This is Tea Journals’ Dong Ding Oolong ($10.00/pot, free refills) from the Fujian Province in China, considered ‘one of the most famous and finest Formosa Oolong’. The description provides, ‘fragrance and taste of this tea are wonderfully sweet and will leave you having more’.
During our first experience, the staff prepared the tea meticulously and according to traditional steeping times. It arrived with the first infusion already in the ceramic decanter, and the second infusion steeping in the mean time. The staff were friendly and helpful in explaining the method for enjoying the tea.
The first infusion was a clear light jade colour with a faint tea aroma. Consumed hot, the first infusion had a light and slightly brothy flavour with minimal astringency, while the second infusion extracted more sweet, floral notes that recall a light jasmine green tea.
Having enjoyed the tea so much at Chatswood, N returned for the tea twice at the new CBD store. To our surprise, both times, they moved towards preparing the Dong Ding Oolong using a glass teapot. While the tea arrived after its finished steeping, the looseleaf remained steeping even after pouring the first cup.
The first time in the CBD in July 2018, they’d used a glass teapot with a generously sized glass infuser.
The second time in may 2019, they’d gone one step further and swapped it out for a smaller mesh infuser that didn’t even cover the leaves.
The difference in preparation made a stark difference to our enjoyment of the tea. The infusion was a golden jade colour with a leafy aroma. Served hot, the buttery notes of pan-fried green tea are prominent and develop with a moderate astringency in the finish. Gone were the delicate sweet, floral notes that drew us to this tea at the beginning.
Initially, we were confused by the different flavour, despite ordering the same tea. Indeed, we even though that perhaps we’d ordered the wrong tea. But it’s evident that the CBD store pays less attention to the preparation. Then again, we’ve not returned to the Chatswood store in over a year to know if it’s a brand-wide practice.
This Dong Ding Oolong was purchased at Tea Journal located at Chatswood Interchange, 44/436 Victoria Ave, Sydney NSW 2067 in November 2017 and at Ground Floor, 382 Sussex Street, Haymarket NSW 2000 in July 2018 and May 2019.