This is a rather perplexing brew. Grown at over 6000 feet in Darjeeling, this single estate oolong comes across much like a white tea. The pale green leaves are curly in an unruly sort of way. They bear a dust and dry grass aroma that makes me immediately think of a good silver needle.

The instructions provided call for a whopping 3 teaspoonfuls per cup. The leaves are quite fluffy so I can see why one would need to be generous. A measurement in grams would be more useful here but let's not split hairs... I infused the leaves in 8 ounces of water heated to 190 degrees Fahrenheit for 4 minutes. The resulting liquor is a deep tan colour with a light muscatel perfume. At the forefront are smoke, nut and wood-infused notes. These are followed by a lightly lemony profile. The finish is brimming with muscatel notes that verge towards more bitter, vegetal tones as the tea cools. Snap peas and baby spinach are featured prominently here. There is also an elusive floral tinge that peaks out once in a while. This is an interesting cup for sipping contemplatively. Following the twists and turns of the evolution of the flavour as it cools brings many surprises as each sip is different from the next.

I tried two more infusions. After a 5 minute and a 6 minute and a half brew, the subsequent steeps were rather flat and one dimensional. While they were not that far removed from the flavour of the initial cup, they were lacking in complexity. I find this rather disappointing coming from leaves with of such pedigree.

This tea is more flavourful than your average white tea. It doesn't behave like an oolong either and even less like a Darjeeling. This melting pot of traditions and influences has created a truly unique brew. Rather dissimilar flavours merge together in a somewhat confusing fashion. Overall the experience is pleasant but takes some getting used to. This tea will turn all your expectations upside down. It's rather pricey but sample sizes are available. I'm not sure I would pay the price to drink it again but I'm glad that I got to try it. This is a special tea indeed, for connoisseurs with deep pockets.

— To purchase Rare Tea Republic Phoobsering Special Oolong Organic, 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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