Adagio: Anteadote Organic Oolong
Thursday, June 11th, 2009
Anteadote Organic Oolong
I can’t say I know too many people that actually know what Oolong truly is. For those of you that are new to tea, Oolong is tea (camellia sinensis) just as much as black, green, or white. In fact, many of the most popular Oolongs steep to reveal a much fuller and greener tea leaf than green and black teas. I like steeping Oolong for people so they can connect to what tea really is – a leaf. Often, Oolong is loosely described as being in-between a green and black tea. In other words, it is processed using a particular method to where the leaves are semi-oxidized. To me, some of the more enjoyable teas I’ve had over the past few years have been Oolongs. Do not be afraid to try an Oolong if you haven’t. It has such a clean, fresh, slightly floral, nutty, fruity, and lasting flavor that creates for a unique tea experience with a high value.
As far as Anteadote’s effort to make an unsweetened iced tea from organic oolong – excellent work. I really enjoyed this. Every sip was rewarding. This was so much better than their green tea for me. It was identifiable from the get-go. When I opened the bottle, I could smell the freshness that was captured during production. I was immediately reminded of the many loose leaf Oolongs I’ve enjoyed over the years. I know my friends and family would enjoy this tea. It’s going to take a lot of bloggers and marketers to get the word out that Oo”long” is not short on flavor and value. The word “crisp” comes to mind as I’m drinking this. I’m simultaneously being relaxed as I refresh with this beverage. I had to pace myself not to drink the entire bottle before I took a few notes. I was impressed with Anteadote’s Organic Oolong.
Visit Anteadote – Adagio Teas for more information
marTEA
Over the past two weeks, I’ve been enjoying 
I popped the tin on Zhi’s organic Plum Oolong, and it was like opening a box of chocolates (sounds like a quote from a movie you might have seen). Anyway, the dark Oolong leaves and plum essence had an almost chocolate covered fruit scent to it. I couldn’t wait to make a few cups due to the intriguing scent. The plum is a top-three favorite fruit for me. So whenever I get the chance to try a tea flavored with plum – I take it. Zhi’s Plum Oolong consists of Organic Sechong Oolong. As you can tell from the picture, this is a very dark Oolong. I found the tea to be very refreshing. It has a tangy fruit zest to it that was enjoyable. It’s recommended that you steep the tea at a water temperature of around 185-195 degrees for 3 minutes. I typically infused the tea leaves twice per sitting.
This was an enjoyable Oolong from Upton. The tea was flavorful, affordable and therefore an excellent value. Utpon’s China Oolong Se Chung (ZO10) is an Oolong that has a tad bit more of a vegetal/green flavor, but it still has a solid natural sweetness and the floral notes are loud and pronounced. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this Oolong. I enjoyed the slight greeness found in the Oolong. If you follow your palate and standard steeping techniques (water temp 170-190 degrees for 3-5 minutes), you’ll get the most out of the leaves with a powerful scent and flavor. The Oolong creates a silky smooth liquor. The texture of the steeped tea rolls gently over your tongue. With each sip you are left with a pleasing aftertaste.
One of the first things you notice when you drink loose leaf tea is the quality and consistency of the leaves. This Oolong is both consistent in size and shape and the leaves unfurl to reveal their beautiful jade green color. It’s a very relaxing and entertaining tea experience. The scent of the dried Oolong was very elegant. The air from the Anxi mountains escapes from the leaves. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about tea, it’s the strength it gives you simply by enjoying the scent and taste. I know it sounds odd to those of you that don’t enjoy tea, but the scent of the dried tea is very much a part of the tea experience. This is a tea where you can get lost in the scent. Anyway, as the tea steeped it was fun to peek in the clay tea pot to see how the leaves were unfurling. The first cup had an oceanic vibe with a light buttery flavor. As the tea cooled the sweet floral flavors were revealed. You can get several steepings from the lush tea leaves. I really enjoyed the subtle tones of this tea. I’ve read about the treacherous nature of the mountain and just how difficult it is to pick tea there, let alone drive up or down the mountain. So, for those of you that farm and pick this tea – Thank you!
-It’s important to try new things, and I haven’t had a tea flavored with Osmanthus flowers (I don’t think). So, today I’m drinking an Osmanthus Oolong Se Chung from Upton. Se Chung Oolong has a slightly shorter fermentation period than most Oolongs; therefore, it has more of a vegetal flavor. I’ve had several teas flavored with Jasmine. For the most part, I enjoyed them. With any flavoring, the key is balance. I don’t want to drink a tea that tastes like a scented candle. I want to be able to appreciate the tea as well as the overall blend. In this case, I want to taste the natural green-sweetness of the Oolong mixed with a fragrant mix of Osmanthus flowers. This particular Oolong was much better than I expected. Upton’s Se Chung Oolong has received favorable reviews from Upton’s customers; therefore, I assumed the osmanthus flavored version was a safe bet.
There’s just nothing better than sitting down with a pot of hot water, your favorite steeping pot, and a good Oolong. What a way to pass the time. Many Oolongs can and should be steeped multiple times. Each steeping reveals a hidden layer of this beautifully crafted tea. Due to its processing, Oolong is not quite a black tea and its not quite a green tea (referring to Oolongs oxidation period – it’s in between green and black). Having said that, there are many Oolongs that closer resemble either a black or green tea. Typically, I’m looking for a fresh and inviting aroma coming from the tea. I often imagine that the aroma coming from the pot is similar to the air in the Wuyi Mountains. This Oolong has long dried leaves that are almost black in color. When the tea is steeped, the leaves do reveal a touch of green. The liquor is very light in color. The flavor is very mild. I didn’t detect the intense freshness or floral hints that I desire from an Oolong. All-in-all, this Oolong lacks the characteristics of my favorite Oolongs. I steeped the tea several ways to make sure that I wasn’t doing something wrong. I just couldn’t get the flavor I desired out of the leaves. If you are looking for a lighter flavored Oolong, this might be perfect for you. Be careful not to steep the tea in water that is too hot. I let the water cool to around 200 degrees before steeping the Oolong. When you get it just right, the tea is enjoyable. It’s just not as good as many other choices.