Tea: Osmanthus Oolong Se Chung
An Osmanthus Tea from Upton Tea Imports
This tea has been retired/discontinued.
Brand: | Upton Tea Imports |
Style: | Osmanthus Tea |
Region: | China |
Caffeine: | Caffeinated |
Loose? | Loose |
# Ratings: | 2 View All |
Reviewer: Alex Zorach
✓ 1453 teas reviewed
✓ 3 of Osmanthus Tea
✓ 261 of Flavored Tea
✓ 173 of Upton Tea Imports
✓ 382 from China
Review of Osmanthus Oolong Se Chung
March 29th, 2010
Aroma | Flavor | Value | Total |
9 of 10 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 93 of 100 |
Superb | Excellent | Outstanding |
I love this tea. Se Chung is absolutely my favorite style of oolong, and my favorite Se Chung is Upton's ZO10, so I was eagerly anticipating this one, and I was pleased to find a rich, complex tea that added a completely new element to the mix. I can't say whether I prefer this or the unscented tea more. They're very different but both amazing.
I found this tea is much better brewed with boiling water than with 190-degree water.
Like other green oolongs but much fresher, crisper, and bolder in flavor and aroma. The osmanthus is obviously adding something very different to the aroma, but it's significantly less floral than one would expect. Very different from Upton's other Se Chung, ZO10--the skunky and woody tones are presente but much weaker, but there are more herbaceous tones, like the freshness of parsley added to the rich earthiness of autumn leaves. The aftertaste is tangy and yet clean and light. There's a fair amount of bitterness but very little astringency.
Great for multiple infusions. The leaves hold a great deal of flavor and even with long brewing times you can easily make 2 or 3 strong infusions. I recommend 4 minutes followed by 10+ (this tea does not acquire any unpleasant characteristics if brewed for a long time), or 3 then 5-6 then 10+.