Honey Oolong by Teakan
Oolong Tea / Straight
$38.00 for 61g
Honey Oolong is part of Teakan’s Volume 6 Exploration Kit, a collection of five single origin teas. Honey Oolong makes up 15g of the 61g kit.
First Impressions
Honey Oolong comes in the very familiar packaging from Teakan – a sealed and resealable kraft paper pouch with a minimalistic white and black label. On the front, the label details the location where this tea comes from (Minjian, Nantou, Taiwan), the type of tea (oolong), and when it was harvested (spring 2021).
Single origin teas are always a treat to enjoy, because everything from the amount of rain, sun, altitude, soil and fertilizer quality all make a huge difference on the tea plants for the growing season.
Honey Oolong has tightly bunched up leaves that are a mix of cream, deep green, and brown in colour. The aroma of the leaves are sweet, fruity, and floral. It’s really an inviting fragrance for the senses.
Preparation
Teakan has steeping recommendations for both western steeping and gongfu steeping.
For western steeping, Teakan recommends using 90°C (194°F) water for 2 to 3 minutes.
For gongfu steeping, Teakan recommends using 90°C (194°F) water for 30 seconds.
My initial steep of Honey Oolong was done western style, and I used the recommended water temperature and steeped for 2 minutes.
First Taste
Honey Oolong steeps to a light yellow. The aroma is (unsurprisingly, given the name) sweet and floral. The flavour of Honey Oolong is sweet, with a floral undertone. The floral notes remind me of peonies, if I had to pinpoint a specific flower. I found that the texture of Honey Oolong has a slight thickness to it, with a pleasant mouthfeel. There is no bitterness or astringency.
A Second Cup?
Honey Oolong’s leaves opened up so much after the initial steep. I resteeped Honey Oolong six times (seven leaves total with the same leaves), and found that the flavour remained fairly consistent throughout, only decreasing in intensity after the second resteep.
My Overall Impression
I loved Teakan’s Honey Oolong. This oolong was a treat for the senses from the dry leaf to the steeped tea, and even examining the spent leaves. Honey Oolong has a beautiful flavour and aroma, it was quite enjoyable to steep and drink. I enjoyed it hot, but I also had a cup that had cooled down so I think this tea would be great iced as well – the natural sweetness is a nice touch.
Curious about the cup rating system? Click here to learn more.