Another wonderful sample graciously provided by Teavivre for review.
I have taken a rather long time to review this tea.  Not because I dislike oolong or because I was just to busy or lazy to do it but rather because it is essential I be in a special mood for oolong and an even more special mood for milk oolong.  You see i have a special place in my heart for milk oolong.  Do you have teas like that too?  For me tea is the cure to moodiness . Each satisfying one and then the others.
So finally the day has come.  The setting is perfect, and my mood in the right place.  I have been so patient and I am so glad I can finally reap the benefits of my resolve.  I steeped the milk oolong three times each infusion a different experience, as it should be.
First, I used my Gaiwan for this special event.  I went to painstaking lengths to ensure the tea-ware was clean and warmed.  I used natural spring water freshly heated to 195°F (I understand it is recommended I use 212°F but I wanted multiple infusions at lower steep times and in most cases 195° F is the standard protocol.)  I gave the beautifully balled oolong a quick rinse.  Next, the infusions were as follows…
Temperature:     Steep Time:      Flavor Results:

195° F                 30 seconds       Light, fresh, slight milky aftertaste

195° F                1 minute            Balanced, creamier, fresh milk, not enough sweetness

208° F                 2 minutes         Greater oolong flavor, milkiness has faded, still fresh

My favorite infusion was the second.  While I did enjoy this milk oolong my favorite is still from thepuriTea.  I find theirs a little sweeter and creamier.  The milk plays a much stronger role than the oolong.  Where here the oolong is the major contributor.  So it is really based on what you want more.  If you are looking for a natural milk oolong that is more prevalently milky with an oolong flavor background, go for thepuriTea.  If you are looking for an incredibly fresh green oolong with a touch of fresh cream-like flavor in the background, go for Teavivre.  In this case one is not better than the other as they both offer different attributes.
I enjoyed this one a lot but I was hoping it to be just a bit more in milky flavor.  I am certain the qualities of this tea will vary by harvest but as for now I am grateful for the opportunity to try this and will happily complete my sample.  I can’t say for sure if I will keep it in my permeant cupboard, but then again I suppose it depends on my mood.  Lets just say I haven’t ruled it out.
Score: 4 out of 5

Today I am reviewing a Jasmine “Dragon Pearls” Green Tea that was so kindly provided to me by Teavivre.  Haven’t been wowed by many Jasmine teas in the past and I think the biggest reason is the artificial feel to the cup.  Often times too much Jasmine makes it into the cup creating a strong perfume like flavor which is amazingly obvious.  I was pleasantly surprised with this cup and hope the same positive words can be said for the remaining samples I have yet to make.  This would be my second tea I have tasted from Teavivre.  Both have helped me to regain hope that one day you can find a good cup of tea especially in a varietal that you thought you never would.

After allowing the tea to cool slightly I have come up a great personal association for it… a cup you can enjoy in a meadow full of blooming flowers in a peaceful spot with the sun warming your skin and a calm breeze bringing you peace.

Score: 4 of 5

Thanks for watching. As you can see I am still in he experimental state with these videos.  I appreciate your support during my growth with this process.

Today I tried my first of many tea samples I received so generously from Teavivre. I decided to give this one a try first but not for your typical reasons. There are those that eat dessert first and those that wait patiently after the main course. Even those that eat what they dislike most because your mom says you must eat it, afterall it’s good for you. In my case, I am having this first because historically I am a bit unimpressed with white teas. Basically I can live without them. All things considered, I will however try new white teas in hopes that maybe this time it will be different. I have enjoyed some in the past but it is rare and far in between and still not enough to keep any white teas permenately in my private stock. Before reviewing this tea I just wanted everyone to understand my history regarding white teas.

Tea: White Peony Tea (Bai MuDan)

Tea Company: Teavivre

Preparation:
1st Steep: Water Temp – 195ºF Steep Time – 2:30 mins
2nd Steep: Water Temp – 185ºF Steep Time – 3:00 mins

Results:
1st Steep: Upon my first sip; fresh from the pot, I honestly didn’t taste much. Once the liquid started to cool the flavors started to present themselves but you could swear they were trying their best to evade my tastebuds. So I rested my cup on the table and continued to pack away all the Christmas decoration all the while giving it a chance to further cool. After adequate time elasped I took yet another sip, then another, and yet again another and finally I could taste the ever so subtle flavors in my cup. They would first sneak up on me one by one and they finally like a choir all in concert playing well together. Still it was missing that “wow” factor for me. I tasted a light floral almost perfume like after taste and an almost paper like taste in the majority of the sip. I attempted another steep hoping for better results.

2nd Steep: Much better. I got a more distinct flavor profile this time. Of course it is still light in flavor, as expected of any white tea. However, this time there was a stronger more distint taste of dry paper. The floral aspect was also there but even more perfume like in nature. As it cooled it was nicer and I suspect it will taste refreshing as a cold brewed tea.

Overall Score: 3 of 5 – Pretty impressive for a gal who typically doesn’t think very much of white teas. Impressive indeed.