Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Oolong
Where to Buy: Eco-Cha
Tea Description:
This is a newly developed farm in Taiwan’s prime tea growing region. The tea plants are just coming of age at 5 years of growth out of virgin forest soil in an environment that is ideal for High Mountain Oolong cultivation.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
I was so excited to try more teas from Eco Cha – I have absolutely LOVED all the teas that I’ve tried from them thus far. This is a really top-notch company! The teas that they offer are some of the finest that I’ve tried. And this Da Yu Ling High Mountain Oolong Tea from Eco Cha is no exception … this is absolutely lovely!
The aroma of the dry leaf is somewhat herbaceous with strong floral tones. The brewed tea has a fragrance that is more delicate, with hints of herb-y vegetation and whispers of flower.
The flavor is positively sublime! I prepared this in my gaiwan, using short steeps. For the first infusion, rather than steeping for 45 seconds, I stopped at 30 seconds just to see how it would be. Then I combined the first and second infusion in one cup (infusion #2 was steeped for 45 seconds), and this cup is fantastic.
I would have expected a very light or delicate flavor, and while it is not what I’d call a strong tasting cup, I would still call it a full-flavored cup. It’s sweet and very creamy. The floral notes dance on the palate. It has a light vegetative note. This cup was so delicious that it disappeared before I knew it!
The second cup (infusions 3 and 4) had a stronger vegetative taste to it, as well as a sharper floral flavor. It wasn’t as creamy as the first. Well … it’s creamy … but, it’s a different creamy. The first cup was a light, fluffy sort of creaminess that I’d call a sweet cream note, whereas this creaminess is more like butter that has been drizzled over freshly steamed veggies.
With most Oolong teas, my favorite cup is the second, but, so far, my first cup was my favorite. I really liked the balance of flavors in that first cup. This cup is still quite tasty, but, I’m missing some of that delectable sweet cream creaminess that was in the first cup.
The third cup (infusions 5 and 6) is a smoother cup than the second, with some of the creaminess still intact and the vegetative and floral tones softening somewhat to create a more seamless taste. The flavors that were very distinct and “individual” in the first two cups are now melding together to present a unified taste for the palate.
This is a very enjoyable Oolong – I highly recommend it to all those who love Oolong!
