Aww, I thought this would be the last or second-to-last tea in my cupboard, but then I realized I had never added a couple of free samples that Mandala sent me with the order. (Side note: this tea has more “flavors” listed at the top than I have ever seen!)
Anyway, I finally get to try Mandala’s much-vaunted milk oolong (#–5). For a while it was never in stock, and then I never got around to ordering it. But I finally did order it, and now I am finally trying it. The dry leaf certainly smells like what I am looking for: sweet, buttery, and a slight tang of fruitiness. Steeped, the “tang” goes mostly away, and yes, it very much smells like buttered popcorn. Perhaps kettle corn, with a hint of sweetness. I think that part of what is evoking that is a note of toastiness, particularly toasted grains.
The flavor is lighter than I expected, at least while it is very warm. Perhaps I should allow it to cool some. Hmmm, mayhaps I need to gongfu this one. It’s just not wowing me right now. When it was still hot it was not very flavorful. Now that it is lukewarm it has at least gained some creaminess and a bit of peachiness. It tastes more like what I was expecting, minus the sweetness (suprisingly). Maybe a hint. Definitely I think I need to futz with the parameters.
