What tea will I like?

[ChildOfNight]

I am a very picky person when it comes to tastes. I was never one to develop a taste for dry wines. With tea, I will probably be in the same spot liking just a few on a regular basis. I post this here because I feel Ali Shan has taken the number one spot from my silver needle white tea. I do not like astringent properties to any large degree. I dislike bitterness (which is why I hate hoppy beers). I guess I am more of a fan of something mild, yet with complexity, which I find in Ali Shan. A crazy unique flavor that lingers through the nose, yet does not need to be that strong to satisfy. I like black tea sometimes, but I will find myself using less than what is called for. Even though it has a heavier taste on the tounge, it still doesnt do near what Ali Shan does for me. However I use a little over a teaspoon of Ali Shan for 8-10 oz of water, and rishi tea says to use like 2 tablespoons for 8 oz. which seems almost as if that would be a mistype. So I ask some of you what you think I may like. What other tea may carry unique characteristics like Ali Shan yet have it's own taste, and not be too aggressive?

[thanks]

Hello, and welcome to Teachat!

To me you sound like the perfect candidate for Baozhong tea. It's a lighter oolong, with attractive large leaf that produces a subtle, yet viscous and floral cup of tea. To be honest I don't have much experience with them, as I've only had a few, but I really like them. Kind of similar to green tea in that the few I've had were vegetal teas, but no bitterness or astringency that I could detect.

http://www.houdeasianart.com/index.php? ... ts_id=1003

This one from Houde was my favorite, and might be a great place to start with other oolongs as well.

[tsverrir]

I think you would also like Tie Guan Yin. Very subtle sweetness and aromatic with almost none astringency. Though not as complex as Ali Shan. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0308103031

[Victoria]

You will probably be happy with most greener oolongs.
Forget what vendors recommend as to time and leaf,
that is just a guideline and often not the best advice.

Drink it how you like it! Welcome to the world of oolong!

If you want to sample some first - Adagio's pouchong is
pretty good. (pouchong = baozhong). Also #18.

If you can figure out what you really like first before buying the
more expensive ones, you'll be happier. Plus the new Spring
oolongs are not on the market yet.

[Katmandu]

I agree , Adagio's #18 is another great one if you like the ali shan. I'm hooked on both of those 2 oolongs!

[edkrueger]

(pouchong = baozhong)

I was hoping someone would say that.

[Oni]

Avoid Dancongs, try light fermented and lightly roasted ball shape oolongs.

[edkrueger]

try light fermented and lightly roasted ball shape oolongs.

If they aren't ball shaped then you don't recommend?

[Herb_Master]

Avoid Dancongs, try light fermented and lightly roasted ball shape oolongs.

Interesting recommendation!

I find Good quality DanCongs are delicate and complex with no bitterness which is exactly what he is looking for?

[ChildOfNight]

Thanks for the replies, I think it sounds like I will be trying the Baozhong first. I have some whole vanilla beans and I took about a half inch split it up the middle and cut it into small pieces and steeped it with some silver needle white tea I have. I thought I was having sex.

[devites]

Baozhong is bananas!

[Beidao]

I second Pouchong/Baozhong. Also Jade Oolong and Dong Ding would suit you fine I think. I really think you should try Dancong byt maybe you could wait a while with them. Otherwise I think Yunnan Gold and Keemun would be blacks that you could possibly like. For green teas: Kukicha, Houjicha, good quality Long Jing, Fou Cha. For darker Oolongs, try a good Oriental Beauty. Good luck! Experiment lots!

[Oni]

Dancongs are strong tea, and many begginers overbrew it, those light ball shaped oolongs are more forgiving. Dancong tree is closer to wild tea, you must use a lot of leaf and short infusion times, definately not a beginers tea, I read that first you should try scented green tea, jasmine in particular, after that move on to various green teas, after that some lighter fermented oolong, after that some more fermented oolong with the twist of the dragon technique like Wu Yi oolongs, and only then as one gets deeper in the tea world shoul try puerh teas.

[silverneedles]

no dry wine, hoppy beer ... whaazzapp

Yunnan (Gold) <- the best tea ever (i drink all the time that is)
keemun.

floral oolongs (high mountain/gaoshan) i enjoy, but sometimes (mood) can feel too strong, i dont drink all the time.

a good dan cong is very pleasant, yeah if not done right can extract too much "tannin/astringency" but not all behave like that. (i've recently had HouDe's winter dancong which is nice and the big leaf visually captivating > some notes)

but try all teas, you may find different likes, and also tastes can change with time.