As a VERY avid tea drinker, I always love it when a tea surprises me with something totally unexpected. That’s exactly what happened with Naivetea’s Shan Lin Shi Oolong. All of my expectations for the taste of this tea were pleasantly challenged with each new cup - which made for a very fun tea journey!

Unlike many oolongs I’ve tried, this one started off with a really distinct flavor profile in my very first cup (I followed all of the steeping instructions from their website, including an initial rinse of the dry leaves). Although I had expected some super sweet floral notes with this green, unroasted style, what I actually got was very different. It had a real grace and elegance to it – the sweet, pear notes matched up well with a smooth, balanced texture and a really light and clean mouth feel.  So while the flavor is pungent right from the start, it doesn’t overpower and its velvet sweetness quietly makes it way down the throat.

The second steep surprisingly isn’t as balanced. Those lovely sweet notes are a bit out of whack with some slightly astringent tastes on the tip of my tongue. And is that a bit of sourness I’m tasting on the sides of my mouth as it finishes?  Funny, the third steep was more rounded. Maybe even with some saltiness mixed in with what now came across as subtle citrus notes. OK, I’m intrigued. What next? Oh, are those floral notes that I’m now tasting in my fourth steep??? The texture is smooth and balanced and that slight astringency is completely gone, leaving behind that subtle sour finish I noticed earlier.

I ended up doing five steeps and this tea kept me intrigued and surprised throughout all of them. With the exception of the second steep, this tea never tasted bitter and its complex flavors held their own. I love surprises and that’s what made this a really fun tea to drink!

— To purchase Naivetea Shan Lin Shi, 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.

Rebecca Teaviews.com Reviewer » Read more about this reviewer on Rebecca's profile page. » Find a list of recent posts by Rebecca.

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