The dry leaves were not very aromatic, but when I brewed it...wow.

This tea has a very rich and complex aroma: bold, earthy, with some nutty and woody tones, and a floral quality as well. Of all the teas I've tried from Upton, this is the one which seems to deviate the most from its lower-grade counterpart--this hardly resembles the basic Amber Oolong. It's certainly worth paying more for this higher grade.

The flavor is smooth, but with some very pleasant bitterness; this tea is very full-bodied and astonishingly rich. It actually seems more bitter than the lower grade--but in a way that I enjoy very much. There is also a mild objectionable quality to the lower grade amber oolong that is totally absent in this tea.

I find you can easily get away with using significantly less than one teaspoon of leaves, and brewing for a shorter period. Most people might actually prefer using fewer leaves and shorter brewing time, as this is a powerful tea. It is good for multiple infusions, whether you brew a long time or not. I prefer making two cups, but if you use 1+ teaspoons/cup as recommended, and brew a shorter period of time, you can make two very flavorful cups and a third fairly flavorful one.

This is among my favorite teas from Upton yet. It's not cheap, but I think it offers outstanding value, especially given the richness of flavor and complexity of the aroma you are able to get from so few leaves.

Add your own review

Login or Sign Up to comment on this review.