jLteaco (fongmongtea)

It has taken me way too long to get around to reviewing these samples that FONG MONG TEA graciously sent me to review. Sorry FONG MONG TEA! I really wish that I had gotten to this tea sooner… It is amazing… Really!

The little gold sample packet was nicely packed with dark green rolled leaves. The green was so dark and deep that it looked almost black, like a forest in the moonlight. The scent was deliciously sweet. It smelled of hints of honey with pine-nuts. Just in case you aren’t familiar with pine-nuts, they smell and taste nothing like pine trees, but more like a mix of walnuts and cashews… It was nuttier and smoother smelling than most oolongs. The scent was thick and inviting with undeniable sweetness.

Once steeped, the tea was a golden color with a tint of olive green. It smelled delicious, with the honey notes becoming more prominent without overcoming the nuttiness of the oolong. I couldn’t wait to sip it. Something about it seemed almost magical.

The first thing that struck me the most was that as soon as I sipped it, my mouth was filled with a sweet nutty flavor. It is the sweetest tea I have tasted so far. Absolutely surreal. I really had never experienced a tea that could fool me into thinking that sugar had been added… I am pleasantly shocked by the sweetness in each sip! I taste a tiny hint of smokiness towards the end of each sip, adding depth to the natural nuttiness of the Oolong.

Also unique and worth mentioning is the cooling sensation at the end of each sip, almost like what you feel after sipping peppermint tea. It is a great combination of flavors and sensations. It is by far the most unique tea I have tasted so far. Delicious and surprising all at once.

My taste-buds feel like they just came back from a SPA all pampered and relaxed. I think that this Oolong should be tasted by anyone who is a fan of Oolongs or sweeter teas. You really need to try it… Trust me… :)

Dry leaf smells a lot like roasted seaweed.

Buttery hints on the sip. Roasted and seaweed after-taste. Very slight saltiness in the background. Hints of floral on the finish. Reminiscent of a full green tea flavour.

I am personally not a fan of teas that remind me of salt but I love the roasted seaweed flavour coming out of this one.

For the second infusion, I increased the infusion time by about 1 minute. All of the flavours from the first infusion seem more subtle with an added oolong creaminess that comes out a bit. I think that I’m getting that minty-cooling feeling in my throat as the tea cools. I didn’t find it to be very apparent in the first one (I thought that I may have feeling it only because I had read about it so much). Buttery and vegetal qualities.

This tea would not likely do well past the third infusion.

Backlog:

I have been pleased with the many different teas that I’ve tried from Fong Mong and since AliShan Oolong teas are my favorite Oolong, you know I loved this one from this company.

I managed 10 infusions from the same measurement of leaves. I combine five infusions into my AliShan YiXing Mug. The first cup was very creamy and smooth. Floral and vegetal notes that have been softened by the creamy indulgence that comes from a high quality Jin Xuan like this.

The second cup was still quite creamy. In fact, I enjoyed it more than the first cup, because some of the creamy notes have subsided just a little to make way for the wonderful sweetness from the floral notes and a touch of fruity flavors.

Here’s my full-length review: http://sororiteasisters.com/2014/08/25/taiwan-alishan-jin-xuan-oolong-2014-from-fong-mong-tea/

This is fabulous! A little Alishan … a little milk Oolong … all in one cup! Yum!

I do love Alishan, it’s my favorite of the Oolongs for its delicious subtle complexity. That this is also a Jin Xuan really was enticing to me. This is probably not my first Alishan that is also a Jin Xuan but it’s the first time I’ve noticed it and put it together.

A delicious, delightful Oolong. So very nice.

I have been revisiting a number of teas today, some were not as good as I remembered, some where better, this was definitely the latter. I’m picking up on wonderful spicy and zesty notes that remind me of juniper and rooibos (in a really good way, even though I’m not a big rooibos fan) in this second steep. The first was still lush, dark, and sweet. It’s the only sample from Fong Mong I didn’t use up in one sitting. Really enjoying it!

Edit: Hmm this was stored right next to a sample of Garnet Sable, wonder if it picked up the smokey, foresty, rooibos notes from that? Either way, delicious!

Last of the free samples from Fong Mong, sorry this took so long to get to reviewing this one. This is my first Taiwanese black tea so I might not have the best reference points. It is so unlike the Yunnans I have been drinking lately, absolutely no roughness or savory notes. However it does remind me a smidge of Bailin Gongfu and Laoshan Black. It definitely has cocoa notes but it’s sweetness is not chocolaty but mineral (which is something I love). Of course I am brewing this starting at 15 secs so that does bring out a lighter more sparkling quality. Looking forward to spending the day with this and I have enough to brew western as well to compare.

Nom, hot oolong tea. How I’ve missed you. The weather hasn’t cooled down so much. Only a little from the recent rainy days, but still, it’s cool enough that a cup of hot tea doesn’t feel like torture. Plus the fan blowing in my direction doesn’t hurt things.

This cup of tea has the lovely green oolong aroma that I adore. Floral and vegetal and sweet and yummy. The color of the brewed tea is very lightly green, which I’m beginning to see is a trait of Fong Mong’s green oolongs. The taste is delectable. You are hit with a round sweet floral flavor. Then you notice the green vegetal spring-like flavor as the tea moves to the middle of the tongue. On the swallow, you feel the fruitiness and the barely drying and luscious quality of the texture. Don’t know why, but green oolongs often remind me of papaya. Papaya are sweet and floral and slightly vegetal in flavor so I guess the general flavor profile matches that of a green oolong.

Thank of for the generous sample, Fong Mong Tea. This is really delicious. :)

I’m on my sixth infusion now … this tea started out with a very strong sweetness that was very fruit like, tasting like something between a plum and a peach. Very sweet and juicy, with hints of sour. Hints of vegetative notes and toasted grain were in the background, and the floral tones were barely there.

By the fourth infusion, things began to change… the fruity tones had subsided, falling back into the background and becoming more of a memory than a present taste. The floral tones emerged, and there was a savory bitter tone that arrived about mid sip. More like a sharpness that lent a contrast to the sweeter notes. The vegetative notes have become stronger.

Now, the vegetative notes are much stronger than in the first four infusions, and the floral notes are pungent. The roasted notes are a bit like charcoal, and I don’t taste as much of the creamy grain notes that I noticed in the first couple of infusions…

It’s still very pleasant now, and it’s very interesting how much this tea changes over the infusions. I preferred the first couple of infusions, but I also enjoyed the transitions.

This is the last of my samples form Fong Mong and it is very nice has Great roasty toasty flavors with slightly sweet floral/fruityness peaches or peach blossoms and has some smokey notes to it as well all this while staying simple and not too complex, very enjoyable i must have some more of this one it reminds me of my favorite oolong so far.

Thank you LiberTEAS for this sample!

For the last tea of the day, next up was this deliciously delightful Pou Chong Oolong. This mildly fermented tea is perfect with it’s mood matching light and gentle tones.

There is a certain asparagus flavor, yet something more. It reminds me of Spring Bud Green tea with it mellow grassy notes with an added floral trailing fragrance.

It is smooth enough to try cup after cup, with no lingering bitterness. The aroma is gentle in the cup, then it completely transform into a more expressive tea as it hits the middle of the tongue.

So I messed up… The original review that I posted for this tea was actually for Peony Tea’s Dong Ding Oolong (my bad). I got my dong dings mixed up like the ding dong I sometimes am. Anywho…

This is fantastic! I can really taste the difference between the charcoal baked oolong and the dong dings that I have tried that aren’t. This one really brings out some pleasant earthy tones and provides delicious smokey hints. I got a cute little teacup with a basket for my birthday (as well as a cast iron teapot, which I didn’t bring to work so have not yet tried…), and I made 7 cups with the same leaves and made myself pee 12 times today because I could not stop re-steeping this tea…

I sometimes forget that Oolongs are my favorite tea. Every once in a while I will have a cup of tea like this one that makes my taste buds have a party in my mouth and my brain kicks in saying “This is sooo good! It has to be your favorite Nina!”… And so, I agree with my brain, yeps, Oolongs are just spectacular.

My boyfriend took me out for sushi tonight (lucky me!) and I was in the mood for something smooth and unflavored. Oolong was the perfect culprit!

In the bag the tightly rolled leaves smelled slightly sweet and much like milk oolong. They had a hint of mineral plantiness.

Once brewing the scent was overwhelmingly creamy and sweet. So delicious. I stood sniffing my tea the whole time it steeped, enjoying each breath of creamy promises of tastiness. The liquor was olive green and sparkled in the light of my kitchen as I waited for it to be cool enough to sip.

Once brewed, I was in love. It worked exactly like an Oolong should. First it fills your mouth with creaminess, followed by a slight mineral refreshing flavor and finally has a grand finally of sweet and savory as you swallow. I wish my cup could have lasted longer… Thankfully I have second and third steeps to look forward to! :)

Thanks a bunch to Fong Mong Tea for this spectacular sample!

Second Steep (the tea sat overnight and I am having it with breakfast)- Second steeps are usually my favorite, but this time around, the first steep takes the prize. I am finding the second steep to be a tiny bit more astringent and floral than the first creamy sweet steep. Still really enjoying it! :)

Very strong flavour. I’m detecting a flavour reminiscent of grapefruit which I have associated with Milk Oolong in the past. Strong roasted tone (bordering on bitter) and mild milky undertone. I’m also detecting some lemony-type flavour on the sip. Sweet on the finish. The after taste is sweet and has floral hints.

As the tea cools, I’m getting more of a full milk oolong-like hit with each sip. The roasted tone moves more into the background and the milkiness is allowed to come out more. Very delightful! I can detect some grassy notes as well. The finish is still very sweet with mild floral hints. After taste is mainly of roasted and floral flavour.

Second infusion- The milkiness really comes out The roasted flavour isn’t as prevalent, which is nice as it was a little strong on the first infusion. Smoother and softer version of the first infusion.

The flavour held pretty well for 3 infusions. I didn’t try past 3 though.

This is my last sample fron Fong Mong Tea and I would like to say Thank You for the generous samples. :))

The steeping wet leaves really let me know this was a greener, more floral tea. The wet leaves had a lightly roasted aroma, but what struck me more was the immediate floral sweetness. My nose led my mind and I couldn’t escape thoughts of honeysuckle and then orchids. There was also fruity notes present. Cup color was a very light yellow, with a light creamy, sweet, and floral nose. The flavors were light, with a very pleasant and balanced smoothness of florals and fruits.

The wet leaf aromas intensified somewhat in the second cup, while still remaining mild. Light, roasty, & milky, with a peach-like fruitiness, cooling to reveal sweet honeysuckle/orchid florals. Surprisingly, the cup color and aroma is still quite mild, with only slightly deeper creamy sweetness and florality. The flavors mimicked the aromas, with the creamy smootness and peaches clinging to my palate, whispering a gentle “Hello”. [1:45 at 195F].

My last cup was even more gentle all around, from the leaf, to aromas, to the flavors on my tongue. Subtle fruit and floral qualities made this cup sweet, smooth and relaxing. [5 minutes at 212F].

This cup was the most mild of all the Fong Mong samples, and that’s not a distraction from this Blue Jade, and its serene, fruity, & floral goodness. Great for when I need a tea for relaxation, and when I’m in a contemplative mood. This Oolong is like a relative that doesn’t necessarily demand respect, but teaches it, if one is only willing to listen and learn. :))

Cupped & Reviewed: Tuesday, July 10, 2012.

This one is good, it steeped up a light color with a vegetal aroma but the taste was very refreshing and bold almost floral at first with charcoal baked flavors come out after the second steep. Not my favorite but still quite nice. I didn’t pick up any minty notes that others are getting. What I got was this is a nice Dong Ding and I would enjoy a cup anytime :-)

This smells like a fresh summer meadow!

It’s a greener tasting Lishan-Oolong – that’s for sure! I’m totally ok with that, too, btw!

Mostly green-oolong-tasting…slightly vegetal, slightly floral, a speck of pepper taste! Energizing! YAY! Feels like Freedom in a Cup!

Thanks to Fong Mong Tea for this sample!

I’ve been on a bit of an oolong kick lately, but at the moment my permanent collection is mostly greens and herbals. I dug through my sample box until I found the last one from Fong Mong.

The leaves are dark brown and tightly rolled, and there are little stems mixed in with the leaves. It smells dark and kind of earthy, (the word “snail” comes to mind) but I’m also getting the feeling of seaweed, like ocean rocks covered in bracken and barnacles.

Steeped 6g/10oz, 180deg, 3min.

It tastes dark to me. There’s an earthiness, woodsiness to it that I’m not entirely fond of. I can certainly taste the charcoal flavoring here. I think it’s just my personal preference for the lighter, greener oolongs speaking. I’m also getting some honey notes and a toastiness not unlike a genmaicha.

All in all, it satisfied my oolong craving, but it’s not something I have a burning desire to keep in my collection.

Roasty.Toasty, Semi-Charcoal, almost quesi-Wuyi Rock-esque type oolong. It’s a good one! Yet another winner from Fong MonG!

Thank you to Fong Mong for the sample.

I’m getting a little fruity notes from this one, but not too much. It definitely has that unmistakable oolong taste. It’s a little bit creamy, too. I’m getting a slight bitterness, which makes me wonder if I steeped it for too long. I did the recommended 6 minutes, but that seems a little high.

This one is a nice Ti Kuan Yin, it has greenish floral notes that are very subtle and sweet followed by a toasty nuttyness, very buttery smooth mouthfeel. I like this one I think I want to buy some more. It reminds me of my favorite oolong :-). Also this one can make several tasty steeps pending in how you steep it. I let a cup of it go cold by accident and that wasn’t bad at all just the floral notes really come out when its cold.

I have tried a couple of different Sun Moon Lake Black teas now, and I’m really enjoying them. They are certainly unique!

I love the aroma – rich and delicious with hints of fruit, and a little earthy, with notes of wood in the distance. It has a warm, comforting kind of fragrance.

Delicious. Sweet fruit notes, hints of sour, bold and invigorating while at the same time soothing. Hints of chocolate and an earthiness to it that reminds me of mushrooms. It has a woody/vegetative kind of taste too. It’s nice and complex… it has enough interest to it that it keeps me sipping.

Thanks for Fong Mong Tea for this sample, I have been delayed in reviewing them because I want to ensure that I had a couple hours over which to do multiple steeps.
This tea came in lovely little balls with not too much of a fragrance.
1st steep: colour is a pale green, deliciously sweet smell. The main flavour is a sweet citrus-y flavour- almost lemonade-esque. Not too much in terms of vegetal flavours yet.
2nd steep: More earthy notes came through, less sweet but the citrus is still there
3rd steep: All sweetness is gone, earthy citrus-y taste, pleasant enough but I like my oolongs sweet.

Overall, this is a good oolong, but not among my favourites. It wasn’t sweet enough for my liking, but it was still a nice cup.

I’m finally starting to feel human! YAY!

As for this tea…I’m really liking it! I don’t think it’s one of the more intense charcoal-oolongs I have tried but I still appreciate the process regardless.

This is sweet and cooling to the system!

OH! There it is! There’s the charcoal! It took approx 4 to 5 mins at room temp after infusion was complete – not at the beginning of the sip or the end of the sip – but – right smack dab in the middle of the sip! It’s not over powering but much more noticeable than it was at first sip almost immediately after infusing.

I’m not picking up on the ‘minty’ sensation others are referring to – probably because I take MINT literally as I am a MINT FREAK. I can taste how it is cooling, tho! That’s a neat characteristic!

As it cools even more at room temp – a bit warmer than luke-warm – I can start tasting a semi-nutty flavor at the beginning of the sip-process!

This is a neat tea that morphs and changes often! That’s what I like about it!

Thanks to Fong Mong Tea for this very generous sample!

Several months ago a friend sent me a sample of a Tung Ting that I loved. Of course, the tea shop is halfway across the country and doesn’t have a website. Since then the memory of that tea has been sitting there in my head, and I’ve tried oolong after oolong looking for a similar one… but I was always disappointed.

Until now.

Oh, I love this. The leaves are small and tightly rolled, shiny and bright and soft green. I used the whole 6 gram sample for 16oz, brewing western style because the bowl part of my tasting set has disappeared!

The scent is very light, sweet and a little green, with light floral notes. And the flavor is also very light and sweet, with a base “oolong” sort of flavor – warm and green. It’s like a spring day, when the air is cool and the sun glints through the grass and the wind smells vaguely of the sea.

Fantastic oolong, and I’m so glad to have tried this! Thank you Fong Mong Tea!