Superior Bold-Leaf Formosa Keemun

Tea type
Black Tea
Ingredients
Not available
Flavors
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Caffeine
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Certification
Not available
Average preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 4 min, 30 sec

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2 Tasting Notes View all

  • “A sample tea I got from Upton with one of my recent orders. I have to agree with Jacqueline that this is a bit lighter in body and more oolong-ish than the Chinese Keemuns. My cup is a lovely dark...” Read full tasting note
    75
  • “As soon as I tasted this, I said “Wait?! This is a Keemun? It tastes like an oolong!” Lo and behold, it’s supposed to :) Formosa – I see! Once I wrapped my head around the fact that I’d be enjoying...” Read full tasting note

From Upton Tea Imports

Formosa Keemun has a unique style that has attracted a dedicated following. This selection has the characteristic Oolong notes and gentle smokiness of this tea. It also has the lighter-colored leaf and infusion of our original Formosa Keemun from several years ago. Recommended for those seeking a divergence from traditional China Keemun.
Origin:
Taiwan

About Upton Tea Imports View company

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2 Tasting Notes

75
2816 tasting notes

A sample tea I got from Upton with one of my recent orders.

I have to agree with Jacqueline that this is a bit lighter in body and more oolong-ish than the Chinese Keemuns. My cup is a lovely dark red. I’m not really getting the smokiness myself, but I’m picking up on a sweetish, woody type of flavor. There is a definite tannin bite in the finish of this tea which is bugging me… maybe it needs less steeping time than what Upton recommended (5 minutes).

I enjoyed this a bit more with some soymilk which cut out some of the tannins and brought out a sweeter note. This was ok but not going on my list of items to buy.

Preparation
Boiling 5 min, 0 sec
Show 3 previous comments...
Scott B 13 years ago

I have a sample of this that I need to try, although hearing it’s oolong-ish is a little disheartening.

So, what’s this tannin bite like? I’ve been tasting something in my finish lately. And now that I think of it, I don’t recall it in whites or greens-just blacks.
TeaBrat 13 years ago

The best way I can describe it is something bitter and sharp, slightly astringent. I only seem to find it in black tea personally.

Cheryl 13 years ago

My wishlist is safe from Keemun reviews…phew : )

TeaBrat 13 years ago

I’ve tried a few different ones and they just don’t seem to be favorites of mine. To each their own!

ScottTeaMan 13 years ago

WOW…….This one takes me back at least 8 yrs, and it was $2 cheaper, so not really a huge price increase. Anywho, without giving a full review (and I really do remember this one), I thought it was really good. I must have used more leaf, because I remember a fuller falavor. It is definitely different than a Chinese Keemun, I distinctly remember it being woody (oaky perhaps), but definitely woody. I don’t remember the Oolong note, and there is no smokiness like some Chinese Keemuns.

Hey wait…….this is turning into a full review…….me done. :))

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1112 tasting notes

As soon as I tasted this, I said “Wait?! This is a Keemun? It tastes like an oolong!” Lo and behold, it’s supposed to :) Formosa – I see! Once I wrapped my head around the fact that I’d be enjoying an oolong, and not a roasty chocolatey Keemun, I relaxed into it.

This one is pleasantly woody, with a rich, complex, sort of tangy flavor. Second steep sweeter and less woody. I bet it would be great with food. We are actually out of water here at work (we get spring water delivered because our faucet water is so vile) but I am going to save my leaves in hope that we get a delivery some time today so I can have another steep!

Thank you Michelle, my SweeTea, for this tea!!!

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 4 min, 0 sec
Show 1 previous comments...
JacquelineM 14 years ago

Yay! We got a water delivery! I am on my third steep and it’s very nice, indeed sweeter and rounder. Even greener! I love how oolongs get better as you steep! I think I’ll have one more after this one too!

Angrboda 14 years ago

Geography paradox! O.o Will we have to redraw the world map now?

JacquelineM 14 years ago

I know – when I saw that this tea was from Taiwan I experienced a disconnect!

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