Nonpareil Anxi Qing Yiang Tie Guan Yin Oolong Tea by Teavivre . . . . .

I steeped about half the sample packet (or a little over half) in about 10 ounces of water at 212 degrees for about 6 minutes.

It smells indisputably delicious as it starts to brew. Buttery, creamy, smooth, and rich. Also a tiny bit seaweedy/vegetal/grassy, but that’s subsumed by the butteriness.

The packet says to brew 4-10 minutes, which means it’s probably great for resteeping since you only need to steep it about 5-6 minutes in my experience (and with a little less water it would be less). So if you’re in the mood to re-steep, this might be a good choice for you. (As opposed to when you’re on the road or something and resteeping isn’t convenient.)

I started out using a tea ball to contain the leaves, but after a couple of minutes it became clear that wasn’t going to work out because they were just expanding too much so I let them out. Next time I’d just put them directly in the water or use a brew basket. That way I’d be able to watch them unroll too, which is always fun.

After steeping, I ended up with a nice light yellowish-green liquid (hard to say the exact shade though because I was using a green mug). It smells the tiniest bit flowery in addition to the buttery flavor.

The combo of green and creamy flavors reminds me a bit of matcha actually, although it’s gentler here and less vegetal in flavor. This is a very well-rounded flavor profile, with the bright, floral, and creamy notes complementing each other in a balanced and enjoyable fashion. Each sip is amazing. The floral bit catches your nose as you go to take a sip; the creaminess is there the whole time, and you taste the green/vegetal bit during the sip, and afterwards there’s even a slightly sweet aftertaste. And I don’t even prefer unroasted oolongs as a rule, so I’m extremely impressed with this tea and how much I enjoyed it! Teavivre has done an amazing job with this one as usual!


Here’s the scoop!

Leaf Type:  Oolong
Where to Buy:  Teavivre
Description

This tea is no longer available but click below for teas that are available.

Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!

Oolong Mi Lan Dan Cong from Canton Tea Co

MiLanDanCongTea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy:  Canton Tea Co.

Tea Description:

Dan Cong is the champagne of oolong tea: ripe with intense fruit and sweetness. The first time people taste this tea they are astonished by the arresting honey and floral notes – all completely natural. The tender leaves are thoroughly fermented and baked to produce a rich liquor bursting with peach, lychee, honey and orchid flavours. Grown on a plantation on the lower slopes of Wu Dong Mountain, Chao Zhou, this high-grade Chinese tea can be enjoyed through multiple infusion. 

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

Canton Tea Co. is another company that I have always wanted to try but never did.  I don’t have an answer of why I never ordered from them or swapped with a fellow Steepster friend, but I just seemed to stay in the realm of flavored teas. I lived a sheltered tea existence. . . until recently when I started devouring straight teas.

This tea delivered everything single flavor that is mentioned in the description.  This particular oolong is sweet and full of flavor.  Honey like with floral notes all the way.  Hints here and there of a baked taste that just makes you want more.  I can’t describe this tea to the level it should be.  I’m actually in awe of how much I love this tea.

I was able to get several more infusions out of this tea even to the point of getting more of the peach notes that are described in the description.  Just so delicate so light. The right amount of floral and the right amount of sweet.  I have a crush on this tea.

I prepped this up using water heated from my One Touch Breville and I swear I was brewing up tea every 2 minutes.  My tea cup seemed to be perpetually empty.  I know.  #First World Problems here.

This tea is a most for me when I start ordering teas again.  I’m on a slight hiatus with the upcoming nuptials in all.  (AH! I’m getting married in November!) But as soon as we get back from the honeymoon, Canton Tea I’m coming for you!

Cinnamon Isle from Paper Box Goodies

cinnamonisleTea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy:  Paper Box Goodies

Tea Description:

This Oolong is a spicy trip to the tropics, with hibiscus, passionflower, and cinnamon (duh) all coming together to whisk you away. Oolong tea steeps for 3 minutes, and is known to boost your metabolism.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

I am such a fan of Paper Box Goodies.  Leslie@Paper Box Goodies creates such a fantastic no fuss kind of tea. Her attention to detail isn’t lost on the no fuss packaging she offers either.  Each tag on the tea bag is beautifully done and she even includes a gorgeous shrinky dink tag with each one that I have been saving to make earrings out of one day./

This particular tea is an oolong, a cinnamon oolong, a different take on oolongs that I’ve had in the past.  I prepped this up in my One Touch Breville and let it steep 3 minutes like the tag says.

I let this cool for a few minutes and took a drink.  Sweet roasted oolong goodness with a spicy cinnamon lingering taste.  Like I said, Paper Box Goodies packs a fantastic flavor for having such a no fuss tea appearance.  I really enjoyed this tea.  Each sip I was giving the same fantastic flavor.  Sweet and spicy with an oolong twist.

I’ve come to love the teas Paper Box Goodies has to offer and have come to learn that the teas they offer will always be delicious.  These teas are perfect for work.  I swear if I hadn’t known better I would have thought these were loose leaf teas.  I’m just not used to tea bags having this much flavor.  There have been a few here and there, but Paper Box Goodies has some of the best bagged tea out there.

This may not be my favorite of their offerings but I am still really enjoying it.

Da Hong Pao from Cha Ceremony

dahongpaoTea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy: Cha Ceremony

Tea Description:

This tea is medium roasted with a subtle earthy, mineral taste, it possesses fruity notes along with a distinct crispness that is unique to rock grown tea such as this offering.

Depending on how you prepare it the tea will take on different notes, we urge you to experiment and take your time enjoying each infusion.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

Cha Ceremony is a new company founded by one of our Steepster friends, Marcus Reed.  Cha Ceremony specializes in rock grown oolong, also known as yancha.  Marcus’s vision for Cha Ceremony is full what he calls a niche market by providing quality tea with great customer service.  I think he is on the right track. .

My first tea I am trying from Cha Ceremony is a Da Hong Pao.  This tea is beautiful to look at.  The long leaves really give this tea a gorgeous presentation.  I steeped this up in my teapot and sat down at the table to get to “business”.

This tea was fabulous and so giving.  My first infusion was sweet with a mineral like finish.  Very smooth and slightly roasted.  Very rich and full bodied.  I could have drank this tea all night if the flavors would have stayed in this vein.  I really really liked it.  The different flavor profiles contrasted with each other providing this gorgeous balanced flavor that I just can’t get over.  I haven’t had a tea like this in a long time.

My second infusion so still just as gorgeous but there was more of an earthly flavor and -the roasted flavor a bit less.  The contrasting flavors still there, all just a bit more subtle.

Third infusion, so fantastic.  Earthly roasted goodness.  Just heaven.  Hints of sweetness creeping back in and this time there are more fruity notes instead of just being sweet.

After the third infusion, I decided to try this as a cold brew so we will see what I am greeted with in the morning.  I’m sure this tea would have given more, but it was bedtime and I had my herbal tea still to drink for the night to help relax me.

For my first foray into the world of Cha Ceremony, I’m a happy camper.  I want to dive more into what Marcus has to offer and really spend time with his teas.