Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Pouchong
Where to Buy: Fong Mong Tea on eBay
Tea Description:
Lightly fermented and also lightly baked, Pou Chong Oolong Tea preserves the most freshness than any other Oolong teas. Fresh tea leaves contain a large number of beneficial elements to human body. Pou Chong Oolong Tea is produced under the most original tea-making procedure, reserving the maximum and most natural fresh nutritions, without any additives, which you can absorb the most essence of the nature, and is also the finest companion to leisure life and health.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
It’s been a while since I’ve had a Pouchong, and it is one of those teas that … every time I do have it … I find myself wondering why it has been so long for me to revisit it. It is so delightful, similar and yet unlike other Oolong teas. And this Pou Chong from Fong Mong Tea is absolutely amazing.
There are those who might argue with my choice to distinguish Pouchong tea in its own category, separate from other Oolong, but there is a reason that I do so. I find Pouchong to be somewhere between green tea and other green Oolong teas. It is not quite an Oolong … but not quite a green tea. It is … a Pouchong. It’s lighter than a typical Oolong, but still replete in sweet, creamy goodness. It has lovely green tones that fall somewhere between sweet grass and mild steamed vegetables, lightly seasoned with melted butter.
With the first two infusions, I found myself enchanted by the sweet, creamy taste while the greenery seemed to peek through, hinting at a more vegetative taste to come in future infusions. The second cup (infusions three and four) delivered the promised vegetative tones without coming off as a bitter grassy taste, instead, it was more like a sweet steamed vegetable complete with a soupy broth. I also noticed a floral tone starting to emerge – is that orchid? or perhaps honeysuckle?
With the third cup, the flavor became slightly more savory, with much of the creaminess having tapered off by this point. It is still remarkably smooth, but in a slightly different way than the first cup. Whereas the first cup was smooth because of the sweet creamy notes, the smoothness now comes from the uniting of flavors – the floral tones are less sharp, the vegetal tones are softer, this cup is more relaxed and soothing.
Overall, I found this to be a really enjoyable Pouchong. One that is really worth exploring – and Fong Mong Tea has prices that makes the exploration affordable!
I love pouchong, and it has been some time since I’ve had a good one. It can be hard to find good ones at a reasonable price. The ones I like best are ones that taste to me, a lot like you describe this one: floral tones, together with vegetal qualities.