Notes on Zhong-Shu-Hu Oolong Tea from Tea from Taiwan. . . . .

This is my second cupping for this tea. Though it doesn’t call for it on their website,

I found that this tea is better off if rinsed for a few seconds before the first sipping. Judging on the grassy flavors and marine mouth feel and I would guess this oolong to be on the lighter end of the oxidized spectrum.

The liquid is a light golden amber.

IT does have slightly bitter tendencies and can be too strong if brewed too long.


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Oolong
Where to Buy: Tea from Taiwan
Description

Zhong Shu Hu oolong tea comes from the Zhong Shu Hu area of Ali Mountain (Alishan) – one of the most famous tea producing regions of Taiwan. The climate here is cool and moist with cloud cover and mists every day. These conditions are ideal for tea because the plants grow very slowly and produce tender, flavorful tea leaves and buds.

Zhong Shu Hu oolong tea has a sweet taste and refined aroma. Each brewing brings out new flavours and taste sensations. This tea has a complexity that provides continuous nuances with every cup.

Zhong Shu Hu oolong tea can be re-brewed several times while maintaining an excellent flavour. We recommend the Gong Fu method of preparation to bring out the best of this excellent tea.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Da Yu Ling Oolong Tea from Tea from Taiwan. . .

I am having a really emotional day*, so I decided to treat myself with the best option available: a bracing cup of tea.

*To be fair, most of my days are emotional. I am a person with a Lot Of Feelings.

This was a more delicate cuppa than I was in the mood for, but no fear, it is still quite the taste sensation.

It’s really LEMONY! Light, and toward the green side of oolong, and there’s a little bit of a sweet-n-sour lemonade twist. I feel like they could serve this in the South, maybe iced, and people would love it.

It comes from a place that translates out to “Pear Mountain.” I have this weird thing where I fear unfamiliar fruit (please don’t make fun of me), so I honestly am not sure if this tastes like a pear. But it definitely IS fruity. It’s got a surprising amount of extra flavor for a straight tea. Wow.

If you were to go to Mount Li, from whence this tea originates, you would be close to — and possibly able to visit — China’s Terracotta Army.

It’s a giant underground tomb-necropolis that houses a miniature version of the first Chinese emperor’s army. They protect his (still unopened) tomb. You really need to read the Wikipedia article about this. It’s fascinating.

 


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Oolong
Where to Buy:  Tea from Taiwan
Description

Da Yu Ling oolong tea (wu-long tea) is a premium-grade oolong tea from the Da Yu Ling area of Taiwan’s Taichung county. Its high altitude (more than 2600 meters) makes this one of the highest tea plantations in the world.

Da Yu Ling has a wonderful fragrance and taste. It is a lightly oxidized oolong tea with a refreshing palate that is sought after by the most demanding tea connoisseurs. Da Yu Ling is produced in limited quantities and is one of the most prized teas of Taiwan.

 

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Xi Ding Oolong Tea – Tea from Taiwan. . . . .

Hello, readers! I am here to bring you another oolong tea but from a company that really knows their stuff. According to the website, they have been in business for a good twelve years so to me that is impressive. Now what got me to try out this tea out of all the others on my tea shelf is that I felt that I have never given pure oolong tea a chance. I know that my sister drinks almost five cups of it a day so in lieu of the other oolong blends that I have tried I figured why not give a pure cup a chance?

As the site details, this oolong has a very distinct taste. It is very pungent when you first open the bag but don’t let that deter you for it mellows out when it is brewed. This brew does have a mellow, subtle start but it finishes with a sweet aftertaste. A sweet that I cannot put my finger on. I would say that this tea for me personally would be a builder tea, the best ingredient that I can think of off the top of my head would have to be a mint of some sort. I think that spearmint would be the best, for its sweetness would be a perfect compliment to the oolong.

Now for prices, I can’t be exact since all their oolong blends are named by their time of harvest. The best estimate I have for you is to base it off the Li Shan Feng Oolong tea which the top three prices are as follows; $36.99 for 75 grams, 150 grams for $69.99, and 300 grams for $134.99. But don’t fret for it looks like their samples retail for around $4.59 which is good for about 2-3 cups.

In conclusion, I think this is a great tea and tea company to try out if you are out for an authentic oolong tea. It is a pretty penny but for the authentic oolong consumer, I think this brand should be at least worth a shot.

See you for the next cuppa!


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Oolong
Where to Buy:  Tea from Taiwan

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

 

Cui Feng Oolong Tea from Tea From Taiwan

Today I thought I would take a moment and enjoy a tea. Like really enjoy. It seems sometimes life just goes by so fast that the art of taking the time for yourself gets set aside for another day. At least that is how my life seems with a house full of twin teenagers, a pre-teen boy and a 7 year old with a puppy nipping at the heels of all of us.  I just feel like sometimes I don’t take the proper time to reflect. So today, that is exactly what I’m going to do.

cui-feng_medTraditionally, I don’t find myself drinking straights teas and that is a shame. I always seem to gravitate towards those unusual flavored blends, and there is nothing wrong with that. I just feel that maybe I need to become more of a well rounded tea drinker and that starts with this oolong from Tea from Taiwan.

Oolongs and green teas are my favorite. Especially when they have that particular rich buttery undertone and a hint of a creamy finish. Those are my favorites.  I was hoping this Cui Feng Oolong would deliver those notes for me.  After my first cup of this brew, I have to say this tea definitely delivers.

The first infusion delivered a fresh slightly floral vegetal notes swirl around your tastebuds with a lingering astringent hint.  There was a lovelycui-feng_3_lrg creamy finish to end each sip. So many different flavors that really work well.

With the second infusion, I noticed those vegetal notes lessened quite a bit and  gave way to a buttery tone that helped make that creamy finish even more prominent.  There are hints of a sweetness through each sip.   Really lovely and soul warming.

Third infusion was very similar to the second infusion. Lovely buttery notes with a tender sweetness.

All in all, this tea is delicate yet robust at times. I loved the simple yet complex notes that came across with each infusion. Intriguing and extremely interesting. One of those teas that you never seem to set your cup down while you are drinking it.


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Tea from Taiwan 

small-logoDescription

Li Shan Cui Feng Oolong Tea

This is an exceptionally smooth, full flavored oolong tea from the Li Shan (Pear Mountain) tea region of Taiwan.

Cui Feng (翠峰) oolong tea is grown at an altitude of 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) in cool, moist conditions, producing some of the best oolong tea in the world.

Cui Feng brews to a rich, honey-colored liquor, highly fragrant and with a smooth, robust flavor, full in the mouth.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!