Excellent Oolong for "Thank You" Gift?

[jackdaniel]

I've enjoyed some REALLY excellent (read "expensive") oolongs in the past and am looking to get some as a "thank you" gift. Any recommendations on vendors/factories?

Thanks!

[TIM]

What's your price range, per 100g or per pound?

[Intuit]

Two answers can be given, because "really good" does not necessarily equate with 'expensive'. Secondary consideration should be given to the recipient's tea knowledge/palate.

Do you wish to impress with your gift's cost ('conspicuous consumption') by having a high-end retailer/product name on a label? or..

Do you wish to purchase a memorable, quality tea for gifting?

[Maitre_Tea]

Well, it also depends on what kind of a message you want to send...are you really good friends with said person? If so, maybe you should consider a pu-erh or a nice high fired oolong, sends the message "May our friendship get better with age, like this tea."

Of course, if it's someone that you don't really want to give thanks to, maybe you should send a message using Japanese Sencha

[Victoria]

Well, it also depends on what kind of a message you want to send...are you really good friends with said person? If so, maybe you should consider a pu-erh or a nice high fired oolong, sends the message "May our friendship get better with age, like this tea."

Of course, if it's someone that you don't really want to give thanks to, maybe you should send a message using Japanese Sencha

Hahaha!!

Or "Here's to the beginning of a beautiful friendship, celebrated by
this first harvest high mountain Green Oolong."

Heh.

[jackdaniel]

Well, this gift is actually for my boss, with whom I have a very good relationship, and share common acquaintances. He drinks oolong on a daily basis, and has many others who bring him tea from Taiwan and China on a regular basis, so this really needs some "wow" effect. My price rang would be, say, $30 for a small half ounce sample or so. If I wait until the holidays perhaps more. I just received a sizable raise and have been given the opportunity to express my knowledge and experience through new projects, so I thought sitting down for five minutes of his busy schedule would be a nice treat. Any changes to the recommendations based on that information? Thanks!

[wyardley]

Do you know if he prefers greener style or more traditional (higher oxidation and / or roasting) teas?

[Tead Off]

Well, it also depends on what kind of a message you want to send...are you really good friends with said person? If so, maybe you should consider a pu-erh or a nice high fired oolong, sends the message "May our friendship get better with age, like this tea."

Of course, if it's someone that you don't really want to give thanks to, maybe you should send a message using Japanese Sencha

Don't let the mod read this.

[Chip]

Mod reads everything ..........

[Zanaspus]

A little higher than your stated range, but nothing would say "I love you" to me quite like;

http://www.jingteashop.com/pd-wuyi-oolo ... i-guan.cfm

[jackdaniel]

No idea if he prefers "Green" or "roasted," but I guess I can ask.

Would I be well-off with an aged oolong? I've read some about aging oolong much like puerh, but I'm not sure of anything beyond that.

[Maitre_Tea]

Aged Oolong can be nice, but at least in my limited experience it can be a mixed bag, and some people like it more than others. IIRC, when people aged Oolong without the intention to re-sell it, it was more for medicinal purposes, so some of these aged Oolong can have a Chinese medicinal flavor/aroma. It can be quite good, but may not be everybody's cup of tea. I recently had an aged BaoZhong from Red Blossom, and to me at least it was pretty sour, like some kind of super intense plum wine (but without all its sweetness). Tasty, but the sourness may be too much for most people.

[Victoria]

I would not recommend Red Blossom. I would say in this case Tea Habitat or Hou De or Floating Leaves Tea.

But the fact that they have ready access to Twianeese oolongs, maybe teaware instead. A more lasting gift.

[Intuit]

I'll second the nod for excellent Taiwanese oolongs from Floating Leaves Teashop in Seattle. If you're going to stand out from the crowd glad-handing your boss with oolongs, I suggest you politely ask Shuiwen for help in selecting a exemplary tea, like her new Hong Shui Oolong.

[edkrueger]

He seems like he is probably pretty in to oolongs already. I think it really matters a lot whether he likes light, medium or dark roast. It also matters what style he prefers: High Mountain Taiwanese, Low Altitude Taiwanese, Wuyi, Anxi, Dancong, etc, etc. etc. I think the best I can do at this point is to write you a current favorites list, but nothing is quite at your price level.

As an aside...
http://www.houdeasianart.com/index.php? ... ts_id=1179
...currently tops my wish list.