strong oolong tea! It's not that I'm against bold, complex teas or anything. It's just that this tea gave me such a massive headache, and made me feel about half as buzzed as a shot of espresso would. Needless to say, I did not enjoy this experience. The taste of Iron Buddha Oolong is definitely very strong, but there's no orchid flavor - I wonder where Teavana got THAT from? In fact, there's no floral in this at all - I did not consider this to be a delicate tea.
Posted by Kathy at 06:27 PM | Permalink
December 07, 2004
Ti Kuan Yin Oolong
Name: Ti Kuan Yin Oolong
Kathy's Rating: 5.5/10.0
Company: Teavana
Origin of tea: China
Price: $7.50/2 oz.
Tea form: Rolled loose oolong leaves
What they say: A high quality semi-fermented tea from the Chinese Anxi County. Ti Kuan Yin translate from the Chinese to "Iron Goddess of Mercy." This oolong gets its name from the legend depicting its devine origins. Famous for its mild flavor and brownish-green infusion.
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over leaves and infuse for 3-5 minutes.
Review: I did not have a great experience with Teavana's Iron Buddha Oolong, so I wan't quite sure how it was going to be with Ti Kuan Yin Oolong. In case you're wondering why I'm even associating the two oolongs, let me just explain that the word 'Ti', as in 'Ti Kuan Yin' means 'Iron'. So, both varieties of oolong - Iron Buddha and Ti Kuan Yin - both have the word 'Iron' in it. Uh-oh. Anyhow, since Ti Kuan Yin is a famous variety of oolong tea, I was more than eager to try it out. The first thing I noticed is that there really IS an iron taste to the tea. I have no idea if that's why it's called 'Ti Kuan Yin', but Iron Buddha Oolong had absolutely no iron taste to it, so maybe not. Believe me, I was surprised when at the first sip, there was a metallic aftertaste from Ti Kuan Yin Oolong. Actually, I rather liked the iron taste, which I thought gave Ti Kuan Yin Oolong some character. It's not every day that I taste iron in my tea. As I sipped to the end of the cup, though, I started to get this headache, just like I did with Iron Buddha Oolong. The tea started to taste cloying and unpleasant. By the way, despite what Teavana says, this is not a mild-flavored tea. I'll just say that I don't normally get headaches from drinking tea, and that I did not have a headache before I started drinking this tea. So, the verdict is, I liked the iron taste, but didn't like the headache. Now I have to go drink a huge cup of water to chase this headache away.
Posted by Kathy at 07:09 PM | Permalink
Peach Oolong
Name: Peach Oolong
Kathy's Rating: 7.5/10.0
Company: Teavana
Origin of tea: Taiwan
Price: $5/2 oz.
Tea form: Rolled loose oolong leaves with peach pieces
What they say: High quality Taiwanese oolong with peach pieces
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over leaves and infuse for 3-5 minutes.
Review: Goodness, a Taiwanese fruity oolong. Taiwan has long been a producer of high quality oolong teas, and I was definitely a bit dismayed to see what I perceived to be a step down from the committment of producing high quality teas by 'fruiting' them. Apparently, the price also seems to reflect the lower quality of 'fruited' teas. If you don't believe me, just check out the price for Tung Ting Jade Oolong, another Teavana distributed Taiwanese oolong that I have already reviewed. Yes, the price for Tung Ting Jade Oolong is almost three times what it is for Peach Oolong. Anyhow, prices notwithstanding, Peach Oolong was surprisingly good! The peach flavor is fairly subtle, and not cloying, as some fruity infusions can be. If you don't like peach-flavored drinks - I know a couple of folks like that - do NOT come near this. You will hate it. If you like peaches, I think you will find this tea very fun to drink - just don't take this as a serious oolong tea. I will even go as far to say that this would be an excellent iced tea in the summertime.
Posted by Kathy at 06:50 PM | Permalink
November 28, 2004
Tung Ting Jade Oolong
Name: Tung Ting Jade Oolong
Kathy's Rating: 8.5/10.0
Company: Teavana
Origin of tea: Taiwan
Price: $14/2 oz.
Tea form: Rolled loose oolong leaves
What they say: The best of Taiwanese semi-fermented teas, this jade colored oolong is grown on the slopes of the Tung Ting Mountains. Gentle and remarkably smooth in flavor, with a flowery undertone. Good for multiple infusions.
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over leaves and infuse for 3-5 minutes.
Review: I'll admit that I'm a big fan of oolong teas. It's the only type of tea that I drink in gradations, meaning different steep levels. This is because oolong tea has the most wonderful way of starting out with a simple one-note taste, and gradually increasing in complexity and body. No other type of tea - white, green, and black - have been quite like oolong. This Tung Ting Jade Oolong tea is no exception to the simple to complex pattern of oolongs. What is different about this oolong though, is that it starts out on with a more full-bodied taste than the Monkey Picked Oolong I reviewed earlier. However, this oolong is less strong than TenRen's First Grade Oolong, which I also reviewed. Overall, this is a good oolong tea, and is just right for an intermediate oolong tea drinker.
Posted by Kathy at 05:44 PM | Permalink
Monkey Picked Oolong
Name: Monkey Picked Oolong
Kathy's Rating: 9.0/10.0
Company: Teavana
Origin of tea: China
Price: $25/2 oz.
Tea form: Rolled loose oolong leaves
What they say: The ultimate oolong. When infused, the unbroken, evenly sized leaves gracefully unfurl to reveal the most complex oolong bouquet available. Its legendary name refers to Buddhist monks who trained monkeys to harvest the youngest leaves from the top of the wild tea trees. Presently the term “Monkey Picked” refers to the highest quality of oolong available. Made from the youngest tea leaves, this tea is perfect for multiple infusions. True tea connoisseurs dedicate a Yixing teapot exclusively for brewing this exceptional oolong.
Preparation method: Pour boiling water over leaves and infuse for 3-5 minutes.
Review: Since this is advertised to be the 'ultimate oolong', I set my bar high for Monkey Picked Oolong. It would be good to note that the term 'Monkey Picked' is not exclusive to Teavana, and is used in the oolong tea world to refer to a specific method of tea making method. When drinking oolong, I like to make a large pot and drink the tea in various steep stages. There's a big difference between each of oolong tea's subsequent cups. Monkey Picked Oolong has a delicate taste, which never really becomes more bold, even as the tea steeps longer. This is interesting, because many oolongs are much more full-bodied. I did enjoy this oolong, and would recommend it for new oolong tea drinkers especially, because of the more mild taste. This is a great oolong for the times when simplicity is desired.
Posted by Kathy at 04:55 PM | Permalink
June 26, 2004
Dark Oolong, First Grade
Name: Dark Oolong 1st Grade
Kathy's Rating: 8.5/10.0
Company: Ten Ren
Origin of tea: Taiwan
Price: ~$118.80/lb (16oz)
Tea form: Loose leaf in gunpowder form
What they say: The steeped tea has a light golden brown hue, prominent roasted aroma with sweet undertones, the initial flavor of roasted chestnuts, and a strong lasting, sweet and roasted aftertaste which lingers at the back of the throat.
Preparation method: Steep 3-5 minutes at water temperatures around 185-195F (85-90C).
Review: Without a doubt, oolong tea is the most popular and prestigious tea in Taiwan. The central mountains of Taiwan possess climates ideal for the growing conditions of Camellia sinensis. The cultivation and harvesting methodologies of Taiwan for tea is peerless. China is attempting to also cultivate and harvest oolong tea, but their methodology is still immature. I suspect that this is mostly due to lack of regulations control. For example, there are regulations in Taiwan regarding the use of pesticides. If pesticides are applied, there are set quantities that are allowed before the plant is declared unfit for consumption. Also, there are minimum timespans that must past before the plant can be harvested for market, in order to allow the pesticide to subside. There may be such regulations in China as well, but with the current notorious levels of corruption, what use are the regulations if the certifying official can be easily bribed to allow the process to proceed? This is why I prefer to buy tea that originated out of Taiwan or Japan, where regulations are more tightly controlled. Anyhow, the reason why we went into that little rant is because I am attempting to give you some background in justifying the price of some oolong teas. In this case, this particular tea is a first grade tea. This means the leaves from this tea are the season's first pickings, which adds a premium onto the price. So, following that convention, the second grade is the second picking, the third grade is the third picking, and so on. Think of the olive oil pressing process. Extra virgin olive oil is more pricey than extra light olive oil because the term "extra virgin" is usually reserved for the first pressing of the olive fruit, which results in a more richly flavored oil. The same can be said for first grade oolong tea - it produces a more full-bodied tea that is at the same time less bitter. If you want to drink an aristocratic tea, oolong first grade is your best bet. This is my comfort tea. This is the tea that my dad and I drink together as we discuss philosophical and metaphysics viewpoints - or just life in general. Actually, this is the only type of tea that my dad buys as gifts to his closest friends. In fact, my dad has a longtime friend - over thirty years - that collects limited editions of oolong teas, and sends some of them to my dad from Taiwan, which my dad proudly shows me whenever I make a trip back home. Invariably, he breaks open that limited edition tea, and we enjoy it over long conversations at the dining table, and more often than not, I end up taking a share of the tea home to enjoy again later. This is to me, what tea drinking is meant to be - a shared experience with family and friends.
Posted by Kathy at 09:48 PM | Permalink