Jan 21
Vanessa’s Teaview Snapshot
 | "The aroma of both the dried leaves and the brewed liquid is primarily floral, although there is the slightest hint of nutty-creaminess present. The most important aspect, of course, is flavor, and this tea hits the bulls-eye in that respect."
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9.5/10
I consider myself a tea fanatic, so I should be ashamed to say that Merkaba's Quangzhou Milk Oolong is the first milk oolong I have tried. But, disregarding my shame, let me say that if this milk oolong is any indication of all milk oolongs, then I am sold! Milk oolong is a type of oolong that is produced due to a sudden shift of temperatures during the harvest, which results in a remarkably creamy (or milky) flavor and texture. This tea is a delight for all of the senses. To start with, the dried leaves form tightly wound clusters of bright green leaves, that when infused, open up to reveal whole leaves. The liquid produced is so light in color that I questioned if there would be any flavor in the tea (of course, the answer is a resounding yes- there was plenty of delicious flavor in this tea!). The aroma of both the dried leaves and the brewed liquid is primarily floral, although there is the slightest hint of nutty-creaminess present. The most important aspect, of course, is flavor, and this tea hits the bulls-eye in that respect. I was amazed first at the sheer creaminess of this tea's flavor (as in, am I sure someone didn't slip some milk in this tea?), and secondly at how smoothly and effortlessly the creaminess (best described as a nutty creaminess) blended with the floral tones of the oolong. I have never, ever contemplated adding milk or creamer to an oolong tea, but for whatever reason, the natural creamy flavor works wonderfully. There is also a subtle natural sweetness to this tea.The Merkaba website features an interesting legend about the origins of the milk oolong; it's a beautiful story for a beautiful tea. If it hasn't been made apparent, let me summarize my opinion of this tea in simple words: this tea is fantastic. I think this tea has appeal for seasoned oolong drinkers, but will also easily appease those who usually drink black tea with milk and sugar. The only potential downfall of this tea is the price. At $8.10 per ounce and $87.50 a pound, this isn't your everyday tea. This tea has unique properties that may make the cost well worth it, but I suspect that the high pricetag may be out of most tea drinker's budgets. Still, I would recommend splurging on an ounce of this tea, as it is worth experiencing this tea at least once.
— To purchase Merkaba Quangzhou Milk Oolong, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular blend, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.
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Vanessa Teaviews.com Reviewer » Read more about this reviewer on Vanessa's profile page. » Find a list of recent posts by Vanessa. |
January 21st, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Glad you enjoied it. While this tea is a bit more pricy per ounce, let’s not forget that it is good for multiple infussions. Based upon the average 12-15 cups per ounce (depending upon how strong of a flavor you prefer) that breaks down to just $0.54 to $0.68 per cup. Not too bad all things considered.
My Rating:
9/10