How to brew tung ting / jade oolong?

[AlexZorach]

I've tried several tung ting / jade oolongs now, from Ten Ren, Upton Tea, and Hsin Tung Yang. I've tried brewing them similarly to how I brew greener Tie Guan Yin or Se Chung oolong, and they always come out too weak for me, bordering on bland and thin. I've tried using more leaves, but then something in them is too much.

Is the problem that I am not buying the best teas? Or perhaps do I just not like Tung Ting as much because it's supposed to be more subtle and delicate? Or am I not brewing it the right way? I've experimented a little but generally stayed around using 1 teaspoon of dry leaf per cup, 190F water, and tried steeping for different lengths of time, I've had the best luck with 8+ minutes. I tried cooler water and it even had less taste.

[Victoria]

My opinion on Ten Ren & Upton Tea for oolongs is well known. So I would perceive that is a big part of the problem. I also would suggest
boiling water. When you say cup, how big? And what kind of pot are you using?

[shah82]

I'm with Victoria about the boiling part. Tung tings aren't really like baozhongs or gaoshans.

Also with her about the vendors. Upton, at least, isn't so bad because they always send bad tea, but because they aren't very transparent. They do have good stuff, you just don't know which on it is, just now...especially for oolongs.

[Tead Off]

I've tried several tung ting / jade oolongs now, from Ten Ren, Upton Tea, and Hsin Tung Yang. I've tried brewing them similarly to how I brew greener Tie Guan Yin or Se Chung oolong, and they always come out too weak for me, bordering on bland and thin. I've tried using more leaves, but then something in them is too much.

Is the problem that I am not buying the best teas? Or perhaps do I just not like Tung Ting as much because it's supposed to be more subtle and delicate? Or am I not brewing it the right way? I've experimented a little but generally stayed around using 1 teaspoon of dry leaf per cup, 190F water, and tried steeping for different lengths of time, I've had the best luck with 8+ minutes. I tried cooler water and it even had less taste.

I have never had teas from these vendors so I cannot comment on quality. But, 1tsp per cup at 8 minutes should tell you that you need more leaf and also hotter water. Double the leaf at 1 minute and adjust from there. If still cannot get a good brew, change vendors.

[edkrueger]

Though I agree with Victoria's assessment Upton, I don't agree on Ten Ren. The top level Ten Ren Dong Ding is a very good light roasted oolong. Of course, the lower levels do tend to become junky. Anyway Dong Ding is a pretty strong flavorful tea, when properly brewed.

To brew light or unroasted Taiwanese rolled oolongs , steep about 5g for 100ml of container size –use less leaf for higher grades, more for lower grades. This is about the same as filling the pot 1/4 of the way with leaves. Use boiling water and then rinse. Steep for 20 seconds –longer for higher grades, shorter for lower grades. Do the second steep the same way, then add 10 to 15 seconds every steep.

[gingkoseto]

The top level Ten Ren Dong Ding is a very good light roasted oolong. Of course, the lower levels do tend to become junky.

I partially agree with this. Partially, because if the good products are labeled with a forbidden price, then it's almost the same as non-existence. The good Ten Ren products I tried, like an Alishan labeled for cdn $38 per 150g, was pretty good. But I am sure people can easily get same level of products for less than half of the price (in US not in Taiwan). Ten Ren's subordinate company, Ten Fu provides some very good top notch oolong products in mainland China. But the price is always a few times more expensive than other comparable options.

[AlexZorach]

I'll try using boiling water...I've read several places that Tung Ting is "delicate" and should be brewed with lower-temperature water but I think it's important to experiment with your own brewing ideas and it's interesting that several of you seem to say boiling is good for this tea!

I generally brew tea in a small ceramic teapot, and when I say one cup I mean about a measured cup, a little less than the size of a mug which I usually drink. Sometimes I also use a stainless steel infuser, esp. with broken-leaf teas, but the tung-ting teas I have tried have all been whole-leaf.

[edkrueger]

There is noting "delicate" about good oolong. If they taste bitter with boiling water that means they are bad. The delicate thing is probably just a marketing ploy.

[Chip]

There is noting "delicate" about good oolong. If they taste bitter with boiling water that means they are bad. The delicate thing is probably just a marketing ploy.

Hmmm, perhaps I have been drinking too much bold Sencha.

I do find that greener Taiwan oolong can be somewhat delicate. I tend to prefer it this way, and therefore my brewing style likely has subconsciously influenced/adapted the way I brew to accomodate my personal tastes.

[shah82]

No oolong of decent quality, green or not, is actually bad tasting when boiling water is used. If the tempurature of the water matters, it matters to bring out complex subtlties that would otherwise be covered up by the broad brush of the oolong's flavor. If the broad brush is actually *bad* tasting, then...

[Chip]

... as long as the results are truly satisfying the brewer ...

Brew how you like, like how you brew.

[AlexZorach]

I just brewed Hsin Tung Yang's Tung Ting oolong with boiling water and I like the results.

Although I suspect this is still not a great Tung Ting...I am going to need to try some good ones! I think of the three I tried I liked Upton's the best but I am still waiting for one I really like.

[edkrueger]

Chip: What temperature do you do your Gaoshan at? How about your sencha?

Shah: I agree with you that any decent oolong should taste alright with boiling water. However, I disagree that cooling the water brings out the nuances. I get more complex brews with boiling water. If any thing coolor water covers up the defects, but it also kills the subtleties.

Alex: I'm glad that the boiling water helped. Now you just need some better Dong Ding. Send me a PM.