Oolong With A Wodui Smell??

[depravitea]

So I was at a supermarket that I rarely go to, and noticed that they sell loose tea. I was very surprised to find this and decided to try a very small amount of oolong. The leaves look great, it has a decent enough taste for something that's not fresh, but I also noticed an odor after the tea had been steeped. Had I not been getting so interested in pu erh lately I might have missed it. Wodui. No kidding. I even asked my wife, who's not interested in tea, just to smell it to make sure I'm right, and she confirmed the fishy smell of wodui.

The tea is:
Frontier Certified Organic - Se Chung Special – Oolong

I don't dislike this tea, just interested in what the wodui smell may mean in reference to oolong. I haven't had anymore since the first cup. Wanted to make sure it wouldn't mutate me or anything first...
Thanks, tea friends.

[Victoria]

Hummm depends on what the "special" is I guess.


Could just be since it is less fermented you are getting a green
tea flavor you are not used to. I definitely do a flash rinse on
anything that seems unusual.

[Ritva]

Maybe your supermarket tea just isn't fresh. I have 2003 aged TGY from Jing Tea Shop. I opened it in February and it was really delicious and had peaches in its smell. About 15 grams was left in the bottom of the tin and I didn't remember to drink it. Now I found the tin and checked the tea: it had started to smell a little bit like shu pu. There was a hint of earthiness in the smell and no peaches anymore... I think it is either getting stale or it is ageing further and beeing in "awkward" state. I remember someone writing that there are different stages when an oolong is aged. At some time points the tea tastes good and at other time points not so good.

[thanks]

I've had fake aged baozhong and it smelled of wo dui, but the taste was empty. I've had it before too, but it's usually associated with an empty taste or a rough mouthfeel.

[depravitea]

Thanks for all the help everyone. There is no doubt in my mind this tea isn't fresh. I was just wondering if perhaps a tea could (unintentionally) age, and become something different/better?

Sounds as though it may just be contamination of some kind...

[Ritva]

You could try re-roasting it.
http://tea-obsession.blogspot.com/2007/ ... -here.html
http://tea-obsession.blogspot.com/2008/ ... -fire.html
http://tea-obsession.blogspot.com/search/label/Roasting
http://houdeblog.com/?p=141
http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=8090
http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=10411

[bryan_drinks_tea]

Generally Speaking, it might be a good idea to avoid any products from Frontier Organic. I've had many a terrible tea from them, and learned my lesson as a result. then again, i don't blame you for going out there and finding new teas. it can be a real hit or miss sometimes.

You guys are awesome,

Bryan