A Sampling of Two Taiwanese 2008 Spring Oolongs and One 2007 Winter Oolong

It is quite uncommon to run across any Taiwanese tea in Korea. The market is primarily full of green teas mostly Korean in Origin and more recently puerh from China. But today at a tea shop in the presence of friends, we laughed, kicked back, voiced tea preferences, and enjoyed an irregular treat.

The first is from Lei Mountain by the producer of the same name. It had a floral aroma typical of spring oolongs, no flower in particular just the sum of a garden full of different spring blossoms.

The taste was mild, bitter-sweet, with a slight woodiness. The notes of flowers softly smothered the mouth targeting the back of ones mouth like an aftertaste of lingering candy. The freshness of this tea in the back of the throat made it shine. It's happy energy could be felt.

The second tea was an Ah Lei Mountain oolong. The smell of the liquor was a deeper, huskier, mustier, and muted floral. This tea doesn't taste as it smells.

It was a heavier oolong with subtle sweet, bright high notes. It left dry astringency at the back of the throat where the Lei Mountain tea left floral footprints.

After relishing in the spring oolongs, an Ah Lie Mountain 2007 winter harvest oolong from the same maker was brewed up.

This tea had more bitter elements to it that came on fast over the front of the tongue. A oak flavour is felt on the tongue and left on the breath.

This tea had the least floral scent out of the three, perhaps a characteristic common of winter oolongs? This tea was most like a Korean green. One was comforted by this similarity albeit vague.

In the end it was nice to be able to compare Taiwanese teas of similar (mid range) quality from different regions and harvesting seasons. In this way one can begin to form opinions about a certain kind of tea. But, more importantly, it was nice to talk, share, and just be with like-minded tea friends and just enjoy tea for what it is- tea.

Peace