Frozen Peaks Oolong from T-Ching

Scent in package: somewhat musty, with a hint of floral
Brewed in: Glass gaiwan
Steeped: 3 min. @ steaming
Cup: porcelain teacup

It seems like I should be reviewing a green tea today, since it is St. Patrick’s Day, but the lovely leaves of this mellow oolong will have to suffice, since I didn’t plan ahead well enough. I did consider making a matcha cheesecake, if that counts for anything (I still might, just to see how it tastes!).
In any case, last night’s tasting was quite enjoyable, and very relaxing, as one might expect from an oolong such as this. I found a small sample pack hiding in my cupboard, and decided the glass gaiwan would be the best way to show off the leaves, as they came rather tightly curled.

There’s little scent to this tea in the package, at least to my nose. I wasn’t certain how large the leaves would be unfurled, so I used a bit less than I probably should have. But I have enough for another session now, which is welcome. I was quite enamored of the leaves, dark and all twisted up.

To my surprise, they didn’t really unfurl as they brewed, just revealed beautiful curly edges and gorgeous greens and brows as they steeped. As you can see, there were a few stems in the mix, but that merely added to the beauty, in my opinion.

This tea is very light – the color is a bright yellow, but the scent and taste remind me more of a white tea than an oolong. It’s quite delicate, and leaves just a hint of dryness on the tongue. It has more of a creamy texture and a vegetal taste, though I noted that in the background, as an afterthought, there is just the tiniest suggestion of spices – the sort of aftertaste that brings to mind the cinnamon flavor I’ve been longing to experience in a Rou Gui oolong. Ironic that I would find it here, in this light and airy cup!
I really did enjoy this quite a lot, but it’s not cheap. At $15.25 per 1.8 oz, I doubt I’ll be ordering it again, unless it’s a reward of some kind. But it’s definitely worth trying if you have the opportunity – very calming, with a hint of spiciness at the end.