"Mark Edwards" > wrote in message
...
> [snip]
> Any advice to help me explore and get the best experience from this
> Oolong?
>
Mark,

Based on my experience:
1. Get a porcelain or ceramic teapot - 2-3 cup size is fine.
2. Use one rounded dessertspoonful of tea per 8-10 oz of water.
3. Measure out 2-3 teapot's worth of water and put into clean containers. I
use small glass carafes.
4. Put a pot's worth of water into a heating vessel and heat to 190-200F.
5. Put tea in teapot and add heated water.
6. Steep 60-90 seconds, then pour off all the tea into a serving pot or
mugs/cups. TGY is typically made from tightly rolled whole leaves and
stems, and it will expand a LOT. Don't waste your tea but trying to brew it
in a teaball.
7. Repeat steps 4-6 one or two more times, adding 60-90 seconds to each
subsequent steep.

Good TGY will produce a range of interesting flavors in each steep: if the
tea was lightly oxidised and unroasted the profile is floral/fruity; if more
heavily oxidised and roasted one gets (at least I get) toasty flavors with
notes of leaves and wood.

I've had TGYs that were wonderful for US$15-30/4 oz. Perhaps the best I
ever tasted was a "Monkey picked" TGY from Imperial Tea Court I got in
February - jade style, intensely aromatic and floral, balanced, and long (3
beautiful infusions). I paid $20/oz. For $17.50/oz one should have at
least a fleeting glimpse of nirvana. If your tea doesn't respond, you
either don't like TGY or you got ripped.

Regards,
Dean