Name: Plum Blossom Oolong Reserve
Brand: Teas Etc
Podcast: Listen to my podcast interview with Beth Johnston of Teas Etc.
Type: Oolong
Form: Loose leaf
Cost: 1 ounce tin, $16.95, quantity discounts available.
Review: I drink a lot of tea. Most of it is either good or indifferent. Some of it is bad, and there is a very small percentage that I would define as “spectacular”. This tea falls into that last category.
Plum Blossom Oolong Reserve is a Bai Hao (also known as Dong Fang Mei Ren or “Oriental Beauty”) oolong. I am partial to these intensely flavorful oolong leaves, which get much of their unique flavor from having been bit by little insects called “leafhoppers” while still on the tea bush. This version from Teas Etc, however, is now my favorite.
The dry leaf is a dark, mauve-brown with a generous sprinkling of silvery tip. The nose is quite faint, slightly musty, with a bit of wood. The tea infuses to a light yellow-gold with a touch of green, and an intensely rich, fruity nose.
Sipping this tea is a delight, and may actually confuse some tea drinkers, as the liquor is so incredibly “juicy” that it is hard to believe that it hasn’t been flavored. The body of Plum Blossom Oolong Reserve is rich, full, and borders on creamy. The flavor is that of plumbs that have been drizzled with dark honey and baked.
Oh Yum.
Try this one, please. You won’t be disappointed.
Preparation Tips:
- Keep the water temperature on this tea down. Teas Etc recommends 180F-185F and I would agree. Yes, I know that darker oolongs are supposed to be “tough”, but the fruitiness of this tea really emerges at the cooler temperature.
- Don’t be afraid to add more leaf than the package instructions suggest if you want more intense fruit flavor.
- Try it on ice. Most delicious, and is great with food.
- This tea isn’t cheap, but it is good for several infusions. I have found that Teas Etc’s Glass Brew Mug is a great choice of teaware for this tea, because it makes re-infusion so easy.
Affiliate Links in this Post?: Yes
Sample Provided By Manufacturer?: Yes
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