Thanks!
I wasn't going to sample the Iron Goddess King at first since the dry leaf didn't have much of a tantalizing aroma, but after rereading the beginnings of this thread, I saw that it came highly recommended so I took some out to try this morning before taping up the box to send to kymidwife. The box got sent out this afternoon and should be in Kentucky within a few days.
Jan 21st, '09, 17:32
Posts: 2299
Joined: Oct 23rd, '06, 19:46
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Quick turn around, pictures, and a couple of reviews - You are officially an appreciated oolong box pass participant CK.
Do something different, something different will happen. ( Gong Fu Garden )
That's good news, I think she needs a dose of oolong reality to jolt her out of her *Twilight* coma.Cinnamon Kitty wrote:Thanks!
I wasn't going to sample the Iron Goddess King at first since the dry leaf didn't have much of a tantalizing aroma, but after rereading the beginnings of this thread, I saw that it came highly recommended so I took some out to try this morning before taping up the box to send to kymidwife. The box got sent out this afternoon and should be in Kentucky within a few days.
- Victoria -
http://victoriasown.blogspot.com/
http://victoriasown.blogspot.com/
I'd like to make several points about that comment...Victoria wrote:That's good news, I think she needs a dose of oolong reality to jolt her out of her *Twilight* coma.
1. I always need a dose of oolong!
2. I am finished with the Twilight series and going through my "it's over" grieving process... until I move on to something new. <sniff>
3. I am anxiously awaiting the pass box, and plan to distract myself during the transit time with a long weekend trip to Pensacola Beach tomorrow, and then to New Orleans on Friday... a hot date with Glenn Frey and Don Henley (YES THE EAGLES) Friday night, a day of frolicking on Saturday, back to Pensacola Beach Saturday evening or Sunday morning, and back to Kentucky by Sunday night. Hopefully the box will be here when I get home.
Sarah
***This organic blend is earthy & spicy, with a fragrant aroma & smooth flavor to captivate the senses. Naturally sweetened in the Kentucky sunshine & infused with natural energy. Equally delicious when served piping hot or crisply chilled.***
Everyone always needs a dose of oolong!kymidwife wrote:1. I always need a dose of oolong!
The next tea that I sampled from was the Flower Oolong from Serenity Art. I was not overly impressed by it as it seemed like a very one-dimensional, simple tea. It also got very astringent when I got to the later steeps and tried to push it a bit to see if I could coax out more flavors.
I brewed it in a preheated gaiwan with 208*F reverse osmosis filtered water from my Zoji, 10-15 second rinse, slightly quicker than that first steep. The first steep didn't taste weak like it was underbrewed, but tasted almost flat and not very exciting. All I got out of it for flavor was brown sugar, caramel, slightly toasty with a very subtle floral note that I really had to search for to find. The dry leaves smelled like sugar cookies.
It probably would have been better with different brewing parameters. Maybe cooler water could have brought out the floral notes a bit more. Either way, it was good, but not nearly as impressive as the first two that I tried from the box.
The oolong box definitely arrived at a great time, as I have a few days off before starting work. New York is taking its time sending me my official license which I need in order to work, but the wait gives me a perfect excuse to stay home, play with the dogs, and drink tea.
I arrived home late this evening (Sunday) from a weekend of frolicking (see my previous post) and found the oolong box had arrived yesterday. I've opened it up and sampled one tea so far. I'm off tomorrow and have full intentions of dipping out some samples to try later, so I can get the box moving on to AphrodiTea soon.
The tea I tried was a Phoenix Dan Cong, but I'm not sure of the vendor... it was in a bright green bag. There wasn't much left, and quite a bit was broken pieces and dust, so I'm not sure if it's a fair representation of the tea or not. I also have never had a Dan Cong before, so I have nothing to compare it to.
I brewed in a preheated gaiwan with near-boiling water... did one quick rinse and then the first infusion was about 45 seconds. I got a nice potent aroma, sort of honey-ish, but the flavor was a bit harsh, so maybe I went too long or maybe it was the broken leaves... anyway, it was drinkable but alittle bitter and strong, not very sweet, and seemed better in aroma than in flavor. I did a short 2nd infusion, about 10 sec. and it was worse than the first, quite bitter. I transferred the leaves to a preheated yixing and did a 3rd infusion about 40 seconds, and it was actually much nicer than the first 2. I don't know if the improvement is related to the brewing vessel or to the natural mellowing of the leaves with later infusions. I will probably try again with this leaf in the morning.
Anyway... even if it's "picked over" so to speak, there are many teas in the box that are brand new to me, and I am excited to explore it tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who's helped to organize the pass and contributed to the contents.
Sarah
The tea I tried was a Phoenix Dan Cong, but I'm not sure of the vendor... it was in a bright green bag. There wasn't much left, and quite a bit was broken pieces and dust, so I'm not sure if it's a fair representation of the tea or not. I also have never had a Dan Cong before, so I have nothing to compare it to.
I brewed in a preheated gaiwan with near-boiling water... did one quick rinse and then the first infusion was about 45 seconds. I got a nice potent aroma, sort of honey-ish, but the flavor was a bit harsh, so maybe I went too long or maybe it was the broken leaves... anyway, it was drinkable but alittle bitter and strong, not very sweet, and seemed better in aroma than in flavor. I did a short 2nd infusion, about 10 sec. and it was worse than the first, quite bitter. I transferred the leaves to a preheated yixing and did a 3rd infusion about 40 seconds, and it was actually much nicer than the first 2. I don't know if the improvement is related to the brewing vessel or to the natural mellowing of the leaves with later infusions. I will probably try again with this leaf in the morning.
Anyway... even if it's "picked over" so to speak, there are many teas in the box that are brand new to me, and I am excited to explore it tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who's helped to organize the pass and contributed to the contents.
Sarah
***This organic blend is earthy & spicy, with a fragrant aroma & smooth flavor to captivate the senses. Naturally sweetened in the Kentucky sunshine & infused with natural energy. Equally delicious when served piping hot or crisply chilled.***
Yay Sarah!! Take your time and enjoy!
Next and final destination: AphrodiTea
Next and final destination: AphrodiTea
- Victoria -
http://victoriasown.blogspot.com/
http://victoriasown.blogspot.com/
Just a couple of quick pics of the current contents of the Oolong box... guarded and inspected by Gracie as shown:
As you can probably see, several of the samples are really down to the last crumbs. I am going to make every effort to be frugal in what I take, but some of them truly don't have enough for even a full session left. I have a few teas I'll add to the box as well.
I am also eyeballing a couple of the cups... are they up for adoption as the other teaware was? I actually have some cups I'd be glad to share into the box in trade. The smaller ones in the oolong box still have price tags on them, so I don't believe they have been used.
More reviews to come, but for now I am concentrating on taking out some samples for later.
Sarah
As you can probably see, several of the samples are really down to the last crumbs. I am going to make every effort to be frugal in what I take, but some of them truly don't have enough for even a full session left. I have a few teas I'll add to the box as well.
I am also eyeballing a couple of the cups... are they up for adoption as the other teaware was?
I actually have some cups I'd be glad to share into the box in trade. The smaller ones in the oolong box still have price tags on them, so I don't believe they have been used. More reviews to come, but for now I am concentrating on taking out some samples for later.
Sarah
Your dog is adorable! I am glad that the box got to you in a timely manner.
Here are a few more reviews:
Strong Fire (Tao of Tea): I really wanted to to like this tea, but the strong smell of charcoal overwhelmed all of the other flavors, which I really couldn't find underneath the burnt aroma.
Oolong #18 (Adagio, Tenuki Roast): I found that this was a good greener oolong with a nice, mild, green flavor. It was very pleasant to drink. I would probably order a tin of it to keep around as a daily oolong since it resteeps very well and is relatively inexpensive.
Lao Cong Shui Xian (TeaCuppa): The wet leaves of this tea smelled like chocolate and berries with subtle hints of cinnamon. It had a very rich, fruity, smooth, dark chocolate taste that I really enjoyed.
Beidou Yi Hou Wuyi (TeaCuppa): I loved the smell of the leaves of this tea: dark chocolate with hints of vanilla. It tasted like sweet, slightly fruity chocolate. The first and second steeps were great, but it quickly lost flavor after that. It might have better resteeping power if more leaf was used.
Red Jacket (New Century Tea Gallery): I got a very strong charcoal scent and taste with the first steep of this tea. It lessens a bit through the later steeps but the charcoal seems to be the dominant note that I got out of this tea.
Here are a few more reviews:
Strong Fire (Tao of Tea): I really wanted to to like this tea, but the strong smell of charcoal overwhelmed all of the other flavors, which I really couldn't find underneath the burnt aroma.
Oolong #18 (Adagio, Tenuki Roast): I found that this was a good greener oolong with a nice, mild, green flavor. It was very pleasant to drink. I would probably order a tin of it to keep around as a daily oolong since it resteeps very well and is relatively inexpensive.
Lao Cong Shui Xian (TeaCuppa): The wet leaves of this tea smelled like chocolate and berries with subtle hints of cinnamon. It had a very rich, fruity, smooth, dark chocolate taste that I really enjoyed.
Beidou Yi Hou Wuyi (TeaCuppa): I loved the smell of the leaves of this tea: dark chocolate with hints of vanilla. It tasted like sweet, slightly fruity chocolate. The first and second steeps were great, but it quickly lost flavor after that. It might have better resteeping power if more leaf was used.
Red Jacket (New Century Tea Gallery): I got a very strong charcoal scent and taste with the first steep of this tea. It lessens a bit through the later steeps but the charcoal seems to be the dominant note that I got out of this tea.
Jan 26th, '09, 20:24
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It just so happens that I am drinking this right at the moment I read your review. I have found that it benefits from a very light roasting/drying out in a toaster over or fry pan just prior to brewing.Cinnamon Kitty wrote: Lao Cong Shui Xian (TeaCuppa): The wet leaves of this tea smelled like chocolate and berries with subtle hints of cinnamon. It had a very rich, fruity, smooth, dark chocolate taste that I really enjoyed.
Feb 13th, '09, 04:08
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Joined: Oct 23rd, '06, 19:46
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tenuki
Ice storm, no power, no water, no living at home for 2 weeks... has put me slightly behind on the pass box. I promise to move it along to Aphro asap.
Sarah
Sarah
***This organic blend is earthy & spicy, with a fragrant aroma & smooth flavor to captivate the senses. Naturally sweetened in the Kentucky sunshine & infused with natural energy. Equally delicious when served piping hot or crisply chilled.***
Feb 13th, '09, 12:00
Posts: 2299
Joined: Oct 23rd, '06, 19:46
Location: Seattle Area
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tenuki