Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Oolong

Where to Buy:  Aftelier Perfumed Teas

Product Description:

Rich and complex charcoal-roasted Tung-Ting oolong tea produces a fruity aroma that is exquisite with the cool mint and rich jasmine. These rolled leaves provide up to 4 infusions.

Taster’s Review:

This tea is very interesting.

First of all, as a cup of this tea sits before me, it smells amazing.  Like intoxicatingly (I don’t know if that was a word before now, but it is one now!) amazing.   But with such an enchanting smell … I become a little apprehensive when it comes to taking a sip.  What if it’s too perfume-y?

After all, it is a perfumed tea.  That alone sort of indicates that it might come across as perfume-y tasting.

However, it doesn’t.  The perfume melds with the buttery creaminess of the Oolong tea to create one of the most unusual yet delightful teas I’ve tasted in a very long time.  The Oolong has a slightly roasted back note that seems to tie all the flavors together quite nicely.  It’s a very unified taste.

That is not to say that the jasmine is not strong, because it is.  It is quite strong (this tea is for jasmine lovers only!) and tastes very floral.  But it tastes like a natural floral flavor; not a chemical-y, artificial-tasting, lab-recreated perfume.

The mint is quite a bit more subtle, but the flavor of it develops as I continue to sip.  Similarly, the scent of the mint develops as I continue to smell the tea.  The first couple of times I could barely smell the mint, and now it is more prominent, although it is still not as strong as the jasmine.

I recommend brewing this in a gaiwan – using short steep times.  30 seconds (or less) for the first infusion; increase by 15 seconds for each subsequent infusion.  Any longer and you may wind up with a very strong jasmine taste.

If you love jasmine (and I do!) this tea is the ULTIMATE.  You really must try it!