When I’m at dim sum, I always order sticky rice when I can. So, I was excited to see how this tea would match up to it.
Description: “Has a creamy texture and sticky rice aroma, imparted unto the tea during processing by heating the sticky rice plant’s leaves along with the tea leaves.“
Instructions: 90°C/194°F | 1 teaspoon per cup/small teapot | 1-2 minutes
Review: This tea comes from Choke Chamroen Tea Estate, Doi Mae Salong, Chiang Rai, Thailand. The tea was grown at a 1,350m altitude, handpicked and light roasted. The leaves were scented with Nuo Mi Xiang Nen Ye (a herb that is known to smell like sticky rice)!
The dry leaves were tightly rolled and are emerald green to olive with stems. As expected, it had a grassy, herbal smell which did resemble rice! After steeping for 1 minute, the olive leaves had slightly unfurled and there were many steams alongside the crumpled leaves. The wet leaves smelled more sweet and floral than rice-like.
The liquor was a light tan-yellow colour and had a sweet, earthy, herbal, and nutty smell. As for taste, it had a very clean herb taste that reminded me of sticky rice: sweet and a bit savoury. When the liquor cooled, the flavour became slightly more savoury and there was some dryness at the back of the mouth.
Overall, I have to say the tea did remind me of sticky rice! It took me a few cups to get used to the taste because I never had encountered a tea that was slightly savoury! This would be a nice one for someone who enjoys sticky rice or wants to try something different (3.5/5 rating)!
- Type: Oolong tea
- Origin: Thailand
- Caffeine: Unknown
- Ingredients: Oolong tea
- Company: What-Cha
The question of the post: Do you like sticky rice?
I tried a Sticky Rice Oolong from DAVIDsTEA earlier this year from Taiwan!
P.S – I am fairly certain this tea used to be called “Thailand Sticky Rice ‘Khao Hom’ Oolong Tea.” Many years ago it was made by another farmer and switched names in 2017.
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