Okay, so, I tried making dark oolong tea today, and let me tell you, it was quite the experience. I’ve always been more of a simple tea guy—grab a tea bag, pour hot water, and go. But lately, I’ve been seeing these fancy tea posts online, and I figured, why not give it a shot?
First, I had to get some actual oolong tea. I remembered reading somewhere that “Rishi Iron Goddess of Mercy” is good, but man, that stuff is expensive! I ended up going to a local tea shop, and the guy there recommended a “Competition Grade Tie Guan Yin” from Yunnan Sourcing. He said it was the best, and I have to admit, the name sounded pretty cool, so I bought it.
Next, I had to figure out how to actually brew this thing. Apparently, making oolong is a whole process. It’s not as simple as my usual tea bags. The tea shop guy gave me some basic instructions, but I also looked up some stuff online. It turns out that oolong is like a mix between green and black tea, which I didn’t know before. I also learned that good oolong is a lot of work—people still make it by hand, and it takes a lot longer than other teas.
So, I followed the instructions as best as I could. I heated the water to the right temperature—not boiling, but pretty close. Then, I rinsed the tea leaves with a little hot water, which felt kind of weird, but I did it anyway. After that, I steeped the leaves in the hot water for a few minutes. The smell was amazing—kind of flowery and rich.
The Tasting
- First Steep: I poured the tea into my cup, and the color was a beautiful golden yellow. I took a sip, and wow, it was intense! The flavor was much stronger and more complex than I expected. It had a floral taste, but also a bit of a roasted, nutty flavor.
- Second Steep: I added more hot water to the leaves and steeped them again. This time, the tea was a little lighter, but still had a lot of flavor. I noticed some new flavors, too, like a hint of honey or something sweet.
- Third Steep: By the third time, the tea was getting weaker, but it was still enjoyable. The flavor was more subtle, but I could still taste the floral and roasted notes.
Honestly, the whole process was kind of fun. It felt like a little ritual, and the tea was definitely worth the effort. I can see why people are so into this stuff. It’s not something I’d do every day, but it’s a nice treat for when I want to slow down and enjoy something special. I think I might try some other types of oolong in the future. Maybe I’ll even get brave enough to try that “Rishi Iron Goddess” stuff, even if it does cost an arm and a leg!
