Review: Milky Oolong, Whittard of Chelsea

Review: Milky Oolong, Whittard of Chelsea

Review: Milky Oolong

Score
Tea Type

I was excited to sit down and try Whittard’s Milky Oolong based on a combination of two factors. First, rave review for Whittard’s Afternoon Earl Grey, and my long-standing passion for wonderful oolong teas.

Here is the description from the Whittards website:

A rare and prized hybrid tea with a distinctive creamy taste and soft butter-like aroma.

Milky Oolong is prized for its silken texture, creamy taste and incredible aroma. Like all Oolongs it is semi fermented and tastes between a green and a black tea. This particular variety is from the Fujian province in China and is loved for its elegant, complex taste. Brew this tea lightly to appreciate the multi-layered aromas that are compared to rose, vanilla and caramel, which gives a glorious smooth creamy taste.

Tasting Notes

Appearance

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This tea has a surprising first impression! The tea smells very, very strongly like milk candy – sugary and sweet. Really, not at all like tea. However, it has the appearance of a classic oolong, with tightly wound, unstructured twists of large leaves and stems. The tea is a mix of bright green and olive, less oxidized and brown than a bold, floral oolong would be. This promises to be an interesting cup.

Taste

Steeped at 4 minutes, the tea liquor is a clear, deep gold and has scents of peach and berry. The tea leaves have doubled in sizes, and unfurled into huge, exuberant masses.

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The steeped cup is light and smooth, tasting quite a bit like a light green tea with a hint of peach and flowers. Without the label, I wouldn’t have guessed this was an oolong. It is medium bodied and has a bit of astringency to its taste. Surprisingly, the sweetness and sugar promised from the dry leaves don’t transfer into the steeped cup. Over a series of subsequent steepings, the flavor holds up well, and is easy to drink at a great price.

Pricing and Where to Buy

Pricing: 50g for $10.
The tea can be purchased at the Whittard site here.