This is a sample, albeit a BIG one!, from SimplyJenW.
I am brewing this gong fu fashion. The dry leaves smell like super juicy mango. What a fabulous aroma!
I steeped a bit longer than I should have on the first two tries, but it isn’t bitter so much as very drying. I learned my lesson and cut my time way back on the third. The water colored instantly when it hit the leaves, so I knew I could cut way back on my time steeping it this way. (I was chatting with hubby on his lunchtime for the first two.)
Third steep is still fruity, but now the tea isn’t drying at all. I can tell the oolong base is woodsy and medium dark. The fruit flavor is a high note rising mostly after the sip to me, and the flavor of the oolong base lingers.
Fourth steep – still excellent, lots of flavor, both the oolong base and mango. The mango may be more noticeable at the beginning of the sip now that it was at first. I think this still has a few steeps left in it, but I will end the reviewing at four so I can give this tea my full attention.
Thank you, Jen!