I’ve stated before that I’m not the biggest fan of Golden Moon Tea. I want to like their teas, but they haven’t really played well with my tastebuds in the past. I know that my tastes and preferences for certain teas do change occasionally, so I’m giving this one another go. The scent of this tea after it’s steeped is of an earthy, toasty oolong with a hint of caramel or sugar. I pick up on some of the grassy, almost marine-like character of the oolong, but it seems to twist itself around the buttery caramel scent at the same time giving me the impression of a candy shop by the sea or at the zoo. The sea sounds so much more romantic, but it truly could go either way!
Sipping… this is a very smooth oolong with floral and wood notes being most prominent for me. I also taste a bit of something fruity — perhaps cantaloupe? It’s like the rind of a melon, only not so bitter. I can see why this is called caramel oolong in that the wisp of caramel sweetness comes out towards the end of the sip. I find that I have to look for it though and wish that it were stronger and sweeter.
This is a decent tea that is subtle and is best when you can fully concentrate on all of the flavors that it has to offer. Definitely bumping up my aged rating although this isn’t a favorite.
