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Milk Oolong
Jul. 21st, 2010 09:48 pmTrying the Milk Oolong that was sent to me with my rare basics sampler (obviously the teas I got weren't what were in the description - instead I got Castleton Estate, Darjeeling, FTGFOP1, 1st Flush, Longevity Oolong, Dragonwell, Wild Mountain, and the Milk Oolong).
In any case, after trying the Peaches & Cream Green a second time this morning (which I liked maybe a little bit better), and then this Milk Oolong, I'm thinking maybe I just don't go for creaminess in my tea. I mean, on the one hand I feel like it could grow on me, and I certainly don't dislike it enough to throw it out (I'll make my way through it eventually), but... It actually kind of reminds me of the situation with the kakigoori popsicles I mentioned a while back that I loved. However, the next day and ever since, the thought of having one has repulsed me. I even tried one just to see if I needed to wet my appetite for it or something, and I think I had all of one bite before washing it away in the sink. So somehow, something in me is rejecting all things creamy? I really don't get it.
Back to the tea subject briefly, when I Googled to learn more about milk oolong (I have so much trouble deciding when teas are capitalized and when they aren't...), and was reminded of two things. Or three, I guess. One, I should really try for shorter brewing times. I feel like I've experimented enough with Dragonwell to know that I like that at 170 F for 3.5 minutes, but it's been a long time since I've tried it after only 2 minutes, and there are a lot of people out there who say that it should only be brewed for about 2 minutes, at least for the first brew. And, for whatever value there is in learning to like tea the way others like it just because that's how they like it, maybe I should try to appreciate a "true" brew of my favorite tea, rather than my "bastardized" version. Two, which is related to the one, if I do gain at least some appreciation for the two-minute brew, it will not only give me leeway to give the leaves a second and even third steeping, saving me money, but it'll also help me to learn more about the unique qualities of each steeping and hopefully help me appreciate them better. And three... I'd really like to start following more tea blogs, and learning more about tea in general. It's definitely something to me that I'm branching out from my small-ish repertoire in terms of what I drink, but... I dunno. I guess I'd like to immerse myself in it just a bit more, and improve my ability to talk about it too?
Video!
Mou... I want to start studying the (Japanese) tea ceremony again already... :(
In any case, after trying the Peaches & Cream Green a second time this morning (which I liked maybe a little bit better), and then this Milk Oolong, I'm thinking maybe I just don't go for creaminess in my tea. I mean, on the one hand I feel like it could grow on me, and I certainly don't dislike it enough to throw it out (I'll make my way through it eventually), but... It actually kind of reminds me of the situation with the kakigoori popsicles I mentioned a while back that I loved. However, the next day and ever since, the thought of having one has repulsed me. I even tried one just to see if I needed to wet my appetite for it or something, and I think I had all of one bite before washing it away in the sink. So somehow, something in me is rejecting all things creamy? I really don't get it.
Back to the tea subject briefly, when I Googled to learn more about milk oolong (I have so much trouble deciding when teas are capitalized and when they aren't...), and was reminded of two things. Or three, I guess. One, I should really try for shorter brewing times. I feel like I've experimented enough with Dragonwell to know that I like that at 170 F for 3.5 minutes, but it's been a long time since I've tried it after only 2 minutes, and there are a lot of people out there who say that it should only be brewed for about 2 minutes, at least for the first brew. And, for whatever value there is in learning to like tea the way others like it just because that's how they like it, maybe I should try to appreciate a "true" brew of my favorite tea, rather than my "bastardized" version. Two, which is related to the one, if I do gain at least some appreciation for the two-minute brew, it will not only give me leeway to give the leaves a second and even third steeping, saving me money, but it'll also help me to learn more about the unique qualities of each steeping and hopefully help me appreciate them better. And three... I'd really like to start following more tea blogs, and learning more about tea in general. It's definitely something to me that I'm branching out from my small-ish repertoire in terms of what I drink, but... I dunno. I guess I'd like to immerse myself in it just a bit more, and improve my ability to talk about it too?
Video!
Mou... I want to start studying the (Japanese) tea ceremony again already... :(
