In episode 71, Denny & James welcome back special guests Rie and Elyse from Tealet. Episode 71 covers the genre bending, the White Forest Oolong sourced from Nepal.
Category: Oolong
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1979 Oriental Beauty J-Tea Aged Oolong [Episode 57]
In episode 57, Denny and James revisit one of Denny’s favorite teas, Oriental Beauty. However, rather than a recent year production, this is a nearly 35-year old tea. A very interesting tea from J-Tea, with some elements of aged oolong and others of more traditional Oriental Beauty.
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Yancha Firing Levels
Handmade or traditional Yancha processing is one of the most intricate, processing methods of any tea. This process coupled with the rich terroir of inner Wuyi are paramount to making premium Wuyi tea. Missing either of these can make the difference between amazing and disappointing tea. Despite much hubbub about true Da Hong Pao, the terroir and processing are usually more important than the actual cultivar. This is different from Taiwanese tea, where cultivar can be a quick shortcut to cutting out tea masquerading as premium tea. While it’s not TeaDB’s goal to be a comprehensive guide to processing, it is important to know the basics behind hand-crafted teas like Yancha. The firing (roasting) has an enormous impact on the end-product and even when tea is in hand, the roast bears a strong influence on the ideal drinking time (oftentimes the difference between tea-flavored charcoal and delicious Yancha!). (more…)
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1981 Wu He Camellia Sinensis Aged Taiwanese Oolong [Episode 51]
In episode 51, Denny and James review another aged oolong with Camellia Sinensis‘ 1981 Wu He. Very different than the cleaner taste of the 1989 Hualien, this tea has a more aged taste.
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About Shui Xian and Three Different Uses of Shui Xian and other Yancha
Along with Rou Gui and Da Hong Pao, Shui Xian (also Water Lily) is one of the most represented Yancha in the western tea market. It lacks the sensational origin story or marketing potential of Da Hong Pao but is still sold far more frequently than any of the other famous bushes and possibly even more than Da Hong Pao. Shui Xian is even commonly consumed unknowingly often being marketed as Da Hong Pao or included in a Da Hong Pao blend. Processing-wise, Shui Xian is usually executed in a very similar manner to the rest of Wuyi oolongs. It is traditionally fired a shade darker than most Yancha although this is not necessarily a steadfast rule. Why is it far more consumed than for instance the three other famous bushes (Tie Luo Han, Shui Jin Gui, Bai Ji Guan)? Simply put, Shui Xian is a highly prolific bush. (more…)
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1989 Hualien Camellia Sinensis Aged Taiwanese Oolong [Episode 50]
In episode 50, Denny and James start a short series on Aged Oolongs with Camellia Sinensis‘ 1989 Hualien. A great introduction to aged oolongs, especially dry and clean tasting ones.
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Aged Oolongs [March 2014 Tea Drinking Report]
Since the beginning of 2014, I’ve dedicated each month to a specific type of tea. This means I drink that genre of tea in some form at least once a day. This could mean gong-fu, grandpa, or even a cold-brew. I’ll still consume other teas, but the primary focus is understanding and building a palate for a specific type/genre/region of tea through repetition. This the most personal blogging type style of post for TeaDB, and the goal is to stretch my palate as well as give recommendations to those interested.
Primary vendors ordered from:
Also featuring:
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Shui Xian Sea Dyke Wuyi Oolong [Episode 49]
Episode 49, Denny and James review a big Chinese supermarket staples, Sea Dyke. Retailing for $1.50/125grams, James picked this one up from a local (Seattle) Chinese market.
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Da Hong Pao, What’s in your Cup? Blending & Popular DHP Surrogates
Da Hong Pao (Big Red Robe) is one of China’s ten most famous teas, owns a mythic origin story and is as close to a household name as exists in tea. Given this, it is unsurprising that the name Da Hong Pao is a great marketing term for purveyors of tea. The name Da Hong Pao or Big Red Robe simply sells. Vendors are well aware of this and tea marketed as Da Hong Pao or Big Red Robe is often the only Yancha offering sold by generalist tea vendors. Obviously these teas are not the Da Hong Pao from the original bushes of the legend. So, what are these vendors selling as Da Hong Pao? A simple question, but the answer is complex and often ambiguous. (more…)
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2003 Shui Xian Hui Yuan Origin Tea Wuyi Oolong [Episode 48]
In Episode 48 Denny and James review a premium top-tier Yancha from Origin Tea. This one is a Shui Xian grown deep in the Wuyi natural reserve.