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Alex Zorach

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Member since Sep. 1st, 2009. Reviewed 1448 teas.

Reviews of Oolong Tea

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Picture of Nepal Guranse Estate Organic Oolong Tea

Nepal Guranse Estate Organic Oolong Tea from Simpson & Vail

Style: Oolong Tea – Region: Nepal

84 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
May. 3rd, 2018

A good tea that resembled Darjeeling first flush teas and probably would have convinced me it was a "black" tea if it had not been labeled as an oolong. It's more like a Himalayan black tea that had something different or unusual about it. Not what I expected; it was nothing like Chinese oolongs, nor like Darjeeling oo...

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Picture of Wuyi Da Hong Pao

Wuyi Da Hong Pao from Harney and Sons

Style: Da Hong Pao – Region: Wuyi, Fujian, China

74 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 2/5
Feb. 16th, 2018

This tea was good, but it just didn't wow me the way I would need a tea in this price range to do in order to want to buy it.

The dry leaf smells exquisite, multifaceted, and hard to describe. Although the color is dark, the smell resembles green teas in some ways. Softly toasty and bready, hinting at floral and s...

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Picture of Saimo Assam Summer Organic Artisanal Oolong

Saimo Assam Summer Organic Artisanal Oolong from TEAORB

Style: Oolong Tea – Region: Tinsukia, Assam, India

93 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
Dec. 20th, 2017

A fascinating and really enjoyable tea that was unlike any oolong I have ever tried before, but still shared some of my favorite qualities of oolongs. This tea had a soft and gentle quality, like the edge had been taken off relative to the green or black Assam teas I have been sampling recently.

I had no idea what ...

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Picture of Magnolia Oolong

Magnolia Oolong from Harney and Sons

Style: Oolong Tea – Region: Guangdong, China

86 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Jun. 22nd, 2017

This was my favorite oolong that I have sampled in a long time. After being let down by several oolongs from Harney & Sons, this one hit the spot.

The leaf, which is quite wiry, smells amazing and multifaceted: floral, fruity, toasty, spicy. There's a skunky note and a pleasant bready, baked-good quality. It seem...

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Picture of Old Tree Shui Hsian

Old Tree Shui Hsian from Harney and Sons

Style: Shui Hsien Oolong – Region: China

71 / 100 Aroma: 6/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 2/5
May. 28th, 2017

The dry leaf has an interesting shape, loosely curly, less long and wiry than most Wuyi oolong. It's intensely aromatic, smelling like roast and fruit; the fruitiness is quite astounding, it's maybe a little like dried peaches or apricots.

The brewed cup is very roasty, with notes of wood and hints of coffee. It's...

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Picture of Rou Gui Oolong

Rou Gui Oolong from Harney and Sons

Style: Rou Gui – Region: Wuyi, Fujian, China

72 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 2/5
May. 5th, 2017

Overall this was more run-of-the-mill than I expected for such a high-end tea. My favorite thing about it was the smell of the dry leaf, the actual cup was good, but not as interesting.

The dry leaf smells incredibly beautiful...multifaceted too, lightly roasty, very fruity, like baked goods, suggesting sweetness, ...

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Picture of Ceylon Oolong

Ceylon Oolong from teakruthi

Style: Oolong Tea – Region: Matara, Sri Lanka

81 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 3/5
Jan. 25th, 2017

I've reviewed over a hundred oolongs, and tried several oolongs from "unusual" places, i.e. countries that are not known for making oolong, including India, Kenya, Japan, and Nepal, but this is the first one I've tried from Sri Lanka.

It was very strange, and I'm glad I tried it, but it's the sort of tea I would hav...

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Picture of Hairy Crab Oolong Loose Tea

Hairy Crab Oolong Loose Tea from Murchie's Tea & Coffee Ltd

Style: Hairy Crab Oolong – Region: China

87 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Nov. 16th, 2016

I thought this was a delightful tea. I have tried a Mao Xie before, and loved it, but it was an unbranded type that someone brought me back from China so I was not able to review it. This one was a lot like I remember it: pungent and a bit edgy and odd, but in a way that I liked.

The dry leaf has an aroma that is ...

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Picture of Himalayan Oolong Tea

Himalayan Oolong Tea from Udyan Tea

Style: Oolong Tea – Region: Nepal

93 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
Jan. 25th, 2016

A singular tea! This was the first Nepal-grown Oolong that I've tried. I find oolongs from the Himalayan region (I've tried seven from Darjeeling) to be incredibly variable. This was probably my second-favorite and was among my favorite of all teas labeled as oolongs, although it bears little resemblance to oolongs o...

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Picture of Oolong Tea

Oolong Tea from Dynasty

Style: Oolong Tea – Region: China

67 / 100 Aroma: 6/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 4/5
Dec. 20th, 2015

I used to drink Dynasty's tea bags regularly, around 2002-2005, before I got into loose-leaf tea. They're pretty good, and they were my fall-back when I was unable to find Ten Ren's (my favorite oolong in a tea bag, but not widely available).

This tea is only mildly aromatic, and it has a smooth, well-balanced flav...

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Picture of Japanese Oolong Organic

Japanese Oolong Organic from Upton Tea Imports

Style: Oolong Tea – Region: Japan

53 / 100 Aroma: 6/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 2/5
Dec. 9th, 2015

This is the first oolong tea I've ever tried from Japan, one of a few Japanese teas other than green teas that I've ever sampled. It has a classic oolong character, but I was disappointed, it just doesn't seem all that good.

The aroma of the dry leaf is pleasantly nutty, with light notes of roast. The dry leaf look...

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Picture of Se Chung Special Oolong

Se Chung Special Oolong from Frontier

Style: Se Chung Oolong – Region: ?????

47 / 100 Aroma: 5/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 1/5
Dec. 7th, 2015

A mediocre tea, disappointing among Se Chung oolongs, a fairly broad group of oolongs that I tend to enjoy a lot.

Dry leaf looks unusual for Se Chung oolongs, the leaves are mostly in long, twisted shapes like Wuyi oolongs, unlike the tightly-rolled shapes of Tie Guan Yin and other Anxi oolongs. The leaf is fairly ...

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Picture of Formosa Pouchong

Formosa Pouchong from Upton Tea Imports

Style: Pouchong Tea – Region: Taiwan / Formosa

47 / 100 Aroma: 5/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 2/5
Nov. 16th, 2015

This tea was a disappointment and I don't recommend it. I sampled and reviewed this tea some time ago but forgot to post the review.

Dry leaf consists of long, intact wiry leaves with a slightly dusty look, and smells very different from any other pouchong I've tried, an intense smell of jam or fruit preserves, lik...

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Picture of Smoky Mist Oolong Tea

Smoky Mist Oolong Tea from Health & Tea

Style: Oolong Tea – Region: Taiwan / Formosa

70 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 2/5 Value: 3/5
Apr. 29th, 2015

An interesting roasty oolong that had some flavor characteristics of aged oolongs. Thank you Kelsey for sharing this one with me. I really enjoyed the aroma, but I found it too sour for my tastes.

The dry leaf looks and smells like a typical moderate-to-dark roast oolong of good quality.

The brewed cup is really ...

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Picture of Jade Oolong (Four Seasons Spring)

Jade Oolong (Four Seasons Spring) from Rishi Tea

Style: Four Seasons Oolong – Region: Nantou, Taiwan

90 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Mar. 31st, 2015

Outstanding. Probably the best Four Seasons oolong I've ever tried. Rishi consistently impresses me with their oolongs! Thank you to Kelsey for letting me brew this from your sample.

The dry leaf is a beautiful green color, very tightly rolled, and has a strong aroma suggesting shortbread cookies and a hint of sp...

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Picture of Oolong Formosa

Oolong Formosa from Sahpat Teas

Style: Oolong Tea – Region: Taiwan / Formosa

60 / 100 Aroma: 6/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 3/5
Mar. 31st, 2015

A decent, run-of-the-mill oolong that tastes a lot like the ones served in Chinese restaurants. Sample from the Philadelphia Coffee and Tea Festival; thank you to Sahpat Teas and Kelsey for sharing this one with me.

Leaf looks finely broken, and doesn't have the strongest smell, but upon brewing, becomes very aroma...

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Picture of Serene GABA Tea

Serene GABA Tea from Health & Tea

Style: GABA Oolong – Region: Taiwan / Formosa

47 / 100 Aroma: 4/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 3/5
Mar. 23rd, 2015

Odd, just odd, and I didn't enjoy it very much. My first experience with GABA tea.

The dry leaf of this tea looks brown, like a moderately roasted oolong, and has a faint nutty aroma with hints of gingerbread cookie dough.

Upon brewing, the main thing I notice is the lack of obvious oolong aroma. The aroma is v...

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Picture of Bao Zhong Oolong Tea

Bao Zhong Oolong Tea from Rishi Tea

Style: Pouchong Tea – Region: Taiwan / Formosa

90 / 100 Aroma: 9/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 4/5
Mar. 5th, 2015

I thought this tea was exquisite, probably my favorite Bao Zhong ever sampled, and among my favorite greener oolongs.

The dry leaf is quite fragrant, with a pleasant floral and vegetal aroma, and a hint of roast.

Upon brewing, the tea takes on a greener character than suggested by the smell of the dry leaf, and t...

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Picture of Iron Buddha

Iron Buddha from Simply Good Tea

Style: Tie Guan Yin – Region: Fujian, China

73 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 4/5
Feb. 22nd, 2015

This is a classic example of the "modern green style" of oolong, popular in Taiwan and China these days, with no discernable roast or oxidation.

The dry leaf is an intense green color with yellowish accents, not particularly tightly rolled, and not very aromatic.

As soon as water hits the leaves though, there's a...

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Picture of Formosa Oolong Tea

Formosa Oolong Tea from Health & Tea

Style: Oolong Tea – Region: Taiwan / Formosa

77 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 3/5
Feb. 17th, 2015

A versatile tea, rich but mellow, that I can see enjoying in any weather.

The dry leaf has unusually big rolled leaves that look more loosely-rolled than most ooloongs, and has a pleasant nutty aroma with vegetal and floral notes.

Upon brewing, produces a delightful, full-bodied cup with a rich nutty aroma. Ther...

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Picture of Misty Rock

Misty Rock from Simply Good Tea

Style: Oolong Tea – Region: Wuyi, Fujian, China

80 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 4/5
Jan. 5th, 2015

A classic Wuyi oolong of high quality, with whole, intact leaves and a complex aroma. The dry leaf has a pleasant roasty smell, with a honey-like floral note. I find the dry leaf very pleasing to smell.

Brews up a rather clear and light cup with a light flavor. The aroma is both roasty and floral with nutty notes...

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Picture of Brandy Oolong

Brandy Oolong from Octavia Tea

Style: Oolong Tea – Region: Fujian, China

97 / 100 Aroma: 10/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
Dec. 19th, 2014

Wow. This tea is pretty exceptional...buttery smooth, but incredibly rich. The dominant notes are of dried fruit, like fig, date, or raisin. It does have a brandy-like quality. It lives up to the claim of "tremendously complex flavors" although I think it's the aroma that is most complex.

Flavor is bold, slightl...

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Picture of Orchid Bao Zhong Oolong Tea

Orchid Bao Zhong Oolong Tea from Octavia Tea

Style: Pouchong Tea – Region: Taiwan / Formosa

67 / 100 Aroma: 7/10 Flavor: 3/5 Value: 2/5
Nov. 22nd, 2014

Sampled in Velvet Sky in Jenkintown. Bao Zhong, or Pouchong, has been one of my favorite types of tea since I tried it, but I'm occasionally disappointed by it, and this is the fourth-worst example of it that I've tried. That may sound specific, it wasn't all that bad, but it was not close to my favorite example of t...

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Picture of Four Seasons Oolong Tea

Four Seasons Oolong Tea from Health & Tea

Style: Four Seasons Oolong – Region: Taiwan / Formosa

73 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 4/5 Value: 3/5
Nov. 9th, 2014

I wrote this review last year, and somehow forgot to post it!

I tried this tea at the Philadelphia Coffee and Tea Festival, and enjoyed it. I also took a sample, which I've since brewed a number of times.

Dry leaf smells a lot like a lightly-roasted traditional oolong, smelling pretty woody. Upon brewing, has a...

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Picture of Bio Pao Chung Pouchong

Bio Pao Chung Pouchong from Teehaus Bachfischer

Style: Pouchong Tea – Region: Taiwan / Formosa

83 / 100 Aroma: 8/10 Flavor: 5/5 Value: 5/5
Oct. 21st, 2014

I loved this tea, and it was also very reasonable in price.

Dry leaf has an incredibly pleasant nutty and toasty aroma, much more toasty than any other pouchong or bao zhong tea. There's also a hint of honey and flowers.

The brewed cup has a beautiful balance of floral and nutty, toasty tones. There's a mild, h...

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