Test-Teas Tuesday.

It’s me again, here with some information you never asked for. Iron Goddess of Mercy is by far my favorite tea we’ve made. I event went and bought extra to keep at my desk and brew for myself if the temperature ever cools again.

What is Oolong?

Oolong tea is a traditional Chinese tea.

It’s made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, the same plant used to make green tea and black tea. The difference is in how the tea is processed.

All tea leaves contain certain enzymes, which produce a chemical reaction called oxidation. Oxidation is what turns the green tea leaves into a deep black color.

Green tea is not allowed to oxidize much, but black tea is allowed to oxidize until it turns black. Oolong tea is somewhere in between the two, so it is partially oxidized.

This partial oxidation is responsible for oolong tea’s color and characteristic taste.

This particular tea has 2 origin legends. I’ll let you decide which is more impressive.
(Wei Legend)

In Fujian’s Anxi County, there was a run-down temple which held an iron statue of Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Every day on the walk to his tea fields, a poor farmer named Wei would pass by and reflect on the temple’s worsening condition. “Something has to be done,” he thought.
Being poor, Wei did not have the means to repair the temple. One day, he brought a broom and some incense from his home. He swept the temple clean and lit the incense as an offering to Guanyin. “It’s the least I can do,” he thought to himself. And he did this twice a month for many months.
One night, Guanyin appeared to him in a dream, telling him of a cave behind the temple where a treasure awaited. He was to take the treasure and share it with others. In the cave, the farmer found a tea shoot. He planted it in his field and nurtured it into a large bush, from which the finest tea was produced. He gave cuttings of this rare plant to all his neighbors and began selling the tea under the name Tieguanyin, Iron Bodhisattva of Compassion.
Over time, Wei and all his neighbors prospered; the run-down temple of Guanyin was repaired and became a beacon for the region. From this time onwards Mr. Wei took joy in the daily trip to his tea fields, never failing to stop in appreciation of the beautiful temple.

(Wang Legend)

Wang was a scholar who accidentally discovered the tea plant beneath the Guanyin rock in Xiping. He brought the plant back home for cultivation. When he visited the Qianlong Emperor in the 6th year of his reign, he offered the tea as a gift from his native village. The emperor was so impressed that he inquired about its origin. Since the tea was discovered beneath the Guanyin Rock, he decided to call it the Guanyin tea.

Mediocre’s Methods:
For our pot, we brewed 7 tsp of tea leaves in approximately 7 cups of 206° water for 5 minutes.

My Thoughts:
Full disclosure, I was excited for today’s test. This is one of the first Oolong Teas I ever had and I’ve loved it ever since. It falls between the pale yellow/green of lighter teas, and the deep brown of black tea. I give it a firm 9/10.

For smell, this Oolong reminds me distinctly of “Chinese food,” which was mentioned more than once by other people during the testing. 8.5/10

For tasting, this tea is everything I wanted. It’s not bitter, it’s so smooth. 10/10 all the way.

If you want to add a little bonus to it, listen to this while you sip:

That’s some nice looking we…oh that’s tea

While this wasn’t my favorite tea, I did find a new appreciation for Oolong, which I had always categorized as “tastes like wheat” before this. I personally enjoyed it more with a packet of Truvia. But I also enjoy most of the teas with a packet of Truvia, so there’s that. I also have a new appreciation for actually paying attention how to brew tea since the beginning of this endeavor! Finally, I too thought it looked like weed @brandom

I brew 4 oolong teabags in a cup of water every morning and pour into a half gallon jug to take to work. I then fill the jug the rest of the way with water and drink throughout the day. No sugar. Keeps me hydrated and I like the taste.