Oolong recommendations?

[Pouvla]

Hey there, Im getting a new yixing pot soon (see http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=11579) from Chen's shop. Happy me

Im gonna primarily use it for the TKY from funalliance, but im also looking for 1-2 more oolongs that wouldnt cause a total mis-match in aromas and can be used in the same yixing.
Was thinking about a light taiwan oolong like Premium Organic Taiwan Jin Xuan or a Premium Formosa Alishan High-mountain

Im abit hesitant ordering any of the other types of Anxi tea (Ben Shan etc) as the description and pictures makes me think its "just" a clone of TGY and thus it'll only be a small difference in taste. Correct me if im wrong please

Also if any got a recommendation for a good Snow Flake Lone Bush (Dan Chung - Sue Pien) I'd appreciate it alot, I've already tried the funalliance one but Im told theres better offerings from other vendors.

[brad4419]

I don't have any experience with yixings yet, my first 2 are on there way now so take this for what its worth, I have done some research.

This is a difficult question with lots of different opinions. It depends on how pickey you are about it. Heres a link to topic that could help you http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... 0&start=15
Some people only use 1 yixing for one specific tea. What I have been told and read is that you can use your yixing for most or all anxi teas as long as they are the same roasting/oxidation level. So find out the roast level of your favorite TKY, light,medium or heavy roast. Then you can dedicate your yixing to thoughs kinds.

The links you posted are from dragonteahouse of ebay. They are a very reputable dealer who I have bought lots of teaware from but have never had any of there oolongs yet but I have heard many good things.

Some others too look at for taiwanese Oolongs or high mountain oolongs would be

http://floatingleavestea.com/
or
http://teafromtaiwan.com/

Theres a forum post about floatingleavestea here http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=11433

[gingkoseto]

Im abit hesitant ordering any of the other types of Anxi tea (Ben Shan etc) as the description and pictures makes me think its "just" a clone of TGY and thus it'll only be a small difference in taste. Correct me if im wrong please

Ben Shan is quite similar to TGY. But a good Ben Shan can easily beats TGY 3 times of its price (because market favors TGY). Other southern Fujian tea may or may not be similar to TGY. Huang Jin Gui (golden osmanthus) and Fo Shou (southern Fujian style) have very different flavors than TGY. Qi Lan (southern Fujian style) can be made very similar to TGY or very different. And all above descriptions are only about light oxidized oolongs, not including the heavy roast southern Fujian tea

[ABx]

When it comes down to it, there is really no substitute for experience. You're just going to have to take some chances and try some things out. If you stick with reputable vendors then you won't get burned, but you're going to have to try a variety to find out what you like the most. You'll also have to experience both the good and the bad to find out what constitutes each and find the quality to price ratio that suits your tastes and budget.

[mingshan]

Ben shan is probably the closest to TGY in oolong family. Another oolong similiar to TGY is called Mao Xie, or "hairy crab". But both are not as good as TGY, especially when you brew TGY and Ben Shan/Mao Xie at the same time and compare the taste side by side.

Personally I think it is probably o.k. to use same yixing tea set for oolong tea, but not for oolong AND black/red tea since black tea has much stronger flavor.

[AlexZorach]

If you want a Chinese oolong that like TGY in its greener character and leaf appearance, yet has a very different aroma, I would recommend Upton Tea's Se Chung. Inexpensive, yet exquisite. To me it tastes more similar to a Taiwanese Amber Oolong than anything else, but it has aspects in its aroma that I haven't encountered much in other oolongs, including a wine-like quality, and some (oddly pleasant) skunkiness. I have tried other Se Chung oolongs and they don't even resemble Upton's...so if you've tried teas by that name and didn't like it, it might be worth trying at least a sample of that one, especially if you ever order from Upton.