TT88: Formosa Oolong Spring Dragon

The description is right to the point.
Lilacs? Check. The aroma might not be strong and doesn’t drift up from a cup of tea but if you bring it to your nose and inhale – there they are – unmistakable lilacs.
Delicate, flowery liquor? Check. The flavor is very smooth, flowery and dry like white wine.
Sweet and refreshing taste? Check. Yes, indeed it is very refreshing and the light sweetness is there as well but hiding behind flower dryness and feels more like an aftertaste than a separate note.

The brew doesn’t have any oiliness or toasty qualities, it is pure, fresh and stands up to 3 infusions, the third still being tasty but lacking in aroma. And I like the name :) Definitely goes on my shopping list as soon as I run out of Adagio’s oolong #18. They have similar characteristics but this one is way better.

A non-traditional oolong due to it’s particularly flowery aroma. Color of the brewed tea is a very light golden yellow. Light to medium viscosity. Slight acidity and aftertaste lingers on the tongue. Good wind down or evening tea.

Lilacs all the way! A very pleasant floral tasting tea! A great buy really

If you’re expecting a more conventional, punch-you-in-the-face oolong, this’ll be a shocker. First steep is extremely light gold and delicate with the aroma of lilacs (Upton’s not kidding), hints of malt, hints of spice, and a crisp, clean mouthfeel. The flavor gets a bit breadier as it cools, taking on kind of a rye/caraway note.

Second steep is an unexpectedly major shift, with the lilac smell lingering but the spices coming very much to the forefront of taste. It’s like drinking a pepparkakor. Gingery, peppery, cinnamony.

not a good tea :( too raw for me… but for the sake of oolong being my most favorite tea, i wont give this a very low score. (please note: i forgot to review this tea for a week or two)

4th or 5th steep on these leaves. Went off and forgot steeping, but no problem. Light but still complex flavor, somewhat lacking floral notes of first cups. Were I to presume to judge this tea, based on my limited experience with light oolongs, it would get 4 out of 5 stars.

7.5g @180F. 45 sec pre-rinse. 20oz pot brewed as 2x 10oz infusions of 3 mins each.

Aroma: somewhat vegetal, slightly grassy, sweet undertones
Liquor: golden, slightly cloudy
Body: medium; warm and present mouthfeel, no dryness/astringency
Flavor: smooth, floral