Comparative Tasting (Verdant Original Tieguanyin vs. Autumn Tieguanyin):

I’ve recently been trying to taste similar teas together, to help me better appreciate their subtelties. Tonight, I brew two tieguanyin oolongs by Master Zhang. Both teas are brewed gongfu style in small quantities (2g each).

Steeping 1 (original tieguanyin) — Liquor has a nice fresh smell. Sip opens with savory base note, chestnut feels very plausible. After a moment, I notice a slight tingling on the tip of my tounge and a subtle liquorish flavor further back, especially when I exhale. Creamy texture. There’s a some floral/vegetal smell, but it isn’t really coming through when I actually taste the tea.

Steeping 1 (autumn tieguanyin) — I think I didn’t steep this long enough. It has a kind of generic light oolong taste: creamy texture and some floral notes. It’s quite nice, but not very special. Leaves have barely unfurled. None of the tangerine Verdant mentions. :/ Hopefully I’ll get some better luck on the next steeping.

Steeping 2 (original tieguanyin) — Floral and vegetal notes have come out more. I can just barely make out a liquorish flavor. Still a slight tingling at the tip of the tongue.

Steeping 2 (autumn tieguanyin) — Nice creamy flavor. Didn’t leave a very strong impression otherwise.

Steeping 3 (original tieguanyin) — Mostly generic light oolong. Slight spicy note, liquorish. I can’t taste the chestnut at all anymore.

Steeping 3 (autumn tieguanyin) — Mostly generic light oolong. I can kind of taste a citrusy note, but it’s a bit of a stretch.

Conclusion — Both teas are very nice light oolongs, with original slightly darker than autumn. Original had some very unique notes on the first steep, but they seemed to fade pretty quickly. Autumn was more generic, but the characteristic creamy notes of light oolong were particularly emphasized.

Christopher Olah Send Message

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