Tag: Oolong
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Da Hong Pao: My Old Nemesis
Seven Days of Seven Cups, Day 7 – “Da Hong Pao: My Old Nemesis” Da Hong Pao (“Big Red Robe”) . . . my old nemesis . . . we meet again. Now, I’ve gone on record several times over the years as saying that Da Hong Pao was one of my least favorite oolongs.…
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Lao Cong Shui Xian Oolong . . . or Wulong
Seven Days of Seven Cups, Day 6 – “Lao Cong Shui Xian Oolong . . . or Wulong” A thought occurred to me while I was doing this Wuyi oolong-fueled, seven-blog stretch. I haven’t once referred to “oolong” as “wulong”. Granted, I never do, but it’s a particular sticking point here . . . because…
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Searching for the Cinnamon in Rou Gui
Seven Days of Seven Cups, Day 5 – “Searching for the Cinnamon in Rou Gui” Rou Gui holds the distinction of being the first—and a long time ago, only— Wuyi oolong I liked when I first got started. Of course, in the last year or so, my palate has since Stockholmed its way into acceptance…
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Tie Luo Han: The Iron Monk Oolong
Seven Days of Seven Cups, Day 4 – “Tie Luo Han: The Iron Monk Oolong” This interesting oolong derives its name—Tie Luo Han, which means “Iron Monk”—from old legends linked to a particular cave. I couldn’t even find a picture of this legendary cave, and—believe me—I looked. All that came up were Mindcraft photos. So,…
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Ba Xian: Oolong of the Eight Immortals
Seven Days of Seven Cups, Day 3 – “Ba Xian: Oolong of the Eight Immortals” Ba Xian literally means “Eight Immortals” in Chinese. The name refers to the tea plant cultivar used to create this particularly odd Wuyi oolong, but it also has a legend attached to it. Don’t they all? The name is a…
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Bai Ji Guan or White Rooster Crest
Seven Days of Seven Cups, Day 2 – “Bai Ji Guan or White Rooster Crest” Bai Ji Guan—translated as “White Rooster Crest”— earns its name from the color and shape of its leaves. They’re rather yellow and crest-like. According to legend, an old rooster died near a place called Hui Yan Rock. The locals buried…
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Seasoning A Boob-Shaped Yixing Teapot
Seven Days of Seven Cups, Day 1 – “Seasoning a Boob-Shaped Yixing Teapot” In December of last year, I shattered my boob-shaped yixing teapot. Yes, it was boob-shaped once. Not . . . accurately boob-shaped, but definitely figuratively. It had a whole story behind it and everything. (The story in question can be found HERE.)…
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Russian Tea Garden Profile: Host
Well over a year ago, I tried a green tea from a Russian tea garden that just . . . blew my mind. The garden—according to the vendor, What-Cha—was called “the Host tea estate”. I corresponded with the company owner for some time, and he informed me that he could find no information on the…
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All Four Doke First Flush Teas In One Day
Begin Doke Diary transmission. I’ve already written about the Doke tea estate in Bihar, India on several occasions. Everyone who reads this blog already knows my leanings toward it. That being, it’s my absolute favorite Indian tea garden. Yes, in all of India. But out of the countless tea profiles, taster notes, and lapses in…
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An Original Da Hong Pao Oolong Awakening
Da Hong Pao literally means “Big Red Robe” in Chinese, and it has a very big history. There are no less than five origin stories for this particular kind of tea. The most famous, exported legend deals with an emperor (or imperial official) whose mother was ill, and teas produced from Da Hong Pao trees…