ARIEL Ginseng

Ginseng oolong is a specialty tea with a character all its own: a smooth, rounded oolong carrying a natural sweetness that lingers well past each sip. The rolled leaves open slowly to a warm amber cup, mellow and aromatic, with none of the sharpness you might expect. It's an unhurried tea, as good in the morning as through a long afternoon.

Tasting Notes

The cup is full-bodied and smooth, in the way only a semi-oxidized oolong can be. Earthy and lightly floral up front, it turns honeyed and gently sweet on the finish, with a cooling aftertaste that returns between sips. A soft mineral depth sits underneath, and there's so little bitterness that the sweetness reads as clean rather than heavy. The aroma is warm and inviting, floral with a touch of toasted warmth.

The Ginseng Oolong Tradition

Ginseng oolong has its roots in the mountain tea regions of China and Taiwan, where high altitude and cool mist shape some of the world's most prized oolongs. In this style, the rolled leaves are finished with ginseng, which lends the cup its signature sweet, lingering finish. It's a long-loved specialty tea, as much about the aftertaste as the first sip.

Brewing

Heat fresh water to 95 °C and steep 2.5 g (about one teaspoon) for 3 to 4 minutes. Rolled oolong leaves open gradually, so give them the full time; the same leaves reward several infusions, each one a little different.

Additional Information

• Ingredients: Oolong tea leaves, ginseng
• Formats:  100 g loose leaf, 1 kg loose leaf
• Certifications: Kosher
• Foundation: Humaniterra Foundation