Winter Café Roasted Oolong

Tea Type: Oolong
Origin: Halimun Mountain, Banten, Indonesia
Grower/Producer: Dr. Alex Halim 

Oolong teas are sometimes roasted as part of their processing. Some oolongs are left in their semi-oxidized state and then sold.

This tea has been beautifully roasted. The cold dry leaves give of an unassuming light minerality, but as soon as the ceramic warms the leaves, aromas of cocoa and warm toffee pour out from them. Smells of caramelized sugar warm the heart before you've even gotten the chance to drink the tea. While I first sampled this tea in the dog days of August, the smell fast-forwarded me to December, imagining myself walking in from the Pittsburgh winter to this smell filling a small café on the side of the street - hence its name.

When boiling water is added, the aroma of the leaves evolves to baked goods with a sharp sweet note. The flavor of the liquor is that of roasted marshmallows and pastries, with a filling mouthfeel. The flavors continue to add notes of toasty hay, cocoa, shortcake, while also carrying light savory notes of bone broth and baker's chocolate.