The Simple Leaf Tankha

Description (from thesimpleleaf.com): Tankha is a Tibetan Buddhist tapestry. An appropriate name, considering the rich tapestry of flavors found in this remarkable oolong tea. Phoobsering is one of the oldest tea plantations in Darjeeling (currently under conversion to organic and estimated to be 100% organic by 2010). Produced at about 6,000 feet, our high-grown Tankha oolong tea is medium-bodied with floral notes and a complex flavor. [more]

Review: Ah, darjeeling oolong! I was wondering why this blend tasted different. As many of you are probably aware, I am a huuuuge fan of oolong, it is easily my favorite kind of tea. As for Tankha, being from darjeeling, I am kind of blinded by typical darjeeling flavors versus the varied flavors that come with oolong.

I guess this tea is complex in terms of darjeeling flavors, but it has little in common with oolong, except, well, it's different. And all oolongs are very different, so it is difficult to decide whether its overwhelming darjeeling taste is too similar to darjeeling itself, or if it should get extra points because this is yet another varied blend of oolong. I think, overall, as a darjeeling tea, this is very good, but I would not choose it if I were going for oolong.

So, I guess in a way, I am disappointed, but alternately, this is a delicious darjeeling blend that does not carry the sweetness of less-oxidized green darjeeling. I am a fan in the sense that this is dry and complex, but I was expecting oolong to be oolong, and it seems at least in the case of Tankha, it cannot really taste like both.

The Good: delicious dry, complex darjeeling flavor
The Bad: limited oolong properties: much more darjeeling than oolong
More Information/Buy: The Simple Leaf Tankha