Why does my jasmine oolong sometimes taste funny?

Owes its flavors to oxidation levels between green & black tea.
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Oct 22nd, '08, 21:50
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by kymidwife » Oct 22nd, '08, 21:50

Are you using a timer? I'd try with decreasing steep times alittle and see how that affects the taste. Also, could the quality of the water be different between work and home? I notice a difference between the 3 main locations where I brew tea, although its not serious enough to push me into buying bottled water yet.

Sarah

P.S. Just realized this was your first post... welcome to TeaChat!
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Oct 23rd, '08, 02:04
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by hop_goblin » Oct 23rd, '08, 02:04

because it has jasmine flowers in it. :P
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Oct 23rd, '08, 07:16
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by xuancheng » Oct 23rd, '08, 07:16

I would try using hotter water. I always brew Oolong teas with boiling water. You might want to experiment with with not quite boiling as well, especially for a greener oolong.
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Oct 23rd, '08, 08:01
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by Victoria » Oct 23rd, '08, 08:01

hop_goblin wrote:because it has jasmine flowers in it. :P
That is a right-on statement. Funny, but true. With additives in tea you
never know how they are going to react. I have really gotten away from
most things scented or flavored. However I am finding that if you want to
really experience a good floral tea, then start with high quality tea and add
your own florals to it.
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Oct 23rd, '08, 10:12
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by hop_goblin » Oct 23rd, '08, 10:12

Victoria wrote:
hop_goblin wrote:because it has jasmine flowers in it. :P
That is a right-on statement. Funny, but true. With additives in tea you
never know how they are going to react. I have really gotten away from
most things scented or flavored. However I am finding that if you want to
really experience a good floral tea, then start with high quality tea and add
your own florals to it.
Exactly, you also have to remember, that if the company knows they will be adding scent, they can get away with using the most inferior of teas.

Good point Vic
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Oct 23rd, '08, 11:02
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by Chip » Oct 23rd, '08, 11:02

However, if a Jasmine is authentically scented the tradtional way by layering jasmine flowers among quality leaf such as Yin Hao during oxidation, it can be quite nice. And Jasmine Dragon Pearls are amazing, again when authentically scented with flowers. Whenever I have had a commercially spray scented jasmine, I could not even get it past my nose to my mouth. Bleh.

Not sure what the problem is in the OP's situation.
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Oct 23rd, '08, 11:22
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by hop_goblin » Oct 23rd, '08, 11:22

Chip wrote:However, if a Jasmine is authentically scented the tradtional way by layering jasmine flowers among quality leaf such as Yin Hao during oxidation, it can be quite nice. And Jasmine Dragon Pearls are amazing, again when authentically scented with flowers. Whenever I have had a commercially spray scented jasmine, I could not even get it past my nose to my mouth. Bleh.

Not sure what the problem is in the OP's situation.

Very true chip. My comments were primarly directed to crappy stuff comes in a golden tin :P
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Oct 23rd, '08, 13:15
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by Chip » Oct 23rd, '08, 13:15

hop_goblin wrote: Very true chip. My comments were primarly directed to crappy stuff comes in a golden tin :P
I wonder if I had that too. I got it in a square red can and a square goldish can from a Vietnamese grocery store. The stuff was truly the most vile tea I think I ever had. Impossible to brew.
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Oct 23rd, '08, 13:17
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by hop_goblin » Oct 23rd, '08, 13:17

Chip wrote:
hop_goblin wrote: Very true chip. My comments were primarly directed to crappy stuff comes in a golden tin :P
I wonder if I had that too. I got it in a square red can and a square goldish can from a Vietnamese grocery store. The stuff was truly the most vile tea I think I ever had. Impossible to brew.
You got it! Like lawn clippings with old lady's perfume sprinkled all over it!
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