This is my first jump into oolongs that are not flavoured with fruit or chocolate or vanilla beans and… WOW!
When I walked into Janet’s Special Teas, I noticed that she only had 4 oolongs on her tea list. I explained that I was new to loose tea and wanted to know which oolong was best to try; she instantly without hesitation told me that she had just opened a fresh bag of Osmanthus and that I should try this first. She was also very careful to explain how long to steep it and how hot the water should be. She was so careful with her instructions that I will be going back when I want to try burgamonts or straight black or the like!
First Steep was for only 1 minute, and at only 87C and I found the tea had a slight peppery taste, and the original “mouldy grass” smell to the leaves was tough to over look but once steeped all I can smell is the Osmanthus flower that give this tea it’s name.
I think that I might try a touch of milk for the second steeping.
This tea was a successful first leap into the world of Oolongs, and I am not looking back!