I've only had dark Wuyi Qi Lan oolongs before, and I like them very much, so I was eager to try this greener one. I've heard that in general, more tightly rolled teas are higher quality, and this tea was rather loosely rolled, with the leaves taking up a lot of space. But the aroma suggests otherwise...the dry leaf has a strong orchid aroma--much more so than darker, more oxidized qi lan that I've tried. I don't think I'd be able to recognize this tea as the same varietal as the darker qi lan, from the first infusion at least.

I've had Tie Guan Yin and Dong Ding with a dominant orchid aroma, but this tea is different. Although the aroma is light and floral, and suggests sweetness, I find upon drinking this tea, there are more darker herbaceous tones, but without the bitterness I normally associate with those sorts of aromas. There's a complete absence of astringency, bitterness, sourness, or sweetness, although somehow this tea has some body to it.

I made two infusions. The second was surprisingly different in character. It had a peppery quality that was totally absent in the first infusion, and was less floral. In this cup, the aroma was more like the darker qi lans with which I am familiar, than in the first cup.

I enjoyed this tea greatly.

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