Cameron B. select Send Message

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Cameron B. drank Taiwan Oriental Beauty (Bai Hao) Oolong Tea by Teavivre

4172 tasting notes

It had been a while since I’d had a bai hao, so I thought I’d pull one out today to sip on while I made scones. This sample came from boychik (sorry it’s taking me forever to try all of your lovely samples!). Bai hao is definitely my favorite oolong so far, although the medium roast dong ding and tie guan yin are up there too. Anyway! The leaves remind me a lot of Darjeeling, with their myriad of colors (browns, silvers, slight purples). They’re about medium size and twisty, and very light in weight. Dry scent is haylike with sweet honey notes.

I confess, this cooled a lot while I was distracted with my sticky banana hands. So by the time I drank it, it was pretty much room temperature. However, that doesn’t seem to have put a damper on it at all! It has the most amazing sweet and luscious honey flavor, along with a lovely nuttiness and slight roastiness. So delicious! There’s also a baby touch of spice, perhaps cinnamon? This tea is so autumnal.

Flavors: Autumn Leaf Pile, Cinnamon, Honey, Raisins, Roasted, Roasted Nuts, Sweet

Preparation

185 °F / 85 °C 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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Bio

Hi, I’m Cameron!

I’m a 30-something software engineer currently living in Austin, Texas with my husband and our two pugs, Gobo and Ume. I tend to cycle between my different hobbies, and they include piano, knitting, video games, board games, miniature painting, planners, bento, Korean skincare, and – of course – TEA! But really, what I’m best at is “collecting” hobby-related things… ;)

~ 2024 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- December sipdowns: 0
- Total 2024 sipdowns: 156

I prefer my tea lukewarm or at room temperature and without milk or sugar. I steep Western style, and fluctuate between using big mugs or small teapots depending on the season.

I am always up for a swap! Just let me know if you’d like to try something in my cupboard.

Tea Preferences:
I enjoy both flavored and unflavored teas in many forms. These days, I drink mostly flavored teas, and I tend to gravitate most toward black, green, oolong, and herbal varieties. I do have a special fondness for straight Japanese green teas, however.

I do not sweeten my teas, and pre-sweetened teas are usually too sweet for me. I also do not enjoy stevia.

I tend to reach for fruitier flavors rather than desserty ones these days, but I do have favorites from both categories. Willing to try anything once! There are a few ingredients/flavors that aren’t generally my jam, such as coconut, rose, lavender, and chocolate flavoring. But I also have teas that I love with some of those things, too! :)

Favorite Companies:
3 Leaf
Bird & Blend
Dammann Frères
Harney & Sons
Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
Lupicia
Old Barrel Tea Co
Simpson & Vail
Taiwan Tea Crafts
TeaVivre

Tea Rating Scale:
90-100: Outstanding! Permanent cupboard resident
80-89: Great – a possible staple
70-79: Good, but I wouldn’t buy it
60-69: It’s decent
50-59: Meh… I may or may not have finished the cup
40-49: Ick. Couldn’t finish it.
00-39: Repulsive, I spat it out

I will sometimes refrain from rating a tea if I feel I’m too biased due to my personal dislikes, or if I suspect the sample has been compromised by age or scent contamination.

Cupboard Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZEuKf1-ppR-VXajO4vV39zU1N3zjFJteEPAynqD2yl0/edit?usp=sharing