Oolong Box Pass

[TeaCompulsion]

I'd love to join as well -- I've got some nice oolongs and baozhongs I could contribute.

[edkrueger]

I would of course like in too.

[Victoria]

This round has been closed for some time but ...
The box is at, or on the way to, the last participant.
At that point we will decide what to do and if
we start another round. You will be in the loop!

[edkrueger]

This round has been closed for some time but ...
The box is at, or on the way to, the last participant.
At that point we will decide what to do and if
we start another round. You will be in the loop!

I knew if I kept posting I'd get my way.

[Vulture]

This round has been closed for some time but ...
The box is at, or on the way to, the last participant.
At that point we will decide what to do and if
we start another round. You will be in the loop!

woo

And I can actually contribute now

[kymidwife]

I'm packing up the Oolong box today for its final destination to AphrodiTea. I have only had a chance to taste a few teas, but have taken out some samples to try for later. The darn ice storm really threw me off course on this, and I apologize very much for keeping the box for so long. When a new box starts up, I'd love to participate and would be glad to contribute to the front end of seeding a new box... this one is really getting down to fannings!

Here's a rough inventory list of what's left. Some are smaller quantities than others, but all have at least enough for one cup left. There's still a decent array of green and darker roasted samples as well as some flavored stuff, hopefully enough to keep Aphro busy for a bit. I took one little cup, but replaced it with one of my own extras, which leaves 6 various teacups in the box... no gaiwans or teapots are left. There's a thermometer, scale, and aliittle bamboo charcoal.


Here are the teas going out:

Several Adagio offerings:
Jasmine #5
Jasmine #9
Oolong #40
Pouchong
Wuyi Ensemble
Ti Kuan Yin
Oolong #18 (a nice amount, still fresh too)
Oooh Darjeeling (one of my favorites)
Almond Oolong
Coconut Pouchong (the last of my tin, I have really enjoyed it)

NMTC Orange Blossom Oolong
Tea Cuppa Beidou Yi Hou Wuyi
TeaSource Big Red Robe
Teasource Makaibari Organic
NCTG Red Jacket
NCTG Iron Goddess King
BirdPick High Mtn Ginseng Oolong (very little left, I did not sample this one)
TeaCuppa Da ye Wuyi (mmmm)
TeaSpring Shui Xian
Magnolia Oolong (TeaSource)
Lao Cong Shui Xian
TeaSpring Jade Tie Guan Yin
Imperial Tea Court Late '80's Aged Oolong
Teavana Iron Buddha
2005 Spring Wuyi Shui Xian from Hou De
NMTC White Tip Oolong
Formosa Nut Oolong (Teavana)
FooJoy Monkey-Picked TKY
Upton Osmanthus Oolong (very nice, has osmathus blossoms in it)
Six Summits Oolong (Teavana)
Serenity Art Flower Oolong
Korean Oolong ( I am drinking now... reminds me of Oolong #40 alittle, very roasty... good bit of this left still)
Tao of Tea "Strong Fire" high fire, highly oxidized
English Tea Store: Formosa Oolong Estate Tea
The Art of Tea: Cinnamon Fig (might be old, didn't smell very cinnamon-ish)
English Tea Store Oolong Orange Blossom Estate Tea


I repacked some in smaller containers just for shipping convenience and to maintain better freshness (maybe too late for that), and labeled them all accordingly. Unless I missed any, I think this adds up to about 36 varieties. Not bad for the end of the pass. I know some of it is getting old and there is maybe more flavored stuff than some people would prefer, but for those of us trying out new things, I can't complain... it's been an amazing opportunity. Thanks for including me.

Sarah

[Victoria]

Thanks Sarah for the report. Still quite a bit!

[shogun89]

If it makes another round, I may be interested in joining in. Though I dont have much to give .
Thanks.

[t4texas]

I'm still in if we do another round. I have a few good to excellent Oolongs to add.

[Aphroditea]

So, it is down to me

I got the box about a week ago, but it has been a helluva week (sister-in-law in the hostpital then emergency oral surgery for my son), so I just now opened it!! Still some yummy looking tea in here...I was VERY happy to see the Orange Blossom from NMTC (which I LOVED when V sent me a bit awhile back) and had that first....just as good this time as the last...that is one scrumptious tea!

I will let you know how the rest of the sampling goes. Anyway, kiddo is miserable on the couch right now so I best go snuggle with him.

Cheers!

[Aphroditea]

I have to say that the dregs of a LEGENDARY box are still pretty dern impressive!!

After having my initial cup of the NMTC Orange Blossom I decided to try the English Tea Store Orange Blossom.

(side note)One of the reasons I ADORE the NMTC Orange Blossom is that it is equally good gong fu'ed or western brewed, so I don't feel guilty making a cup to go. It really is such a wonderful tea and the orange blossom flavor is well integrated and plays well with the tea leaves and neither screams for all the attention.

The ETS Orange Blossom was okay to me, not a bad tea, but not as good as the NMTC Orange Blossom. The leaves have a very strong tobacco-type taste and it seems like the Orange Blossom flavor is losing out. When gong fu'ed the orange blossom is beautiful for the first couple cups, then the toabcco flavor starts to dominate. Still a fine tea, though - just not MY favorite.

Next to try was the Upton Osmanthus Oolong. Western brewed this one only so far. It is WONDERFUL. I love how it smells and the taste is so fresh. It has a very lively floral, vegetal taste with just a hint of sweetness. A great afternoon pick me up kinda tea I think.

Today I am having the Art of Tea Cinnamon Fig and this is DEVINE - like melt away all the crazy around me DEVINE! It smells heavenly, almost like honey. When I drink it, I tast the leaf, then the fig, then just a bite of cinnamon at the end. I can't wait to gong fu this one to see what happens!

Cheers all!

[bsteele]

What are the chances of getting Adagio to make a small "donation" for the next box pass?

[Victoria]

ANNOUNCEMENT!!! - THE OOLONG BOX PASS WILL BE EXTENDED!!!

Since there seems to be quite a large amount of tea left in the pass box, the powers that be (me & tenuki) have decided the current box should continue! We seem to have people still interested and we seem to have tea, so there is no real need for it to stop.

So. If you are interested please sign up below. The list order will be in order of sign up, with those who have already expressed interest retaining their spot. In other words anyone expressing a prior request here on a post will be ahead of anyone just signing up.

So ... long live the OOLONG BOX PASS!!

[Victoria]

What are the chances of getting Adagio to make a small "donation" for the next box pass?

I will check on this, thanks for your suggestion.

[bsteele]

Hot Dog! I'd love to jump on board