Chicago Tea Garden Loose Leaf Oolong Tea 'High Grade Ben Shan Oolong'

Tea Information:
Tea: High Grade Ben Shan Oolong
Type: Oolong Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: Chicago Tea Garden
Purchase: Here
Description:
Etymology: “Ben Shan” translates to “Source Mountain”
Other Names: Benshan

Origin: China, Fujian Province, Anxi County

Harvest: Spring 2010

Taste: Roasted and floral, with a lasting nutty after-taste.

Behind the Leaf: Ben Shan is one of the famous Anxi County oolongs from China. The name “Ben Shan” is the cultivar of camellia sinensis used to make this oolong.


Steep Information:
Amount: 1 tsp
Water: boiling
Tool: Bee House teapot
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: vegetal, nutty
Steeped Tea Smell: buttery, sweet
Flavor: vegetal, nutty
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: astringent
Liquor: translucent honey yellow

Re-Steep Information:
Water: boiling
Tool: Bee House teapot
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Steeped Tea Smell: sweet, roasty, nutty
Flavor: roasty, nutty
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: nutty, astringent
Liquor: translucent honey yellow

Came as a gift with an order from Chicago tea garden.

I could have steeped this more, but after 4 cups of tea it was time for bed.

I really love this oolong, not as much as the new zealand oolong but it's this nice nutty roasty, but not too dark, tea.

If you enjoy a little roast to your tea I highly recommend you try this!

Rating: 4/4 leaves


Leaf system:
1=Bleh! not again if it were free
2=Acceptable, if it were free or there were limited other tea options
3=I might purchase this tea from time to time, or select it while out
4=A staple in our cupboard from now on, I will purchase and keep purchasing









I received this product for free in return for writing a review. All my reviews are as unbiased as possible, whether I buy or receive free product. I accept no other compensation other than free product.

Chicago Tea Garden Loose Leaf Oolong Tea 'Zealong Dark'

Tea Information:
Tea: Zealong Dark
Type: Oolong Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: Chicago Tea Garden Company
Purchase: Here
Description: Repeated roasting gives these leaves a rich, deep taste, with a hint of charcoal on the nose and no bitterness.
Zealong is grown naturally, without chemical sprays, fertilizers, additives, or other contaminants. Additionally, a strict quality assurance system has been implemented that meets the ISO22000 standard. This tea tended and picked by hand, and is processed to the world’s most stringent food safety standards.

Steep Information:
Amount: 2 tsp
Water: 16 oz 195°F
Tool: Adagio IngenuiTEA 16 oz
Steep Time: a little over 2 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: a little roasty, hints vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: buttery vegetal
Flavor: roasty, lightly vegetal
Body: Medium
Aftertaste: roasty
Liquor: translucent light yellow-brown

2 Resteep:
Water: 16 oz 195°F
Tool: Adagio IngenuiTEA 16 oz
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes

a bit astringent

3 Resteep:
Water: 16 oz 195°F
Tool: Adagio IngenuiTEA 16 oz
Steep Time: a little over 3 minutes

yummy

4 Resteep:
Water: 16 oz 195°F
Tool: Adagio IngenuiTEA 16 oz
Steep Time: a little over 4 minutes

MilitiaJim says weak, I agree

5 Resteep:
Water: 16 oz 195°F
Tool: Adagio IngenuiTEA 16 oz
Steep Time: a little over 5 minutes

weak, no more after this

Favorite Zealongs: Aromatic, Pure, and then Dark.

I don't love dark enough to swoon over it, but I do swoon over pure and aromatic.

Rating: 3/4 leaves


Leaf system:
1=Bleh! not again if it were free
2=Acceptable, if it were free or there were limited other tea options
3=I might purchase this tea from time to time, or select it while out
4=A staple in our cupboard from now on, I will purchase and keep purchasing















I received this product for free. All my reviews are as unbiased as possible, whether I buy or receive free product. I accept no other compensation other than free product.

Chicago Tea Garden Loose Leaf Oolong Tea 'Zealong Pure'

Tea Information:
Tea: Zealong Pure
Type: Oolong Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: Chicago Tea Garden
Purchase: Here
Description: Sweet, fresh-tasting leaves are unroasted, bringing out the pure, natural flavor of the tea.

Zealong is grown naturally without chemical sprays, fertilizers, additives and other contaminants. Additionally, a strict quality assurance system has been implemented that meets the ISO22000 standard. It is tended and picked by hand and processed to the world’s most stringent food safety standards.

For more information, see our Zealong page.

Steep Information:
Amount: ~6g
Water: 150ml boiling filtered water
Tool: Adagio IngenuiTEA 16 oz
Steep Time: a little over 1:30 minutes
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: vegetal
Steeped Tea Smell: honey, sweet, floral, vegetal
Flavor: buttery sweet
Body: Light
Aftertaste: vegetal
Liquor: translucent pale yellow-green

Sweet, buttery, delicious - but not as good as the Zealong Aromatic.

An excellent oolong.

Resteep (2) Information: 150ml, boiling, 1:30 - sweet, vegetal, a little nutty

Resteep (3) Information: 200ml, boiling, 2:00, vegetal, a little nutty, a little bitter

Resteep (4) Information: 200ml, boiling, 2:00, vegetal, a little nutty, a little bitter

Resteep (5) Information: 200ml, boiling, 2:00, vegetal, a little nutty, bitter

Rating: 4/4 leaves


Leaf system:
1=Bleh! not again if it were free
2=Acceptable, if it were free or there were limited other tea options
3=I might purchase this tea from time to time, or select it while out
4=A staple in our cupboard from now on, I will purchase and keep purchasing

Chicago Tea Garden Loose Leaf Oolong Tea 'zealong aromatic'

Tea Information:
Tea: zealong aromatic
Type: Oolong Tea
Packaging: Loose Leaf
Company: Chicago Tea Garden and Zealong
Purchase: Here
Description: These leaves are roasted at high temperatures for a clear aroma and taste, with a hint of fruit and flowers.

Zealong is grown naturally without chemical sprays, fertilizers, additives and other contaminants. Additionally, a strict quality assurance system has been implemented that meets the ISO22000 standard. It is tended and picked by hand and processed to the world’s most stringent food safety standards.

For more information, see our Zealong page.

Chicago Tea Garden First to Import New Zealand Tea to the USA

Steep Information:
Amount: 25g
Water: 750ml filtered water at 195°F
Tool: Breville One-Touch Tea Maker BTM800XL (Oolong, custom)
Steep Time: 1 minute
Served: Hot

Tasting Notes:
Dry Leaf Smell: tropical, fruity, sweet, milk oolong
Steeped Tea Smell: fruity, sweet, milk oolong
Flavor: sweet, smooth, milky, vegetal
Body: Light
Aftertaste: sweet
Liquor: translucent pale yellow green

Wow! look at how much those leaves expanded! I kept the leaves in the refrigerator when I ran off to work in order to try a resteep or two when I get home tonight. I was tempted to try a cold brew but needed to run for my train.

I think I need to tweak with the steeping parameters, it's a bit weak, I may try a little longer or a little hotter.

Overall even weak it was fruity and smooth and enjoyable. With current steeping parameters I would not buy more of this flavor, but would enjoy what I have and gladly select it when out. I am hoping it improves with tweaking.

I think sweetener would overpower the tea.

The packaging was beautiful and very well done. There was a pamphlet, a booklet, and a box. The box was textured black with slashes of green on the inner box that you could see through the cut outs on the side. Inside the box was a miniature brochure and a tin that was also textured. Inside the tin was a resealable vacuumed packaged bag that was also textured! I'm grateful for all the information included as well by the Chicago Tea Garden.

Rating: 3/4 leaves


Leaf system:
1=Bleh! not again if it were free
2=Acceptable, if it were free or there were limited other tea options
3=I might purchase this tea from time to time, or select it while out
4=A staple in our cupboard from now on, I will purchase and keep purchasing


my package from the Chicago tea company


the outside of the box







the inner pamphlet



The tin





The bag:





Making the tea: