Country of Origin: China
Leaf Appearance: deep green, somewhat rolled
Ingredients: oolong tea
Steep time: 3 minutes
Water Temperature: 175 degrees
Preparation Method: stainless steel infuser basket and ceramic teacup
Liquor: gold
The taste of this tea was mellow and sweet with a fruity floral undertone. There was a bit more depth to the second infusion so I would suggest rinsing the leaves before brewing your first cup. A pleasant creamy, roasty quality came more to the forefront. There was no bitterness or astringency to speak of, even when brewed for longer than the recommended three minutes. As far as Tie Guan Yin goes, this tea was sort of middle of the road. I’ve certainly had better but I’ve definitely had worse. The wonderful thing about tea is that there are varied levels of quality, each suited for different situations and purposes. Sometimes you want a spendy deal to meditate over in your gaiwan and sometimes you just want a cup of tea. At £8.90 for 100g (or about $14 for a bit over 3.5oz), this tea is priced fairly inexpensively. That makes it perfect for cold brewing iced tea or for brewing on the go. The Kettle Shed: Tea Company’s new packaging features adorable shed shaped boxes. I do wish that the inner bag was resealable though.
Iron Lady sample provided by The Kettle Shed Tea Company.