To quote this company’s website: “Dedicated to fostering one of the oldest traditions in the world — the ancient art of tea — Tillerman Tea aims to introduce America to authentic, producer direct, Taiwanese oolong tea and inspire modern appreciation for this traditional beverage. Every Tillerman tea tells a story; a story of passion for the soil, of dedication to the art and craft of growing and making tea. The stories our teas tell are unique, and each resonates with qualities brought to it by the dedicated growers who produce them.” Here’s the story I gathered from Tillerman Tea’s Shan Lin Xi High Mountain Oolong.
– TEA INFORMATION –
Origin: Nantou County, Taiwan
Ingredients: Oolong tea (Spring 2017)
Water Temperature: 90 degrees Celsius
Steep Time: 1-2 minutes
– APPEARANCE+AROMA –
Dry Leaf: rolled, brown and deep green
Wet Leaf: green, leaves and stem, cream and flower fragrance
Liquor: bright yellow, clean and fresh
First Sip Thought: “Butter cookies.”
Tasting Notes: I shouldn’t have been too surprised with this comparison as the dry leaf aroma reminded me of this baked good as well but after the first sip of this tea I couldn’t get melt in your mouth butter cookies off of my mind. Of course, after the first steep, the gorgeous, large oolong leaves begin to unfurl and show off their rich green colour. I shared some sips with my mom and she’s always amazed at how some oolong leaves transform! After a couple more infusions I was presented with pineapple and more creamy butter notes. This oolong had a nice, crisp texture to it, matching with those flavours. The fruit essence fades in the finish and floral notes shine. My mom is working on describing what she tastes as more than just “tea” and when asked during our session with this tea she thought it was like a bouquet of summer flowers throughout. While tea in general can be calming, I found this Shan Lin Xi High Mountain Oolong to exceed that notion. It doesn’t have very strong floral characteristics (if we’re going by my notes, not my mom’s), yet it still had me thinking of relaxing at an outdoor garden picnic. All in all, this spring 2017 oolong from Tillerman Tea is high on my list for the summer.
Verdict:
*Interested in this tea? You can find it online here.