I haven’t had a lot of great luck with oolong teas. The people who drink them seem to be passionate about a good oolong, but I’ve never found any that particularly wow me. Most of them are pretty samey, to my taste, and when I got a sample packet for Adagio’s vanilla oolong free with an order I placed, I wasn’t convinced that would be a good combination.
After trying it, am I convinced?
I don’t really know.
Man, I really don’t encounter a lot of teas that give me these feelings. Is it good? Yes. Do I like it? Yes. Did I drink the whole cup straight without adding anything to it? Yes. Would I buy it again, or pick it out myself, knowing it was enjoyable? I have no idea, and that strikes me as really strange.
Flavor-wise, it was mild and pleasant, softer and sweeter than my favorite black teas and with a hint of greenness best associated with oolong–something right in between the two, just as it should be. The sweetness probably came from the vanilla, which was very understated and non-dominant, and the brew had a very pleasant woody, nutty sort of flavor that I honestly associate more with hazelnut or cocoa nibs than something like this. It was all-around enjoyable, not too strong, perfect straight out of the teapot, and while I can see myself wanting to drink this again tomorrow, I don’t know if I care enough to order it again.
Is that weird? It’s weird to me. For something to be really tasty, yet not leave enough of an impression to want it to stick around beyond the sample packet. Ultimately, I think part of my feelings stem from the fact that if I want that sort of flavor profile, I get it plus a lot more nuance from something like the Aquarius blend I got from Adagio for my birthday, also for free.
So, good? Yeah. Worth trying? Yeah. But not positive it offers enough “new” flavor to become a staple on my shelf, if that makes sense.
Try oolong milk tea by Tea Republic.