When I read the tasting notes from Volition Tea for their Black Jade Wulong, I expected some floral notes to be masked by a roasted sweetness. But this tea was much more floral than I imagined it would be. In fact, it was more floral than I’ve ever tasted in a tea that wasn’t scented by or mixed with actual flowers. It was a beautiful bouquet of jasmine and gardenia flowers wrapped up in a balanced, slightly astringent brew that was pretty much spring in a cup.
What is a Wulong?
Wulong teas are partially oxidized teas, often roasted, and very complex. They are produced mostly in China and Taiwan. They can be dark and sweet, light and playful, and everything in between. This particular tea is very floral, and that can be thanks to many aspects of the tea’s life and production. For example, elevation and cultivar play a large role in the development of volatile oils in the leaves. When the tea is picked also impacts flavor. And, maybe most influential, is the way the tea is processed, steamed, dried, oxidized, roasted, and rolled. A tea farmer or producer will know exactly the steps needed to create the flavor profile they want to achieve.
What is Dan Cong Wulong?
Dan Cong wulong tea is a varietal grown in the Phoenix Mountain region of Guangdong Province, China. There are a few different understandings of what makes a dan cong. Some say all the leaves in a batch must come from one tree. Some say the leaves must come from a tree with only one trunk. And others say leaves can be mixed from the same garden as long this happens after processing. In any case, dan cong has a long history of flavorful tea coming from old-growth trees around the Phoenix Mountain.
Rich grain and fruity notes hits my nose as I open the package of this Emerald Leaf Baozhong. As it brews, it reveals a more delicate side, with floral notes.
I first sampled this tea at the Té Company tearoom in Manhattan, and I just had to buy a package of it. Now, it was pretty pricey (around $40) but for a tea to drink on special occasions, this was well worth it. Notes of rich grain and fermented fruit hit my nose as I open the package. Then, as it brews, it reveals a more delicate side, with notes of orchid and jasmine. It’s a delightful journey!
The dry leaves of Emerald Leaf Organic Baozhong waiting to be brewed at the bottom of a ceramic pitcher
What is Baozhong Oolong?
Baozhong oolong is a tea originating from Taiwan. Oolong teas are partially oxidized, ranging from lightly oxidized to heavily oxidized. In the case of boazhong oolong, the oxidization is light. As a result, it has similarities to green tea in body and flavor. However, the Emerald Leaf Organic Baozhong from Té Company is blended with the cultivar used to make milk oolong. This gives it an extra buttery richness. Delicious!
A ceramic cup sits in the grass, while Emerald Leaf Organic Baozhong is poured into it
More about Té Company
Té Company has consistently been one of my favorite tea shops. Not only is their tea delicious, their tearoom is cozy and charming. They don’t take reservations, and seating is limited, but it’s worth the wait. Besides their tea, they are well-known for their pastries. My favorite is the pineapple linzer cookie. They sell everything online, too!
The brewed leaves of Emerald Leaf Organic Baozhong at the bottom of a ceramic pitcher
Every time I brew a cup of this Jasmine Tea, I smile and think of wild flowers drinking up the sunshine… even if I’m sitting in the middle of New York City.
Scented teas are not usually what I grab out of my tea cabinet (I love my new tea cabinet). Nonetheless, I find myself reaching for and loving this Jasmine tea from Us Two Tea. Maybe it’s the blossoming spring or the crisp air outside. Whatever it is, I’m hooked, and I’m sad that I’m running out! Every time I brew a cup, I smile and think of wild flowers drinking up the sunshine… even if I’m sitting in the middle of New York City. The tea has such a tiny level of astringency, offset by the rich floral delicacy of the jasmine. Some floral teas are too floral, and overwhelm the senses like a strong perfume. But this jasmine tea strikes the perfect balance between high-quality tea and beautiful jasmine flavor.
The Planet
In addition, I don’t often reach for tea bags or sachets. Many tea bags use low-quality tea and even tea dust, or “fannings.” They also create unnecessary waste compared to loose-leaf tea. But for the most part, Us Two Tea solved both of those problems. Us Two Tea uses really high quality teas directly from family-owned farms, which is crucial to insuring not only quality of product, but quality of life for those producing the product. I try not to go near tea companies that don’t put their farmers’ welfare front-and-center, and this brand certainly does care about the farmers’ welfare.
As for the waste problem, Us Two Tea uses biodegradable corn husk tea sachets with no toxic chemicals or microplastics. I still prefer loose-leaf tea (which they offer, as well) because I like to be able to control the strength depending on the vessel I’m using. But these tea sachets are re-steepable, so keep ’em dunking!
The Work
Additionally, Us Two Tea is a POC-woman-owned company, which is a wonderful sight. Tea has been colonized for centuries and in many forms, from the physical colonization of India and the occupation of Kenya to the more subtle colonization that happens when white-owned companies profit off of less privileged groups of people, like family farmers in China, without giving back or compensating people properly. Always try to look at what a tea company is doing behind the scenes, and make sure they are being responsible members of this earth and society. Us Two Tea is certainly upholding both of those responsibilities.
