What variety of oolong is this?

by **bagua7** » Dec 16th, '10, 21:05

What variety of oolong is this?

by bagua7 » Dec 16th, '10, 21:05

I can't read mandarin and I got this sample in a recent past. I was told is TGY but it can't be because the taste has a resemblance to milk and quite buttery.

Here's a pic (already posted in another thread):

Cheers.

Facebook · by **Bryan_drinks_te...** » Dec 17th, '10, 12:37

Re: What variety of oolong is this?

by Bryan_drinks_te... » Dec 17th, '10, 12:37

May we see a picture of the leaf? thx

by **bagua7** » Dec 17th, '10, 14:52

Re: What variety of oolong is this?

by bagua7 » Dec 17th, '10, 14:52

Sure:

The funny thing is that the vendor is unable to identify the tea he sent me in a sample form. :shock:

by **TokyoB** » Dec 17th, '10, 21:44

Re: What variety of oolong is this?

by TokyoB » Dec 17th, '10, 21:44

The package says "Tie Guan Yin" which is what it looks like.

You can view the characters here:
http://www.panix.com/~perin/babelcarp.c ... e+guan+yin

by **bagua7** » Dec 18th, '10, 10:37

Re: What variety of oolong is this?

by bagua7 » Dec 18th, '10, 10:37

Well this is what the vendor had to say about that supposedly TGY:

Dont look at the packing as these packing changes all the time! We pack the tea ourselves!

:lol:

To me is Taiwanese milk oolong, unless there is a mainland Chinese milk oolong which I am unaware of. That vendor doesn't even know what he's really selling. Just another folk in the tea business for the sake of the almighty dollar, yuck!

by **gingkoseto** » Dec 18th, '10, 12:09

Re: What variety of oolong is this?

by gingkoseto » Dec 18th, '10, 12:09

Sometimes those bags are just genetic and used for all kinds of teas. I guess that's what the vendor meant. I don't see why they wouldn't know what tea it is. It seems to me very likely a language problem instead of not knowing at all.

By looking at the dry tea, it's very hard to tell what it is. A lot of teas are made in this shape.
For example, this is a fo shou oolong

This is a ben shan oolong

This is a huang jin gui/golden osmanthus

To name just a few...
By seeing a photo of dry tea, it's very hard, if possible at all, to tell.

by **Poohblah** » Dec 19th, '10, 01:43

Re: What variety of oolong is this?

by Poohblah » Dec 19th, '10, 01:43

I love those Taiwanese milk oolongs. I have a tin of it sitting around, it's a huge smash at social events, but I rarely drink it by myself.

by **bagua7** » Dec 19th, '10, 05:39

Re: What variety of oolong is this?

by bagua7 » Dec 19th, '10, 05:39

Honestly, I don't know what to think anymore. That's the problem of buying tea online.

I am 100% sure it was a milk oolong because of the creaminess that was always present on every run. The problem is that it could have been a scented sample instead of the real one which isn't cheap.

by **Chip** » Dec 19th, '10, 15:42

Re: What variety of oolong is this?

by Chip » Dec 19th, '10, 15:42

mayayo wrote:Honestly, I don't know what to think anymore. That's the problem of buying tea online.

Well, that is a problem with this vendor, not really with buying online in general. Clearly the seller should be able to tell you what sample they sent to you. :idea:

by **bagua7** » Dec 20th, '10, 05:24

Re: What variety of oolong is this?

by bagua7 » Dec 20th, '10, 05:24

Unfortunately he doesn't have a clue because -according to the opinion of a teachatter in another thread- he doesn't pack the teas or supervises the process directly himself. He just told me that bag had Autumn-harvested TGY. Freaking hell this vendor is hilarious! :lol:

I have given up completely. Placed an order of Taiwanese milk oolong tea with a non-eBay-related vendor. Had enough.