Honey Fragrance Phoenix Mountain Oolong

Whatever sweet angel from here sent me this should be thanked! This second steep was also amazing. This is a much more complex oolong than some of the others that I have had. I love the slight sweetness of the honey and the roast flavor. Lovely.

Thanks to Lindsay for this yummy tea!

I finally got around to trying it this morning. When I drink new oolongs, I like to be in a quiet place where I can focus on the tea. This has not been possible for a long while. :( But today! No obligations until afternoon and husband out for a 12 mile run (in 16 F weather!). I have plenty of time to savor a new oolong.

I opened the pouch and it smelled like honeyed leaves and sweet fruity nectar. Yum. The directions called for near boiling water, which I usually don’t do for oolongs. But I went ahead and followed directions. It’s always good to see how the tea sellers think the tea should taste.

The first steep yielded a lovely cup. The taste was lightly honey and more heavily leaf. Like an autumn forest. It’s not as smooth and syrupy as I’m used to for Honey Fragrance oolongs, probably because of that stronger roasty quality.

The second steep was more to expectation. Syrupy sweet with a supporting autumny background. It’s still roasty. The flavor is not so complex as others I’ve tried. This is more straight forward, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but not so interesting. The Honey Phoenix from Canton Tea, for example, had more lychee fruit and ripe peaches going on, while this one is more just honey and autumn.

In the following steeps, the honey flavor decreases and the roasty autumn leaf aroma becomes stronger. Very pleasant and relaxing.

While this is not my favorite Honey fragrance dancong, it is still pretty good. I normally don’t like dark oolongs, but dancongs are an exception. I’ve been focused on the honey fragrance ones, but I want to branch out and try different fragrances. I’m especially interested in the almond variety.

This oolong also has a bit of a caffeine kick. I’d say medium buzz. One more infusion and I’ll stick with caffeine free stuff for the rest of the day. :) And while I’ve still got some quiet time, I think I’ll curl up under the covers with a book and a puppy or two.

OK. So I’m just finishing off the last of this tea in my cupboard. I’ve been using it to season and yang my young Huangni seal script teapot, which I’m dedicating to Feng Huang Dan Cong oolongs. ( http://www.hegathers.com/_images/ruci-close.jpg – the one in the middle ). I threw all the remaining leaf from the ounce I ordered into the teapot (7+ grams perhaps) and have brewed up about seven or eight infusions. I feel like the tea is spent now, so I’m presently doing a final long steep for one last infusion to yang the teapot before I clean it.

I have to admit that this tea was better this time than the previous session I had with it; the bitterness on the tail end I mentioned the last time I drank it was not present. Perhaps the preparation technique I used for the last brewing session was off in some way (Dan Cong oolong is said to be finicky in that way); or maybe my still young yixing teapot took off some of the sharp edges. In any case, it was a reasonably pleasant drinking session. This tea still doesn’t reach the sweetness that I want from a Mi Lan Dan Cong, nor does it have the complexity that I want from Dan Cong teas in general, but it’s okay. In any case, I think it has been redeemed enough from the bitter impression of the last session to warrant a rating jump. I’ve put it midway between my initial rating and the second one. This Mi Lan Dan Cong has given me a good sense of perspective for forming a clear sense of what I want and don’t want from this kind of tea.

My search for fine Phoenix Mountain oolong continues. . . .

Striking aroma from the leaves after first brewed, so sweet! Its very true to its name, wonderful honey floral taste almost like a honeysuckle, just a little hint of oxidation, smooth with a good heaviness on the tongue due to the astringency. I got to sample this with BTVSgal and was very sad upon learning it’s no longer for sale.

So this was another sample that David sent me last week along with the King’s Tea oolong sample. The dry leaf smells sweet..and faintly honey like. I warmed my gaiwan and put a tablespoon of tea. I followed instructions and did a steep of 30 seconds. I smelled the wet leaf….HOLY CRAP!!!! Amazing, just amazing. I was so intoxicated by the smell that I forgot there was something to drink right beside it. I wish I could make a candle out of this. It was like sweet melon and honeysuckle. I went to taste the liquor and it was sweet and honey like on the top of my mouth. I waited a bit before I took the next sip. The melon hit the back of my mouth…WOW.
Asha Tea House does not disappoint. I’m so glad I have been ordering from David. He has a great selection of oolong as well as great customer service. I was happy that I did not wait too long to order again from him, since this is now sold out. Although this is the second order in two and half weeks….lol. My apartment complex thinks I’m into some shady stuff since I have boxes coming almost every week. Between Steepster select and Asha I have a nice supply. I little too much tea. My DavidsTea, Samovar, and Teavana tea has been taking a back seat.

The sample that he gave be was big enough to have 3 good tastings. I’m writing this after the second tasting. Still the same experience as the first time I had it. This would impress my mom who is a coffee person. :)