A balanced and smooth tea made from very large leaves. This batch is dry but not heavy, and the finish lingers pleasantly. If you haven't tried foshou before, this is my pick as an excellent example of the varietal.

Oolong Teas >> Foshou

Expansive creamy texture and a slightly dry flavor meld together smoothly in a mild finish. Overall this tea is reasonably similar to the spring 2008 batch. However, this one leaves a less weighty impression, having the greater intensity mid-taste than at the end. Well-balanced no matter how you parse it.

Oolong Teas >> Jinxuan

My most robust wulong of the season.

Oolong Teas >> Wulong

Mild and smooth with a quick touch of creaminess up front and a Baozhong-style floral finish. Lots of sophistication for the price.

Oolong Teas >> Sijichun

Light and smooth with a characteristic jinxuan creamy quality in the finish. Great value in an oolong tea.

Oolong Teas >> Jinxuan

Comparatively mild yet complex. There are sweet and floral notes in the flavor, and the finish is mildly dry.

Oolong Teas >> Wulong

Drier than the other recent batches, the flavor of this tea has a refined smokiness that lingers at the roof of the mouth. It is lighter than the "old-school" tieguanyin teas and very smooth--a new take on a traditionally-styled tea.

Oolong Teas >> Tieguanyin

Light and smooth with fine floral subtlety. There is clearly a higher bud/leaf ratio in this tea than the summer batches, which probably accounts for the less intensely red liquor and absence of any maltiness in the flavor. Perfect for summer consumption. Very limited availability.

Oolong Teas >> Baihao