I'm a black tea drinker who is interested in oolongs. Favorite Blacks are Keemun Encore, Yunnan Noir, and Golden Monkey.
I've tried the Wuyi Ensamble. It took some practice(first seepings were overpowering with smoke), but after I got that seepings right, it's been fantastic!
I'm considering trying other oolongs as only haveing the Wuiy, I'm not sure what's roast and what's oolong! I was thinking of trying the Ali Shan, Oolong #40 and the Ti Kuan Yin samples.
My thoughts are that the #40 and Ti Kuan Yin are darker, and the Ali Shan will give me a taste of the lighter Oolong.
To cut down on costs and the clutter of having to many sample tins, would you recommend getting all three, or are two close enough that I can just get two, say the Ali Shan and the #40? Or would you go with all three.
I've kind of gone crazy with the tea sampling lately, and am a little concerned with my wifes sanity and so many sample tins! (maybe I should drink what I have first?)
Thanks in advance.
Adagio's TKY really isn't that dark in roast. It is definitely more green if I remember correctly.
The fun thing about oolongs is that there are so many differences in flavors under the same general name of "oolong." Oolong #40 is generally considered a good one to try, especially if you enjoyed the Wuyi. I'd definitely go with that one over Oolong #8. Oolong #18, Ali Shan, TKY, and Pouchong are all lighter oolongs. They all have their merits. Personally, I would go with Ali Shan or Oolong #18 if you want to try a greener oolong. Most of that is personal preference. If you try one that you don't like, you can always try a different one next time!
Don't worry about going crazy with sample tins. It is all fun!
The fun thing about oolongs is that there are so many differences in flavors under the same general name of "oolong." Oolong #40 is generally considered a good one to try, especially if you enjoyed the Wuyi. I'd definitely go with that one over Oolong #8. Oolong #18, Ali Shan, TKY, and Pouchong are all lighter oolongs. They all have their merits. Personally, I would go with Ali Shan or Oolong #18 if you want to try a greener oolong. Most of that is personal preference. If you try one that you don't like, you can always try a different one next time!
Don't worry about going crazy with sample tins. It is all fun!
I'm going to give them all a try...
However, I noticed that samovarlife in san fransisco has a $25 kit put together with Kevin Rose(computer geek from Digg and the nortorious 'dark tipster' from 'unscrewed'). No oolongs in the kit, but for $25, you get a nice infuser and 3 sample teas. (I think I'll really like the Pu-erh, and the green they sell looks interesting)
While there is no oolongs in the pack, I was thinking of trying the wuyi and Kuan from samovarlife... as I've already tried the wuyi from Adagio... so this would give me a variety?
Any thoughts?
However, I noticed that samovarlife in san fransisco has a $25 kit put together with Kevin Rose(computer geek from Digg and the nortorious 'dark tipster' from 'unscrewed'). No oolongs in the kit, but for $25, you get a nice infuser and 3 sample teas. (I think I'll really like the Pu-erh, and the green they sell looks interesting)
While there is no oolongs in the pack, I was thinking of trying the wuyi and Kuan from samovarlife... as I've already tried the wuyi from Adagio... so this would give me a variety?
Any thoughts?
Keep notes on your teas or you will forget the differenet qualities in each tea.akysten wrote:I'm going to give them all a try...
However, I noticed that samovarlife in san fransisco has a $25 kit put together with Kevin Rose(computer geek from Digg and the nortorious 'dark tipster' from 'unscrewed'). No oolongs in the kit, but for $25, you get a nice infuser and 3 sample teas. (I think I'll really like the Pu-erh, and the green they sell looks interesting)
While there is no oolongs in the pack, I was thinking of trying the wuyi and Kuan from samovarlife... as I've already tried the wuyi from Adagio... so this would give me a variety?
Any thoughts?
Wu Yi is an excellent Oolong in my opinion, though if you enjoy blacks, I'd go for more earthy "versions" of the tea such as Pouchong or Oolong #40. If you want a bit of flavor, but don't want to go Black, try some sort of Citrus Oolong or Jasmine Oolong, tons of good flavor there. That's just me though, I mean go with what you like dude, don't be afraid to try new stuff!
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Apr 30th, '09, 18:15
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teacast wrote:Wu Yi is an excellent Oolong in my opinion, though if you enjoy blacks, I'd go for more earthy "versions" of the tea such as Pouchong or ......
-Pat
The original poster as you mention likes Blacks.
I would have thought that Pouchong (Bao Zhong) was far as you could get [in the Oolong Spectrum] AWAY from Blacks and not likely to appeal until after the drinker becomes much more appreciative of other Oolongs.akysten wrote:I'm a black tea drinker who is interested in oolongs.
.........
Thanks in advance.
From Black Tea - I would head straight for Wuyi, then move on to Dan Cong, Then Anxi Ti Guan Yin, then Taiwan oolongs - leaving Bao Zhong or Pouchong until last!
Everyone seems to approach an introduction to oolongs in their own way. For my own experience, I came to loose-leaf and Adagio as a black-tea-only girl. I was eager to try everything, so I got the samplers from Adagio, and when I tried the Wuyi and the Oolong #40, I was initially disappointed. To me, they tasted too similar to black tea, and didn't "wow" me as a new, exciting tea experience. When I moved on to the greener oolongs, I was definitely able to distinguish the remarkable difference from black teas. TKY and Pouchong from Adagio and Tung Ting Jade Oolong (very similar to Oolong #18) were the first teas I ever craved, and I craved them unsweetened.
After I got more tea-tasting experience, I went back to Oolong #40 and the Wu Yi and could taste their unique character... and came to appreciate and enjoy them as quite different from black teas. The greener oolongs definitely remain my preference.
Sarah
After I got more tea-tasting experience, I went back to Oolong #40 and the Wu Yi and could taste their unique character... and came to appreciate and enjoy them as quite different from black teas. The greener oolongs definitely remain my preference.
Sarah
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mymidwife: That's interesting! That's for sharing.
Like you, I came from Black teas, and initially I really liked the 40 and Wui as they were more of a natural progression for me from Black.
The Tk Kuan and Ali Shan tasted so different than what I was used to, I didn't know what to think.
Then something happened, I went back to tasting my reliable black teas and tehy seemed flat in complexity to these green oolongs. So I tried the Wuiy again.. and it was BOLD like a black but so complex.
The ali shan infusion is so cool as they pretty much restore what appear to be full pickings from the plan itself, I swear that is a cup of fresh picked tea in my teapot after multiple infusions!
Like you, I want to try everything.... I've bought a variety of my favorite blacks and a big container of the Wuyi, so I think I'll finish those and my oolong samples.. take notes on my experience, and make a decision of a full order sometime in the next few months. I maybe addicted to oolongs before then. It will take that long to drink what I've got.
Make no mistake though, I'm enjoying every cup!
Thanks to all for your input.
Like you, I came from Black teas, and initially I really liked the 40 and Wui as they were more of a natural progression for me from Black.
The Tk Kuan and Ali Shan tasted so different than what I was used to, I didn't know what to think.
Then something happened, I went back to tasting my reliable black teas and tehy seemed flat in complexity to these green oolongs. So I tried the Wuiy again.. and it was BOLD like a black but so complex.
The ali shan infusion is so cool as they pretty much restore what appear to be full pickings from the plan itself, I swear that is a cup of fresh picked tea in my teapot after multiple infusions!
Like you, I want to try everything.... I've bought a variety of my favorite blacks and a big container of the Wuyi, so I think I'll finish those and my oolong samples.. take notes on my experience, and make a decision of a full order sometime in the next few months. I maybe addicted to oolongs before then. It will take that long to drink what I've got.
Make no mistake though, I'm enjoying every cup!
Thanks to all for your input.