Soothing and smoothing. So is oolong, a partially oxidized Chinese tea, often rolled, twisted, curled into balls or strands, and from so little a shape so thick a texture emerges on the tongue. Still, oolong differs from each other. Fresh, fruity, floral, fragrant, foggy… for all of them, Oolong can be. The set serves the best representatives of Oolong across Taiwan and mainland China, more as a cautious welcome to the world of this fascinating type of tea. Iron Goddess (Tie Guan Yin 铁观音) 10g / Anxi, Fujian. lightly oxidized, having probably all that you would expect from the type of Oolong. Golden yellow in color, floral in aroma, rich in aftertaste, the brew of this tea is immediate, yet also worth pondering over. Formosa Alishan High Mountain Oolong (阿里山乌龙) 10g / Alishan Mountain, Taiwan is also an Oolong of light oxidation. The liquor is in a fine blend of green and golden colors. The taste also has a heavily floral taste on the tongue, while more refreshing and carrying a vegetal flavor that is unique to the Ali Mountain. Formosa Milky Oolong (金萱奶香乌龙) 10g / Jiayi, Taiwan Not necessarily having the MILKY taste that you would want out of dairy products, Jinxuan Milky Oolong (金宣奶香乌龙 / Taiwan) is still not a disappointment. This tea is a semi-oxidized Oolong, with its key attribute, however personally, being the resilient sweetness even after several minutes. The brew is smooth, and the taste is vegetally sweet with a note of orchid in a mix of mellow, fresh and creamy texture. Duck Shit Dancong (Ya Shi Xiang 鸭屎香) 7g / Phoenix Mountain, Chaozhou is a distinctive semi-oxidized Oolong famous for its strong aroma and coarse texture. The brew of this tea wafts a savory fragrance of flower, fruits, yet in a combination with the herbal flavor of the tea itself. The tea tastes, however, neither overly floral nor fruity. The liquor immediately reveals a smoky coarseness on the tongue, with complex flavors of longan and honey orchid only afterwards. Big Red Robe (Da Hong Pao 大红袍) 8g / Wuyi, Fujian highly oxidized Oolong, probably also the most famous one of this type. Belonging to the kind of “Rock Teas” grown in Wuyi Mountains of Fujian Province, Big Red Robe is most-known for its “rocky” taste where the long-lasting sweetness is combined with a heavily complex mineral notes and floral aromas.
