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The Subject: Tung Ting Oolong from a local Asian market.
Water temperature: 190˚ F
Steeping time: 3 minutes (see comments)
Tea type: Oolong
Scents, flavorings, etc.: N/A
Aroma, dry: Fresh, planty, richer aroma due to some oxidation
Aroma in the cup, plain: Fresh, planty, honey hint
Taste, plain: Mild, smooth, planty, no aftertaste
Aroma in the cup, enhanced: N/A
Taste, enhanced: N/A
2nd Infusion: About equal to 1st
3rd Infusion: Didn’t do (see comments)
Chilled: Strong smokiness, needs sweetener, very interesting, recommend
Comments:
There were no steeping instructions on the tea container. I think the tea company assumes that their customers usually already know how to properly prepare the tea or are smart enough to figure it out for themselves. We went by the general steeping directions we have seen for Oolongs.
We found that steeping for 3 minutes meant we didn’t get a 3rd infusion. We recommend, therefore, to steep for 2 minutes, instead of 3, for each infusion. This will mean a lighter colored and tasting tea liquid than we got.
This is for us a typical tasting Oolong, the kind we are used to. Its blend of plantiness and very mild smokiness is a perfect companion with Asian foods. We buy pork potstickers from Wal-Mart (in the freezer section) and consider this tea the best to have with them. A total feast! Considering the low cost of this tea and the ability to do multiple steepings, it’s a win-win situation. The one drawback: You have to live near an Asian market that carries it. I don’t know of an online vendor that has it.
Some tea leaves dry and some after 2 infusions:
It’s always amazing how those small pieces swell up so big. Keep this in mind when deciding how much dry tea to put in the teapot.
The chilled version was smokier tasting than the hot version. Some sweetener helped. It’s worth a try.
Disclaimer: We bought this tea from a local store. However, the rating of the tea and any opinions concerning it are always strictly objective.
I've actually tried this same exact tea...I did some research and found that it's Hsin Tung Yang, a Taiwanese company that is better known for its bakery and meat products than for its tea.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to this tea was remarkably similar to yours; it was interesting to read your review for this reason! Here's my review if anyone is iterested: Hsin Tung Yang: Tung Ting Oolong.