Tea Review: Pure Oolong Tea (Zealong/TeaGschwendner)

Pure Oolong
Zealong/TeaGschwendner
Type: Oolong
Origin: New Zealand
Product Description:

Zealong’s organic Pure oolong tea is sweet with fresh-tasting leaves that are un-roasted, bringing out the pure, natural flavour of the tea.

Zealong teas are hand-picked by only the top three leaves, are certified organic, and grown in the Waikato region in the North Island of New Zealand. Known for its unique climate and growing conditions, these teas are truly special and has won many international awards.

Temperature: 195° F
Amount: 3 grams
Steeping Time: 3-5 minutes

The dry leaves have a sweet, mineral-green aroma with notes of nuts, oats, and a hint of smoke.

The golden liquor has a rich, buttery, and floral aroma.  The taste is sweet, buttery, and smooth with a long sweet and buttery finish.

This oolong was surprisingly light following a 3 minute steep and at it's peak after steeping for 5 minutes.  The flavor was rather rich, reminiscent of milk oolong, and something in the aroma of the second infusion reminded me of buttered croissants (hello, sudden craving!).  The third infusion was mellow and still quite enjoyable.

This tea was purchased by me.

Tea Review: Black Tea (Zealong/Tea Geschwendner)

Black Tea (2020)

Zealong/TeaGschwendner
Type: Black
Origin: New Zealand
Product Description: 

Zealong Organic Black tea is a full-bodied, deep-amber liquor with a sweet, honeyed undertone and smooth, silky finish.

Zealong teas are hand-picked by only the top three leaves, are certified organic, and grown in the Waikato region in the North Island of New Zealand. Known for its unique climate and growing conditions, these teas are truly special and has won many international awards.

Temperature: 208° F
Amount: 3 grams
Steeping Time: 3-5 minutes

The dry leaves have a sweet and spicy aroma with notes of honey and aged wood.

The copper-red infusion has a sweet aroma of ripe stone fruit, honey, and flowers.  The taste is sweet,  with notes of fruit and honey, mild floral notes, and a hint of astringency.

This is a very forgiving tea with mellow flavor when steeped for 3 minutes and fuller flavor when steeped for 5 minutes. While the flavor is at its peak with the most nuance in the first infusion, the second and third infusions were still delicious. 

I have previously reviewed a black tea from Zealong in 2017, so it was an interesting and enjoyable comparison to the current version.

This tea was purchased by me.

Tea Review: Green Tea (Zealong & TeaGschwendner)

Green Tea
Zealong/TeaGschwendner

Type: Green Tea
Origin: New Zealand
Product Description:

Zealong’s organic Green tea is a smooth, silky liquor, with a rich taste of floral notes, toasted chestnuts and a subtle sweet finish.

Zealong teas are hand-picked by only the top three leaves, are certified organic, and grown in the Waikato region in the North Island of New Zealand. Known for its unique climate and growing conditions, these teas are truly special and has won many international awards.

Temperature: 175° F
Amount: 3 grams
Steeping Time: 2-3 minutes

The dry leaves have a sweet, green, and nutty aroma.

The light yellow-green infusion has a sweet, nutty, green aroma.  The taste is sweet and green with notes of sesame and cooked edamame.

This green tea is very approachable with a nice light flavor when steeped for 2 minutes.  Steeping for 3 minutes brings out a mild astringency for those that prefer their tea with a bit of a kick.  Overall, the taste is pleasantly mild, mellowing with each infusion.

This tea was purchased by me.

Tea Review: Black Tea (Zealong)

Black Tea
Zealong
Type: Black
Origin: New Zealand
Product Description: Zealong Organic Black tea is a full-bodied, deep-amber liquor with a sweet, honeyed undertone and smooth, silky finish.

Temperature: 208° F
Amount: 3 grams
Steeping Time: 3 minutes

The dry leaves have an aroma of fragrant wood and brown bread.

The infusion is red-orange with an aroma that is floral and spicy with notes of baked fruit and freshly baked brown bread.  The taste is rich, floral, and mildly savory with a long, sweet, floral finish.

This tea is almost fool-proof.  If you forget and leave it steeping, you'll still have a delicious cup of tea.  Two steepings produced full flavor and aroma while a third infusion mellowed noticeably.

This tea was purchased by me.