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Golden Tea Leaf’s Iris Orchid Oolong

Iris Orchid Oolong by Golden Tea Leaf
Oolong Tea / Straight
$15.00 for 50g

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Golden Tea Leaf has provided me with Iris Orchid Oolong for the purposes of providing an honest review.

First Impressions

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Iris Orchid Oolong came to me from Golden Tea Leaf in a black sample packet. The tea leaves are dark, almost a purple-black with a light twist. The aroma that wafts up from the tea leaves is primarily floral that reminds me a lot of orchids, although I don’t really smell anything that reminds me of irises.

According to Golden Tea Leaf, Iris Orchid Oolong is a oolong from the Guangdong Province in China. This is a straight oolong tea. There was some tiny tea leaf fragments in the sample packet.

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Preparation

There were no preparation recommends on the packet of Iris Orchid Oolong, or on the product page. However, Golden Tea Leaf has a page all about their teas (Everything About Oolong Tea).

Golden Tea Leaf recommends steeping oolongs at 95°C (203°F) water for a first steep for 2 minutes or less, a second and third  steep for 2 to 5 minutes, and for any steeps beyond that for 2 to 5 minutes. My initial steep was for 2 minutes.

First Taste

Iris Orchid Oolong steeps to a beautiful pale yellow after a two minute steep. The aroma that comes up from the steeped oolong, and the fragrance is so deeply floral. This oolong is smooth, with a touch of floral creaminess. I found the tea to have a slight sweetness. Iris Orchid Oolong does taste a lot like the way it smells – very floral and enjoyable. I found that the flavour to be enticing because the floral notes are so inviting.

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A Second Cup?

I resteeped Iris Orchid Oolong according to Golden Tea Leaf’s recommended steeping instructions. I opted to add an additional 30 seconds per subsequent resteep. I found that Iris Orchid Oolong became a darker yellow with each steep until it became a bright golden yellow. The flavour became creamier, with a hint of butter, all the while retaining the bright floral flavours and fragrance. I resteeped Iris Orchid Oolong a total of eight times before it started to lose too much of the flavour.

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My Overall Impression

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I loved Golden Tea Leaf’s Iris Orchid Oolong. I found that the tea was perfectly floral, with a really nice creaminess to the steeped tea that got better with each steep. The floral notes were sweet, and not overwhelming to the senses while being inviting. I found that the tea was smooth and tasty. Iris Orchid Oolong resteeps so well, I would definitely recommend having this one over and over again. The floral sweetness is enough that this tea doesn’t need anything added to it at all. I quite appreciated Golden Tea Leaf’s recommended steeping times for each steep and enjoyed the tea that I got out of these oolong tea leaves.

Curious about the cup rating system? Click here to learn more.

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Tea Experience: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Vancouver, BC
Notch8 Restaurant & Bar
Afternoon Tea $65 for Adults, $23.50 for Children (≤12)

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A very lovely friend treated me to afternoon tea at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver on West Georgia Street in Vancouver. Shortly after arrival, we were whisked away to our table – we walked past people having brunch and the amazing buffet selection with everything in matching Le Creuset pans.

The table settings were beautiful, with the white cloth napkins folded so lovely like a tree. It was my first time having afternoon tea at the Fairmont, so I’m not sure if it was their usual design or if they change it up for their themes. When we were leaving, we were told that the January theme was Hollywood. Continue reading “Tea Experience: Fairmont Hotel Vancouver”

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Teazorean’s Hysson

Hysson by Teazorean
Green Tea / Straight
$16.83 for 32g

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Teazorean has provided me with Hysson for the purposes of providing an honest review.

First Impressions

Teazorean describes Hysson as their “premium grade green tea”, and they sent me 10g to me in a cute little tin. The tea is a nice mix of different shades of green, with the pieces of tea leaves being flat. The smell that comes out of the tin of tea leaves is one that’s primarily vegetal and earthy – it reminds me a bit of mushrooms with a salty undertone.

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Hysson is a straight green tea. Teazorean shares details about where the tea leaves are grown on their website if you’re interested in learning about their tea farm on a volcanic island.

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Preparation

Teazorean recommends steeping Hysson at 205°F (96°C) water for 5 minutes. My initial steep of Hysson followed Teazorean’s recommended steep times.

First Taste

I found my initial steep of Hysson to be quite bitter and quite undrinkable due to the high levels of astringency – the initial steep at 5 minutes was a dark, dark orange. I attempted another steep of Hysson with water at 175°F (80°C) for 2 minutes. I found the tea to be palateable, with a mild astringency, no bitterness, and just some earthy mushroom notes in the tea. I really do think that the recommended steep temperature and time was far too hot and long for these leaves.

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A Second Cup?

I resteeped Hysson again at 175°F and for about 3 minutes, and found that the flavours were quite similar to the first steep. The big difference was less astringency and milder mushroom earthy notes to the tea.

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My Overall Impression

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I liked Teazorean’s Hysson. I was really disappointed with this green tea when I steeped it in the recommended temperature water and for the length of time. It was far too bitter and astringent at the recommended steeping instructions. Once I steeped it at a cooler temperature and for less time, I found Hysson was a tasty cup of green tea with delicate mushroom flavours. It’s a nice tea, and I really enjoyed it. I think this would make a great pairing with savoury foods.

Curious about the cup rating system? Click here to learn more.