I bought a bunch of Tieguanyin samples and then opted for this as a smaller free sample, which is too bad because I’d take an Ali Shan over a Tieguanyin any day of the week (and I have so many Tieguanyin packs). Oh, well. That’s what this mass oolong drinking marathon is all about; getting my priorities straight!
I have two cups of this on the go: one is a gongfu style (+10sec) and the other is a “western” 1-2min steep at +200F. Both get a rinse, as usual.
Both cups emit a delicious concoction of vanilla, flowers, grass, corn husk, and even a hint of jam. The first cups are sweet, creamy, with notes of corn and jam. I taste a bit of coconut too. A butter note acts as a thickener to the broth, and make this a rich cup. Grass is, thankfully, not the distinctive force it’s been in some of the other green oolongs I’ve had of late; the vegetal notes are more distinctive in the western cup.
Anyways, there are lots of great notes on this tea, so I’m going to do the lazy thing and not ramble on about each individual steep.
Steep Count: 3 (x2) (ongoing)
(2016 harvest)
Flavors: Butter, Coconut, Corn Husk, Cream, Floral, Grass, Jam, Kale, Vanilla
Preparation
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I am confused. Did you get the Ali Shan or the Tieguanyin? And why is it too bad that you got the Ali Shan if you prefer it over the other?
Sounds like a good problem to have—a free sample of your preferred choice of Oolong!
Sorry, brain was half asleep with this note.
When you order from Teavivre you can buy a sample size (two 5-7g packets). Depending on how much you spend you may qualify for 1-3 free samples, but you only get one 5g pack, instead of two.
I ended up buying a lot of tieguanyin samples (different types, 5gx2), and picked this as free sample. That’s what I regret XD
Ah—got it. Yeah, I can see how that is disappointing, but in the end, at least there was one free sample of your favorite, right? The teacup is half-full…! ;)
Yeah, as far as personal tea problems go, having lots of tieguanyin and not enough ali shan is still half a luxury :)
I have too many Four Seasons varietal oolongs including my BaoZhongs, and not enough Li Shan. I’ve had the Tie Guan Yin struggle before…never mind that was once my favorite type of oolong. I hope that I can get them sold. Here’s my pitch: I do have to say that the 5 oz of Winter Rhytmn I have does compare to several Ali Shans in terms of its notes. It’s not quite as sweet or honeyed as some Alishans can be, but it is certainly just as creamy with an unusually strong vanilla note.
You don’t have to take me up on it, but if you know someone looking for a good quality daily green oolong, it is probably one of the best examples of one.
Thank you for unpacking that, CrowKettle. So next time, you will be getting sample sizes of Ali Shan and a free sample of the Tieguanyin then?
I am confused. Did you get the Ali Shan or the Tieguanyin? And why is it too bad that you got the Ali Shan if you prefer it over the other?
Sounds like a good problem to have—a free sample of your preferred choice of Oolong!
Sorry, brain was half asleep with this note.
When you order from Teavivre you can buy a sample size (two 5-7g packets). Depending on how much you spend you may qualify for 1-3 free samples, but you only get one 5g pack, instead of two.
I ended up buying a lot of tieguanyin samples (different types, 5gx2), and picked this as free sample. That’s what I regret XD
Ah—got it. Yeah, I can see how that is disappointing, but in the end, at least there was one free sample of your favorite, right? The teacup is half-full…! ;)
Yeah, as far as personal tea problems go, having lots of tieguanyin and not enough ali shan is still half a luxury :)
I have too many Four Seasons varietal oolongs including my BaoZhongs, and not enough Li Shan. I’ve had the Tie Guan Yin struggle before…never mind that was once my favorite type of oolong. I hope that I can get them sold. Here’s my pitch: I do have to say that the 5 oz of Winter Rhytmn I have does compare to several Ali Shans in terms of its notes. It’s not quite as sweet or honeyed as some Alishans can be, but it is certainly just as creamy with an unusually strong vanilla note.
You don’t have to take me up on it, but if you know someone looking for a good quality daily green oolong, it is probably one of the best examples of one.
Thank you for unpacking that, CrowKettle. So next time, you will be getting sample sizes of Ali Shan and a free sample of the Tieguanyin then?