Phoenix Honey Orchid Oolong 蜜蘭香烏龍

I’m only just beginning my little tea journey, and this was such an encouraging start. Honeyed florals over a bed of tobacco made for a joyful first brew. Truly excited to try many more from Teaphile. Thank you, Annie!

Although full of subtleties and complexity, it doesn't take a refined palate or years of tea-tasting experience to sense what makes this tea so special.

The first thing you would notice is the incredible floral sweetness of the leaves' aroma - both dry and wet. Stick your nose into the bag of this tea and you'd think you're smelling honey or candy if you didn't know any better. Once you wet the leaves, you'll smell its sweet floral aroma over a strong base of a nice, quite-oxidized oolong.

This is also how I'd describe the taste of the tea itself: long-lasting high notes of sweet flowers over a full, rich, umami-filled oolong. I'd compare this with many Taiwanese Oolongs which tend to be less-oxidized and although aim for a similar floral sweetness, have a less-bold base in favor of being

In this way, I'd say that this tea serves incredibly as both a tea to taste on its own, being able to focus on the long-lasting finish and complex flavors as well as being a tea to enjoy alongside a nice meal, bold enough to not let its flavors be obscured by the flavors of the food.

This is an absolute must-try for anybody! I personally use about (or a little over) 5 grams in my gaiwan with water at 205F. I start my steeps at around 10-15 seconds, though that's a minor adjustment to suit my own tastes - 5-10 seconds may be more than enough time for many.

TL;DR: This is an incredibly sweet and rich tea that you should absolutely try at least once!

A couple of months ago I started drinking Chinese tea, so I was used to drink English Breakfast and green tea. I got white tea and Annie included a sample of Mi Lan.
In the first steep I was intrigued, but as I keep drinking I fell in love. It has a delicious aroma and taste, with a very natural sweetness that resembles the taste of honey. The sample lasted for more than 8 infusions.
A week later I got a whole box and now is one of my favorite teas.