Formosa Oolong from Serenity Teahouse
Serenity Teahouse is a small tea shop in Box Hill, a suburb of Melbourne. A tiny sign dangles above the sidewalk. Downstairs, there’s an Asian bakery that sells the tea; but the real fun begins upstairs, where Candy, the owner, will treat you to free tea tastings. Her family runs a tea farm (or several?) in Taiwan, so her specialty is in Taiwanese teas.
Among those is this formosa oolong, which I liked so much I decided to dedicate my first yixing tea set to it.
Formosa oolongs are a darker oolong, (meaning it has been oxidized more). They tend to be full-bodied, with some of the verve of black teas but without the mouth-puckering sharpness.
Serenity Teahouse’s formosa oolong has a weak nose. Surprising, considering how aromatic their other teas are. But where their greener oolongs have the most delightful aroma but a light flavour, the formosa oolong is less aromatic but has a stronger flavour.
The formosa oolong tastes of stonefruit and asparagus. In a way, it reminds me of the Ceylon black tea I reviewed last week. Similar flavours, similar character ? it just has less bite.
I’m not sure whether Serenity Teahouse ships internationally, but their website is here.
Jake wrote:
Oolong is so well and widely regarded in Taiwan that when ever we stay there and eat out (visiting Taiwan is a rare treat so we eat out all the time
they bring Oolong if we order tea. Some places you get the polite inquiry whether we want Oolong or something else.