Help in Describing Teas

[Chatsworth]

Taste and aroma are dificult to describe and I don't have the tea vocabulary down very well. Just know what I enjoy.

I have some Teavana Eastern Beauty Oolong that I really like. It has a flavor that seems similar to Teavana's Assam Gold. In fact, I detect it in the SIlver Needles, as well. I have another Oolong purchased from on ebay, a Dan Cong, which is a bit more like a green tea flavor and doesn't have the same flavor I detect in the other teas I mentioned.

I don't know how to describe the quality in the teas I like to know what other ones I might also like.

Is this what people refer to as malty?

I don't have any tea afficianados that can share teas with me and help me expand my horizons. I have to just hit and miss and would like to at least pursue those kinds that are similar in taste to those I know I already enjoy.

Suggestions for other teas to try???

[Victoria]

If you are looking for an oolong then maybe something a little more roasted?
Have a look around at Floating Leaves Tea:
http://www.floatingleaves.com/index.php ... 074372285f

[teaisme]

I think descriptions come easier once you get a broader understanding of what other teas taste like so your hits and misses aren't really a bad thing (minus the money issue). A better understanding of tea processing also helps to narrow in on teas that you may more likely enjoy

Everyone's description of aroma and flavour is different, and I often find the reviews I enjoy most are the ones that sound the most natural coming from that specific person, relating to whatever that person is him/herself familiar with. Word's like floral, fruity, roasted, malty, etc are very helpful, but only take the reader so far

It seemed like you more enjoyed highly oxidized teas, but then you threw in silver needles so...I'm really not sure, maybe you enjoy almost everything but don't realize it yet, Don't give up on those other 'greener' teas just yet until you are 99% sure you are brewing correctly, and the quality of the leaf is good. Sometimes teas take time to grow on you too, that happens to me often

Yes malty is a word that I see people using to describe oriental beauty and assam, but not silver needles though

Floating leaves is a good place to start exploring, maybe you might like the Keemun, yunnan gold, dong ding traditional, taiwan wuyi, Muzha Tiequanyin, shui xian, dong ding green, dragon well

[Chatsworth]

Yes, I know it is weird to liken the white to the oolong and black, but there is something - a richness - that I find in them that I don't notice in the green teas I have tried.
The greens might have that taste but I think it is masked by the "grassy" flavor. I enjoy the greens if they are jasmine or have some mint added. These two flavors overpower any "grassy" taste and make them enjoyable.

[kymidwife]

Maybe that is the elusive "umami" you are tasting? It is a hard flavor to put a description to. Before I knew about umami, I called the quality a "rich, thick, almost meaty" flavor. Savory is how some people describe it. Not sure that's what you're after, but thought I'd throw it out there.

Sarah