Is it a black oolong? No !
Is it an over-roasted aged Oolong?
Over-roasted? Definitely ! Aged? Yes, since I received this gift more than 15 years already but not quite sure exactly how old.
It’s a gift of old tea from the elder son of Shifu Lan who received the tea from one of his customers many years ago, so it is unclear exactly how old this aged Oolong tea is. And there is no clear information about from where the tea came from.
The humidity in Taiwan is pretty high, therefore some people will roast their tea regularly every year. If it’s not careful, tea can be over roasted that leaves will not open after 3 brewings. That’s what has happened with this tea after 8 brewings.
The aroma from the dried leaves is pretty intense wood roasted note; I brewed the tea with high temperature (95°C-99°C) with very short infusion, the tea texture is very gentle smooth and sweet with mushroom note in tea.
