Shui Jin Gui Wuyi Oolong

I don’t remember how I ended up with a bag of this as opposed to a small sample (maybe from my one time tea of the month trail?), but I’m glad for the larger amount. I usually don’t go for the browner looking oolong types, and it took me by surprise how much I like this one.

There are notes of cream and orchids, which remind me of my greener oolongs, but there’s also a sharper note of sweet orange in the finish and aftertaste that add an extra dimension to this. My empty cup after the first steep has an aroma like orange chocolate liqueur with a dab of honey, chocolate cherries, or something dark like that. This tea is smooth and easy, but not an everyday thing.

Well, this has been in my cupboard since April and has barely been touched. :( I need to stop being afraid of fancy tea.

This is a really good one. It’s not as amazing as the descriptions lead it to be, which makes me feel like a tea failure, and that I shouldn’t be drinking Verdant in the first place, BUT it is good so who cares if I don’t get creamy custard and lingering dark elderberries. >:|

This tastes green and fresh, and slightly creamy, and it makes me think that the impending snowstorm we were warned about might just turn into spring rains and leaves blooming and sunshine on a coolish day. It’s darker than other oolongs I’ve had, which is a good thing too. I’ve got enough left for one more cup, but this type of oolong seems like pure win. Even without the “vegetal creamy green bean flavor with a lingering honeydew melon sweet orchid finish.”

So I received this yesterday! I’m so, so excited as this is my first Verdant Tea experience. I was really impressed by how quickly everything was assembled and shipped. The dry leaf smells of sesame and stone. The appearance is dark black/brown, and wiry. I’ll be doing multiple steeps over the day so stay tuned!
First steep: 10 seconds (after short rinse). This tasted a lot like bread to me with honey. There is some sweetness and some stone/rock flavor (my favorite). There is some very subtle nut notes tossed in there as well. Overall I’m pretty impressed with it at such a short steep time.
Second steep: 12 seconds. This one is a little darker than the first steep. The smell of this steep is even more nutty than the first infusion. The leaves have unfurled more and remind me of deep olive leather. Wow! The flavor is so different this time. There are caramel-like notes, nut, and much less rock flavor. It is roasty and almost creamy. Very satisfying.
Third steep: ~15 seconds. I kind of lost track of the time! I had a bit of a brain gap. This steep is much more mellow, sweet, and rocky. There is a very slight hint of spice in this; it is extremely subtle.
Fourth steep: ~20 seconds. I’m relaxing with this and some guzheng music (one of my favorites). It is bread like this time, roasted and grain-like. All of the flavors seem a bit more muted this time. Also flavors of almond skins and summer stones.
Fifth steep: ~25 seconds. This will probably be my final steep of this set of leaves. There are sweet honey and rock notes with a calming creaminess.
overall: I have really enjoyed this tea today. I have to say that Wuyi teas are generally my favorites. They are very complex and subtle. I think that I got just a bit tea drunk sipping this. I feel euphoric, happy, and relaxed. This is better than I’ve felt all week. Tea is a medicine in its own right.

I’m bumping up the rating on this tea just a little bit. It is very nice, and has a wonderful aftertaste.

This weekend I tried my first Verdant tea and my first ever gongfu session. Exciting stuff guys!

The 1st steep yielded a mineral, rock-like smooth flavor. The 2nd steep was more creamy and floral with a hint of spice. 3rd steep was back to the mineral flavor but with a slight sweetness. 4th – 6th steeps were mellower versions of the 3rd one.

In reality I do a lot of my tea drinking at work so I decided to try this western style this morning (apparently a faux pas according to Verdant’s website! But I’m not great at following instructions anyway). It was still incredibly smooth, with a more apparent sweetness and roasty flavour. At the end of the sip I’m getting an oat-y flavor that reminds me of cereal, in a good way.

Both brewing styles were a success. It’s amazing how many different flavors come out of the same little leaves! I’ll definitely try to make more time for gongfu as it’s such a relaxing way to really savor and enjoy a tea.

Unfortunately I didn’t get the caramel or crème brulee flavours that sucked me into buying this in the first place, but it was still very tasty. I kind of guesstimated the western parameters, so if anyone has any tips for this one, I’d love to hear them!

I have been very slow in getting my sampler from Verdant tasted and reviewed. Let this be the beginning of setting that straight!

This tea knocked my socks off this morning. I made it western style and didn’t even look at their recommendations for steeping, which I hear is a big No No for Verdant Teas. So this went in my 22 ounce pot and I gave 203 F for about three minutes, except I was making toast and omelets at the same time, forgot to set a timer, and had to estimate how much time had passed.

In spite of all this, the first sip totally wow’ed me. I think my hair blew back. Nutty, deep, dark, rich, and yes, yes, the warmth of ginger with none of the bite as they said so aptly, and yes, burnt caramel. Creamy, smooth, full bodied, and in short, amazing.

I looked at hubby and said, “Oh my goodness! This tea is amazing!” To which he replied, “I know. I already had three cups.”

I bought this one for the 5 for $5 shipping sale Verdant had. That includes shipping, and I think they still have that on the site for new customers, so it is well worth it! I thought this one was a charcoal like oolong, since it is so dark. But I was very wrong!

Steep #1 // 20 seconds // waited about 20 minutes after boiling
Verdant suggests 3-4 grams of leaves with small amounts of water. I think I used the usual amount of leaves and most of a mug. They also suggest just boiled water for 10 seconds. That seems so quick! Verdant’s teas are certainly some of the most delicate. The dry leaves are large and have a pumpkin, squash, sweet potato fragrance. The taste of the first cup is EXACTLY like that. Also very sweet and creamy. Definitely the opposite of a charcoal like oolong. I absolutely love the flavor of this. I’ve never had an oolong like this one before!

Steep #2 // 20 seconds // a few minutes after boiling
I was hoping to get the same flavors as the first cup, but this one turned to PEACH. Now how did that happen? This cup was also very good but I did love the uniqueness of the first cup. I probably got the time and temp perfect the first time so I’m bolding that for future reference.

Steep #3 // 20 seconds // a few minutes after boiling
This one is a bit less special than the second cup. The flavors are a bit more muted even from the peach. But now there is a slight cantaloupe flavor but still very creamy. And a bit oaky again. It seems ever since I started using the brew basket, the later steeps of teas are getting woody and oaky. I’m not sure why that would be happening as opposed to using a cramped dipper infuser.

Since this tea is so different with each cup, the rating is for the first one.

I enjoyed this as much as I enjoy any oolong. Probably more, but I just don’t seem to go crazy for any of them. I just ordered the Laoshan roasted Oolong as Bonnie made it sound pretty tasty, maybe that will be the winner!

Unf. This is so good.

In the first steep (10 sec), there are definite caramel notes and I love the wet rock mineralness (it tastes better than it sounds!) There are also some very subtle rich nut notes — like roasted chestnuts!

The second and third (12, 15 sec) steeps get creamier, the caramel notes are more pronounced.

The fourth (20 sec) is really grain-like. And reminds me of sun-dappled wet stones. I really don’t know how else to explain it, but imagine the warmth and body of a smooth stone still in the sun, but the cool smell of that same stone if it were wet.

The fifth (25 sec) steep is where I stopped on this set of leaves, but I might go further on the next. The sweet honey notes are the most pervasive and there’s a gentle almost orchid floral note. It still has a slight creaminess.

I maybe sorta don’t want to make dinner and lose the taste of this in my mouth. sigh.