When I first got a glance at some of the teas that Jing Tea offers, I felt my heart rate increase just a touch. So many fine offerings. Their website is a tremendous source of knowledge in addition to all the fabulous-looking teas and teaware on offer.

My first introduction to Jing was their Phoenix Honey Orchid. Also traditionally known as Feng Huang Dan Cong Wu Long. This is an oolong tea that comes from the Guangdong Province in China -- Phoenix Mountain, to be more precise. To my detriment, I have tested this tea while somewhat congested and perhaps my senses were not fully 100%. Regardless, the impressions left on me by this tea were quite strong. Out of the blend comes an aroma recalling cocoa and orange peel. The leaves are long and wiry, and a shade of muted mahogany with a touch of light brown highlights.

Jing's recommended infusion is 3 minutes with sub-boiling water. This produced one of the more pale liquors I've encountered in a long time -- nary a hint of tea coloring. The leaves did not unfurl much in the pot, contradicting what I had expected. Nonetheless, the aroma in the cup was subtly beautiful, and not unlike that of the dry leaf scent. The taste was subtle and very smooth as well. A delicious oolong from the first sip, I didn't quite detect honey notes of any significance, but the cocoa and orange notes from the aroma come through on the palette, as well as a hint of vanilla. As the cup cools, a more potent woody/earthy flavor comes through. Astringency and bitterness are not present whatsoever initially, but begin to come through slightly on the finish with a cooler cup. A second infusion holds up well, with more of the same, with a slightly weaker taste, but one that is still bold enough to present a delicious cup.

Upon reviewing Jing's notes on this tea, I find they mostly contradict my findings. This can likely be attributed to the "complex" factor -- one which they allude to throughout their notes. Indeed, this tea is one of complex character, as I suspect it will present a subtly different flavor and aroma palette each time it is encountered.

— To purchase JING Tea Phoenix Honey Orchid Oolong, or for more specific information on ingredients or the story behind this particular tea, click here to go directly to the manufacturer's web site.

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