Products won as part of a giveaway
It has been years since I last visited Taiwan, so it was serendipitous when I won Taiwanese oolong tea!
I won a tea scented candle and the Taiwanese Alishan Oolong tea bags when Lu Ann from The Cup of Life, tagged me on an Instagram giveaway and she won. This post will focus mostly on the oolong tea, however, since the candle is tea-related, I will also give a quick review of the candle as well!
Chimney & Tea’s Cottage Retreat High Mountain Oolong Tea
Description: [C]ottage Retreat High Mountain Oolong Tea has a light smoky, mood-lifting taste, pleasant aroma profile, as well as naturally sweet long-lasting aftertaste that will linger at the tip of your tongue and nose with every sip[.]
Instructions: Boiling water from kettle with the lid closed | 3 to 4 minutes | steep in a ceramic mug | re-steep up to 2 times in a sitting, or until it no longer adds flavour when steeped
Review: The tea came wrapped in recycled material packaging, and the paper was folded so nicely, that I almost didn’t want to unwrap it. Under the paper were a re-sealable pouch and a label. Before opening the package, I didn’t realize it was tea bags, so I was surprised! Rather than a circle, square, or even pyramid tea bag, it was a rectangle tea bag, that reminded me of an instant drink package.
I personally had not tried Taiwanese oolong in a tea bag before, so I wanted to taste it! Curiosity got the best of me, and I opened up one of the tea bags. The dry leaves were small and broken, with various shades of green, from lighter to dark forest green. When the water hit the tea bag, there was sweet, floral, and grassy smell.
Infusion 1 (3 minutes): After brewing, the golden-brown liquor had a nice roasted barley smell that lingered in the air. The liquor started roasted and bready followed by floral and vegetal notes. The liquor was more vegetal in taste when cool and was drying at the back of the throat and tip of the tongue.
Infusion 2 (3 minutes and 30 seconds): The liquor had more of a yellowish green colour and smelled more vegetal. The taste was also more vegetal and floral with a faint lingering toasted taste and bitterness at the end of the sip.
Infusion 3 (4 minutes): At this point, the leaves were spent and the yellowish liquor mostly vegetal and grassy, intertwined with some bitterness.
After steeping, I opened the tea bag. The wet leaves were in a lump and were a dark olive green mass with a faint vegetal and roasted smell.
Despite this being the first time I tried oolong tea in a tea bag, I liked the convenience of it. However, one thing I have always enjoyed about oolong tea is seeing the large tea leaves opening up and unfurling. This had a nice roasted quality and I personally enjoyed the first and second steep the best. This is nice for someone who wants to try oolong tea in a different format, or something with a roasted, vegetal or floral note. I can see myself bringing a package or two of these on a trip since they are easy to brew (3.5/5 rating).
- Type: Oolong tea
- Origin: Taiwan, Alishan
- Caffeine: Unknown
- Ingredients: Oolong tea
- Company: Chimney & Tea
Tea House Candle’s Gyokuro
Description: Its subtle floral aromatics are reminiscent of springtime, as light shimmers through the fresh blooms of silky pink cherry blossoms. A subtle hint of yuzu is added as the perfect compliment to brighten this already delicate scent.
I’m not someone who tends to use candles a lot, however, I couldn’t pass up a tea scent one! I asked Tea House Candle to send what they recommended, and I received the Gyokuro. The candle arrived in a heavy glass holder and was made of 100% soy wax with fragrance and essential oils. The candle was a pearly white colour and had 2 wicks.
The cold scent throw lingered in my room and there was a delicate, soft, floral, sweet, and faint citrus scent that filled the room. I can appreciate the spring vibes from it and I enjoyed how delicate the scent was and that it wasn’t overpowering.
Company: Tea House Candle
The question of the post: Have you tried oolong in a tea bag or had a tea scented candle?
Liked this review of Chimney & Tea’s Cottage Retreat High Mountain Oolong Tea or Tea House Candle’s Gyokuro Candle? Pin it!
