Official what Oolong are You Drinking Right Now?

[debunix]

A review from last night....

Mi Lan Dan Cong - 2011 Spring Fenghuang Oolong Tea by Norbu Tea

2.2 grams of dark twisted leaves, with little aroma, in a small porcelain gaiwan, with water at 205 degrees for the first set of infusions with about 60-75mL water per infusion.

Dropping the leaf into a preheated gaiwan, some fruity/peachy odors become more noticeable.

Just because I’m a tea-wimp, I started with a 10 second flash infusion just to get a sense of the tea. Even this overly dilute more or less rinse is a little fruity and sweet—peaches and honey. Very nice start.

A more proper 45 second infusion continues the sweet fruitiness, more intense, and very subtle almost grassy undertones without a trace of bitterness.

Another 45 second infusion is similarly sweet, right up front, little different from the previous.

1 minute infusion has a little astringency or spiciness starting to come through as an aftertaste, but the first and middle of each sip/swallow continues to be dominated by sweet and fruity.

1 minute 15 seconds, similar to previous.

90 second infusion, tart, fruity, sweet; spicey/astringent still mostly as aftertaste.

2 minute infusion is rather weak—the leaves appear to be reaching the end. Still sweet, fruity, and the astringency was virtually gone, but the sweetness and fruitiness were less intense.

4 minute infusion (note that the infusion temperature will have dropped quite a bit over 4 minutes in this thin porcelain gaiwan)—definitely the leaves are done. Only faint sweet/fruity/floral traces are left, and the dominant note is astringency/bitterness, although still quite mild.

This is a lovely oolong tea, quite delightful in the early and middle infusions, and brewed at this concentration, it promises improved staying power for multiple infusions if brewed more agressively—the fully hydrated leaves, which remain thin and twisty, occupy only about 25-30% of the volume of the gaiwan. I’ve mostly been brewing similar teas more concentrated, to fill the brewing vessel 1/2-2/3 full or more. At that concentration, this tea compares quite favorably to other ‘commercial’ Dan Cong style oolongs—notable not so much for endless infusions, but for mellow deliciousness that has too often been lacking in similar teas.

[Poohblah]

This is a lovely oolong tea, quite delightful in the early and middle infusions, and brewed at this concentration, it promises improved staying power for multiple infusions if brewed more agressively—the fully hydrated leaves, which remain thin and twisty, occupy only about 25-30% of the volume of the gaiwan. I’ve mostly been brewing similar teas more concentrated, to fill the brewing vessel 1/2-2/3 full or more. At that concentration, this tea compares quite favorably to other ‘commercial’ Dan Cong style oolongs—notable not so much for endless infusions, but for mellow deliciousness that has too often been lacking in similar teas.

I tried this tea a few months ago as well, and I think your description is accurate. I tended to use much more leaves than that, however, and tended to get about 8 or 10 nice infusions. Not my favorite DC, but not bad either.

[brlarson]

Bai Ji Guan from Tea Gallery (remember them?). Delicious late night tea.

[TIM]

2001 Tie Luo Han High Fired with a 2001 Hoyo Epicure no 2.
This Yancha start to have the characteristic stone fruit favor, only can develop by proper aging. Full and coating mouth feel paring well with the vanilla kiss of the smoke.

[MIKE_B]

Aged DC from Teahabitat. '97 Ma Shan Er Shu and '04 Ying Yu Chai.
Not enough of these samples left for full-on Kung-fu tea action.
But still fun.

[Tead Off]

2001 Tie Luo Han High Fired with a 2001 Hoyo Epicure no 2.
This Yancha start to have the characteristic stone fruit favor, only can develop by proper aging. Full and coating mouth feel paring well with the vanilla kiss of the smoke.

Do you smoke first or drink first?

[debunix]

Enjoying some of the Norbu Mi Lan Dan Cong tonight. Tasty stuff, fruity/floral/sweet.

[tenuki]

Do you smoke first or drink first?

I believe the word is 'simultaneously'.

[Tead Off]

Do you smoke first or drink first?

I believe the word is 'simultaneously'.

with cigar in mouth and cup in hand?

[TIM]

Do you smoke first or drink first?

I believe the word is 'simultaneously'.

with cigar in mouth and cup in hand?

Cigar in one hand and cup on the other.

[tenuki]

Currently an overnight brew of a 70s baozhong I shared with friends a couple days ago. Still giving up some good infusions. I like the days following a tea party - I have 7 or so gaiwans/pots from Saturday still going on - all of them really good teas.

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[puerhking]

2010 Wu Dong Dancong from China Cha Dao

The heavy lychee flavor in this tea has subsided. Now there is fruit and a woodiness...and I can taste the roast just slightly. Much more interesting now.

[etorix]

the last of a Charcoal Baked Jade Oolong sample from zen8tea

not as complex as other teas ive had recently, but still ok

to me

[AdamMY]

Mandarins Tea Room High Fire TGY.

[fdrx]

Houde Mi Lan!