Rogue Trader

[Herb_Master]

I drink Oolong, and very little else but oolong.
I spend a lot of time on the oolong forum, but occasionally I do browse the other forums to see what is happening.

I recently contemplated trying "Overseas oolong" and was browsing for offerings from Korea, Vietnam, The Subcontinent and "Africa".

I came across one site, and I might have made a purchase but could not find an oolong to tempt me.

Today I also happened across Omega's warning about the same site.

So if you stick to the Oolong pages and don't visit the Black Tea forum you may miss his warning.

Whatever you do, don't order from this company:

http://www.africantea.com/

I made the mistake. I never received my order, emails went unanswered and the phone call did too. I found out afterwards (on another forum) that other people never received anything either and they had a lot of complaints from the Better Business people. They also change their name quite frequently, but the webpage still looks like this. In fact, when I got screwed over, the company was called Honeybush something or other. A Google search for African Tea always brings up this webpage, though.

Just in case.


- - - - - -

I have just received an oolong from Vietnam, I wanted some storage canisters and the Chinese oolongs were too non specific to tell me what they were - so plunged for the Vietnam.

Does anyone have recommendations for oolong outside China and Taiwan.

Or come to that China outside Fujian and Guangdong - I occasionally stumble across references to Hunan oolong and one or 2 others.

[Victoria]

Thanks for re-posting that.

I found Korean Oolong from Shan Shui Teas:
http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... ean+oolong

[Herb_Master]

Thanks for re-posting that.

I found Korean Oolong from Shan Shui Teas:
http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... ean+oolong

Thanks for the link, I have seen that and wondered whether or not to try it. I was looking for canisters and thought their offerings were not the size or style I wanted - or could not be sure. Basically I am still trying countless Mainland oolongs I have not even started on Taiwan yet.

I am also always on the look out for interesting teaware (like WHERE did you get your heart shaped tea bowl ) (or a long slim Sushi type dish with very pale colour to photo used tealeaves) So if a site cannot give me details about Tea Bush, Oxidation Levels, Roasting levels, Season etc or at least some of them - maybe 1 or 2 of them then I won't buy. But if the site has teaware I want and they have an Overseas Oolong then I will forego some of the detail just to try something new.

Maybe you could put up a post with some tasting notes

And send me scurrying off to Shan Sui to place an order.

[chrl42]

There is a Korean version of Oolong, Huang Cha (or Hwang Cha in Korean romanization).
See http://mattchasblog.blogspot.com/2008/0 ... w-tea.html

Other Korean Oolongs could possibly be made in Chinese way to pass off as Chinese Oolong, which I don't find another reason to buy other than buying mainland Oolong. In fact, it was one of reasons for giving a bad image about Chinese tea in Korea.

However, Hwang Cha is quite unknown in Korea, I don't think you can find it easily. Last time I heard someone drinks Hwang Cha was accalaimed writer who's known for eccentricism named Yi Oi Su, who lives in mountain.

[Herb_Master]

There is a Korean version of Oolong, Huang Cha (or Hwang Cha in Korean romanization).
See http://mattchasblog.blogspot.com/2008/0 ... w-tea.html

Thanks sounds tremendous

Great smell

These leaves are very fragrant. They emit a sour and sweet odour, white chocolate covered in natural notes of pines covering a mountain side. They give off a roasted smell indicative of the high level of oxidization that yellow teas undergo during their production.

Intriguing taste

The colour of its soup is beautiful, the taste too. Grainy roasted barley, mellow sweetness, woody pine, nutty... quite nutty.

I wonder if I would find the same flavours!

I wonder if Victoria's Korean has any of these taste characteristics

[Victoria]

Honestly for me the Shan Shui teas were just - ok. But know this - I drink a lot of oolong and I prefer greener oolongs. I was willing to pay the price for the experience of trying a better quality Korean oolong. The prices are high, so it depends on if you just want the experience, or are looking for something to stock.

I think the bottom line, or my take on Korean oolong is this - many Koreans drink Taiwan oolongs. I think - and this is just a guess - that the production of oolong is rather limited and cannot rival the Taiwan offerings. If I am wrong I apologize in advance. This is just my perception.

[scruffmcgruff]

In my experience, Shan Shui Teas does not store/package their teas well. The ones I ordered were all stale, and they sell many teas (even greens) that are several years old.

[Victoria]

In my experience, Shan Shui Teas does not store/package their teas well. The ones I ordered were all stale, and they sell many teas (even greens) that are several years old.

I agree on the packaging. And writing with a black marker on cello-wrap made it hard to tell which was which. I had to move them into tins.
Mine were sold and marked as from the Spring 2008 harvest.


Oh and as for my heart cup - It was a bit pricey because it's made by Arita and imported from Japan, but still I am so happy to own it.
http://www.inoshonline.com/ari001.html

[Herb_Master]

Oh and as for my heart cup - It was a bit pricey because it's made by Arita and imported from Japan, but still I am so happy to own it.
http://www.inoshonline.com/ari001.html

mmmmmn! It is larger than I thought, from your avatar I guessed it was smaller.

It makes a picture of a brew colour so much more interesting than a vertical shot of a plain trad chinese tasting cup.

But at that price I may give it a miss!

[Victoria]

Yeah, I don't really use it. I just wanted it because I had the heart avatar for so long. And people always asked me about it. It was hard to find. I like the concept and the looks, but I prefer a flaired yunomi style for everyday.

[Herb_Master]

Yeah, I don't really use it. I just wanted it because I had the heart avatar for so long. And people always asked me about it. It was hard to find. I like the concept and the looks, but I prefer a flaired yunomi style for everyday.

And it also means that your Origami is larger than I thought.

and I thought you had the nimblest fingers in the world!

[Victoria]

ahhhhhhh yes those two are pretty big.
Not made by me, but by a Japanese friend.

[CrickyKat]

I did a little googling and found this:

http://www.style-files.com/2008/01/08/h ... ed-teacup/

It's not as broad across the top, and I think yours has a much more pleasing profile. That being said, it could be a very nice gift with Valentine's Day on the horizon.

[Victoria]

Thanks for the link and welcome!

[Herb_Master]

I did a little googling and found this:

http://www.style-files.com/2008/01/08/h ... ed-teacup/

It's not as broad across the top, and I think yours has a much more pleasing profile. That being said, it could be a very nice gift with Valentine's Day on the horizon.

Thanks CrickyCat I will bear that in mind for Feb 14th